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What is EmptyButtons?
EmptyButtons is an independent game developer's profile on itch.io, a platform where creators publish small and experimental games. The page lists several projects, mostly jam entries: ProtectThePumpkins (made for Godot Wild Jam 62), Nutcracker 64 (a JRPG for the 32bit Holiday Jam 2021), BeeQuest (a JRPG for a 32bit game jam), Caves of Arengium (tagged Adventure), Psyching Out That Bear, and a Map Generator, a tool for producing cave-like maps.
What this tells you about the catalog
The output is short-form and jam-driven rather than a single large commercial release. Two projects are explicitly JRPGs built around a 32-bit aesthetic, one is a Godot jam game, and the Map Generator suggests the developer also builds utility tools alongside games. If you like compact, themed experiments—holiday JRPGs, cave generation, small adventure games—this is the kind of profile to browse.
A practical next step
Open the individual project pages rather than judging from titles alone: jam games vary widely in polish and length, and the page doesn't state prices, platforms or playtime. Start with Nutcracker 64 if you want a finished-feeling JRPG sample, or the Map Generator if you're a developer looking for a cave-layout tool. For comparison with other small-scale itch.io creators, browse itch.io directly.
Which EmptyButtons game should I start with if I enjoy short game jam projects?
Start with Map Generator if you want something you can try immediately without committing to a story, or Caves of Arengium if you'd rather have an adventure to play through. The page lists both alongside the jam titles, but gives no detail on length or completion, so treat these as sensible entry points rather than guarantees.
A practical way to choose
- You like tinkering more than narrative: Map Generator is described as a tool for generating cave-like maps. It's the lowest-commitment option on the page and a natural fit for someone curious about how jam entries experiment with systems rather than story.
- You want a compact adventure: Caves of Arengium is labelled Adventure and is the only entry on the page that reads as a playable exploration game rather than a jam-themed experiment.
- You want the most "jam" experience: ProtectThePumpkins was made for Godot Wild Jam 62, and Nutcracker 64 and BeeQuest come from 32-bit holiday and game jam events. These are the projects most shaped by a short deadline, which usually means a tight core idea and rough edges.
A quick comparison
| Project | What the page says | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Map Generator | A tool for generating cave-like maps | Trying a system with no story commitment |
| Caves of Arengium | Adventure | A short exploration session |
| ProtectThePumpkins | Godot Wild Jam 62 entry | Seeing a themed jam constraint in action |
| Nutcracker 64 | JRPG for the 32bit Holiday Jam 2021 | JRPG fans who enjoy seasonal jam framing |
| BeeQuest | JRPG for a 32bit game jam | A second JRPG after Nutcracker 64 |
| Psyching Out That Bear | Listed with no description | Browsing the catalogue out of curiosity |
Next step
Open the project page for whichever title matches your mood and check its stated play time and platform before downloading. If you enjoy short jam projects generally, the itch.io jam scene is a good place to browse further—itch.io hosts these events, and Godot is the engine behind at least one entry here, useful if you want to see what the tooling looks like.
How does the Map Generator tool from EmptyButtons work for creating cave-like maps?
The Map Generator is listed on EmptyButtons' itch.io profile as a tool for generating cave-like maps, alongside their game projects. That listing tells you what it's for, but not how it works, so the practical answer depends on opening the tool's own page and testing it.
What the profile establishes
- It is a standalone tool, not a game, aimed at producing cave-shaped layouts.
- It sits in a portfolio that otherwise contains jam games (Godot Wild Jam, 32bit Holiday Jam) and JRPGs, so it reads as a working utility from the same developer rather than a polished commercial product.
- No interface, export format, engine integration or price is stated on the profile page.
A realistic use case
If you're prototyping a cave level for a 2D game and want a starting layout before hand-editing, a generator like this is most useful as a first pass: generate several candidates, pick one whose corridors and chambers feel right, then redraw or tile it yourself. Expect to treat output as a draft, since jam-scope tools rarely include the tuning controls a full level editor has.
How to judge it
- Open the tool page and check whether it runs in the browser or needs a download.
- Look for parameters — cave size, density, seed — since a fixed seed makes results hard to reuse.
- Check what you can take away: an image, a tile grid, or data you can import into your engine.
- Compare with a general-purpose generator if you need engine integration; for Godot users, the engine's own community tooling is worth checking at Godot Engine.
If you only need a quick visual reference for cave shapes, generate a batch and trace the best one; if you need repeatable, seed-driven output in a pipeline, confirm export options before committing.
What distinguishes EmptyButtons' JRPGs like Nutcracker 64 and BeeQuest from each other?
Nutcracker 64 and BeeQuest differ less in genre than in origin and theme: both are listed as JRPGs, but Nutcracker 64 was made for the 32bit Holiday Jam 2021, while BeeQuest was made for the 32bit game jam. The holiday framing suggests Nutcracker 64 leans on seasonal, wintry or festive material, whereas BeeQuest's title points to a lighter, insect-themed premise.
How to tell them apart
| Aspect | Nutcracker 64 | BeeQuest |
|---|---|---|
| Listed genre | JRPG | JRPG |
| Jam context | 32bit Holiday Jam 2021 | 32bit game jam |
| Likely theme | Holiday/winter framing | Bee-themed adventure |
| Best fit for | Players wanting a seasonal short JRPG | Players wanting a lighter, creature-themed jam RPG |
For a concrete choice: if you want a festive, short-session JRPG to play around the holidays, start with Nutcracker 64; if you prefer a whimsical premise over seasonal theming, try BeeQuest. Both are jam-scale projects, so expect compact scope rather than long campaigns. You can browse the developer's full catalogue on EmptyButtons.
Can I play EmptyButtons' games directly in a browser on itch.io, or do I need to download them?
Yes, you can play EmptyButtons' games directly in a browser on itch.io. The games listed on the profile—including ProtectThePumpkins, Nutcracker 64, BeeQuest, Map Generator, Caves of Arengium and Psyching Out That Bear—are itch.io projects, and itch.io supports in-browser play for HTML5 builds.
What to expect
- Browser play depends on the build. A game is only playable in-browser if the creator uploaded an HTML5 version. Some jam entries are released as downloadable builds only, and Map Generator is described as a tool rather than a game, so its interface may work differently.
- Downloads may still be offered. Many itch.io projects provide both a browser version and downloadable files; the download option is useful if you want to play offline or on a machine without a stable connection.
- Performance varies by project. Small jam games like these generally run fine in a browser, but a keyboard-focused JRPG may feel better in a desktop browser than on a phone.
Next step
Open the specific game's page rather than the profile. If a Run or Play button appears in the browser frame, you can start immediately; if you only see download options, the creator has not published a browser build for that title.
How can I follow EmptyButtons to get notified about new game jam releases?
Open EmptyButtons on itch.io and use the Follow button on the profile. itch.io sends followers a notification when the creator publishes a new project, so this is the simplest way to hear about new jam releases such as the Godot Wild Jam and 32bit Holiday Jam entries listed there.
A practical routine
- Follow the profile, not just individual games. Following a single game page only covers that title; the profile follow covers future releases like ProtectThePumpkins or Nutcracker 64.
- Check the profile page periodically. Jam games often appear with little advance notice, and a quick look at the project grid shows everything at once.
- Note the genre tags. The page groups work under labels like Role Playing and Adventure, which helps you decide which releases are worth opening first.
For a concrete example: if you enjoyed Nutcracker 64 and want the next JRPG-style jam entry, follow the profile and glance at new projects tagged Role Playing after each major jam weekend. If you mainly want tool releases like Map Generator, the same profile follow covers those, but expect a mix of genres rather than a single stream.
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