The Elision Effect
Released May 2024
The Elision Effect is a short surreal puzzle game. The last person finds themselves in an empty office. The place seems off, like it shouldn’t exist. Not knowing what made everyone abandon these liminal spaces, they look for an exit.
93% positive · 184 reviews
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence
Where to buy
Steam $2.99
Can't confirm — worth a look
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Evaluation
The Elision Effect is a short, self-contained surreal puzzle game released on May 31, 2024. The store description explicitly describes it as "a short surreal puzzle game" with a defined play time of 30–120 minutes, made for the Indiepocalypse Zine. It was designed and shipped as a complete, finished product with no post-launch content cycle.
After launch, the developer issued a bug fix patch on June 7, 2024, addressing player-reported issues. That post also acknowledged some remaining known issues (e.g., settings not saved across runs, Steam Deck compatibility) but noted no plans for ongoing feature development — the developer mentioned having a day job and limited bandwidth. There is no DLC, no announced expansions, no roadmap, and no developer statements suggesting future content. The single major_content signal in the news history is the game's own release announcement.
This game launched as a finished product. The bug fixing that followed is normal post-launch maintenance, not an indicator of ongoing content development.
Evidence
Release announcement for The Elision Effect on May 31, 2024 — the game's launch post.
Store description explicitly labels the game as 'a short surreal puzzle game' with a defined runtime of 30 minutes to 2 hours, made for the Indiepocalypse Zine — describing a self-contained, complete product.
Media
Details
Developer
Publisher
teamakes.games
Achievements
8
Platform
Windows, Linux
Controller
—
Steam Deck
Not rated
Players
Single-player
About this game
The last person finds themselves in an empty office. Not knowing what made everyone abandon these liminal spaces, they look for an exit.
You might be the last person in this building. Empty offices and locked doors. You try to keep moving.
The place seems off, like it shouldn’t exist. It smells of old coffee stains, the fluorescent lights buzz, and corporate jazz plays on crappy speakers.
You long for fresh air.
An exit must be near.
Made for the Indiepocalypse Zine.
With custom music by AkAveryM.
The Elision Effect is a short surreal puzzle game.
You might be the last person in this building. Empty offices and locked doors. You try to keep moving.
The place seems off, like it shouldn’t exist. It smells of old coffee stains, the fluorescent lights buzz, and corporate jazz plays on crappy speakers.
You long for fresh air.
An exit must be near.
Gameplay
There's no overarching puzzle mechanic. You will have to figure out how to progress. Each room has a different mechanic.Style
The game uses an oldschool low-resolution, low-poly graphical style. It is inspired by the liminal space trend, as well as classic games utilizing the empty office setting. The game may be eerie at times, but there are no jump-scares or other horror elements, besides a dark atmosphere.Photosensitivity Warning
A very small percentage of people may experience seizures from certain visual stimuli in video games, even without a history of epilepsy. If you experience symptoms like lightheadedness, or twitching, stop playing and consult a doctor. To reduce risk, play in a well-lit room and avoid playing when drowsy.Game Profile
Game Duration: 30 minutes (1-2 hours completionist).Made for the Indiepocalypse Zine.
With custom music by AkAveryM.
Are these done yet?
Last evaluated Jun 20, 2026
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