At some point, nearly every kid has imagined the floor of their home being lava. It's what kids do — they turn on their imaginations, and the normal and mundane become extraordinary and exciting.
Nothing is more exciting than jumping on household furniture in order to avoid the imaginary death on the floor below. That's the inspiration behind Hot Lava, an indie game currently on Steam Greenlight that is well on its way to getting an official release.
It's all pretty self-explanatory. Played from the first-person perspective, players are tasked with avoiding lava by leaping between various platforms. It starts at a normal-looking American home, but soon, players find themselves at a school, an office and eventually, the underworld itself.
Each scenario will require quick reflexes and expert precision in order for players to survive, and the game moves at a lightning pace. That's mainly because many surfaces in Hot Lava are frictionless, allowing players to slide from one area to another without losing momentum. Mastering this "surf" mechanic will be key in order for players to overcome some of the game's most difficult challenges.
As if lava isn't enough, there are traps to avoid, too. Buzzsaws and meat grinders are just a few of the additional hazards players will have to avoid as they leap from chair to chair.
Hot Lava is the children's game of trying to not touch the floor amped up to 11, and it sounds like a crazy good time. It's likely that, for that reason, the game's developer has partnered with Klei Entertainment, the company behind games like Don't Starve and Mark of the Ninja.
"... Klei knows a thing or two about making great, memorable games," Hot Lava creator Mark Lapraire writes. "They've bought the rights to the game so we can work together to make something truly amazing."
Hot Lava has made it through the Steam Greenlight process thanks to fan support, but there's no word yet on when it will officially see release. It sounds like the game may be undergoing some changes now that Klei is involved, though hopefully, Hot Lava's absurd premise remains intact. The game recently found its way onto the /r/ gaming subreddit, where it has gained even more attention as of late. You can check out more about the game here.
