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NEAR DEADline

You've been playing Nintendo DS for too long and you realize there's only 5 days left to meet your animation deadline; use the paddles to bounce the Z's away long enough to stay awake and finish!

Steam Page
Developer
Dumb ****ing Horse, Milktoast Stuff
Publisher
Scarecrow Arts, Milktoast Stuff
Release
August 12, 2020
5 years and 356 days ago
Steam Reviews
Very Positive73 reviews89.0%

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Game contextLatest: IGF Team
ContextThe evidence factors used to assess whether this game belongs on IndieGame.Fan.Status
Notes
Latest Contributor: IGF TeamEdit notes
Updated: Jul 14, 2026Developer scaleThe operating scale of the game's developer.
Updated: Jul 14, 2026Publisher scaleThe operating scale of the game's publisher.
Scarecrow Arts; Milktoast Stuff meets the large-publisher game and partner thresholds.
Search Google: Is NEAR DEADline self-published or published by Scarecrow Arts and Milktoast Stuff?Publisher statusHow the game's publishing relationship is classified.
Search Google: How is NEAR DEADline and Scarecrow Arts and Milktoast Stuff funded?FundingThe known source of funding behind the game.
Search Google: Who controls the creative direction and IP for NEAR DEADline and Dumb ****ing Horse and Milktoast Stuff?Creative controlWho appears to retain creative control of the game.
Updated: Jul 14, 2026Release statusWhether and how the game has been released.
Scarecrow Arts; Milktoast Stuff is listed as a separate publisher for this release.

Media

10 items

About the Game

Originally made over the course of 37 consecutive full workdays. Don't crunch kids, we only did because the project was fun and the thrill of creating is what makes me happy :)

  • Nick has slept approximately 164 hours since production started

  • Brandon has consumed 127 cups of coffee during the production of this game

  • Mike exported the same 9 songs too many ****ing times before they looped properly

  • Work began late at night in July when Brandon committed to teaching Nick how to program

  • There are multiple endings! Well 2 good ones and a baaad

  • Play around in the main menu: it's got a full fledged drawing program with some secrets!

The drawing program built in the menu is fairly primitive with a basic brush, erase, clear, and screenshot tool. Depending on your CPU the game may lag with too many dots on screen.

  • W and S move your left paddle.

  • Up and Down move the right paddle.

  • Hit Space to slow time to your advantage.

  • Gamepads are supported!

If you're on a laptop and the Arrow Keys are too small try a Mouse or Trackpad on the right side! You can also use I and K instead of Up and Down.

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