Lofi Ping Pong is a simple game. It's a rhythm game where you need to return table tennis shots to the beat of lofi music. The shots land on three different possible spaces and you need to press the corresponding button at the right time to return the shot. The game consists of 15 challenges in total, each coupled with a depressive message from a challenger and a new music track to play to. The challenges are rather short and I think I beat all of them in an hour or so. After beating the final level, the point of the messages from the challengers and the "story" of the game is revealed. It certainly was a twist I wasn't expecting. A neat touch that adds memorability.

The basic gameplay is simple, solid and also hypnotic in a way. Having such a immediate gameplay and tying it to a great, beat-heavy, hazy soundtrack does wonders for the feeling of the game. The challenges also offer three variations to the basic gameplay to try to shake it up and give some extra challenge. One of these is really fun, one is okay, one is annoingly tough.

In addition to the great soundtrack, the UI, art style and general vibe are also rather cool. The pixel art is simple, functional and well done. The main menu is pretty clumsy to use but it is presented as a nifty OS of some old computer with music player, changable backgrounds and an instant message app for getting challenges. The backgrounds are stylish, moody loops of pixelated rain, windy landscape and the like – exactly the sort of stuff that can easily be paired with lofi beats. Overall, the game carries this sad, distant vibe that suits it well.

Sadly, after beating the 15 challenges the game has, Lofi Ping Pong reveals its biggest weakness: that's all there is to it. The game simply starts over and you can't even select the later levels you just beat again. I was waiting at least for some endless mode with music of your choice or something to the effect since the gameplay, music and even the story would have lended well to it but no. Also, as one of the gameplay variations was rather annoying and I don't think I want to focus on that again, I have reservations of replaying the game.

As it stands, Lofi Ping Pong is a cool game that kind of fails to see its own potential. It's a short, mostly nice experience that could have been more.