Geometry Dash

Geometry Dash
Genre(s)	Runner, music, platformer
Developer(s)	Robert Topala
Publisher(s)	RobTop Games
Platform(s)	iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Microsoft Windows, macOS
Original release	iOS, Android 13 August 2013 Windows Phone 12 June 2014 Microsoft Windows, macOS 22 December 2014
Spin-offs	Geometry Dash Lite Geometry Dash Meltdown Geometry Dash World Geometry Dash Subzero

Geometry Dash is a side-scrolling music platforming game series developed by Robert Topala. It was released on 13 August 2013 for iOS and Android, with versions for Windows and macOS following on 22 December 2014. In Geometry Dash, players control an icon to navigate music-based levels, avoiding obstacles like spikes.

The main game comprises 26 full-length levels created by the developer: 22 are auto-scrolling, and 4 are 'platformer' levels. The game includes a level creation system, enabling players to design custom levels, share them online, and play levels created by other users. Players can collect in-game currency—such as stars, moons, coins, mana orbs and diamonds—from official and user-generated levels or chests.

Three spin-off games accompany the main series: Geometry Dash Meltdown, Geometry Dash World and Geometry Dash SubZero. Geometry Dash Lite is a free version of the main game that includes fewer levels, displays advertisements and lacks the level editor and online features along with various unlockable characters.

Geometry Dash can be played using a touchscreen, keyboard, mouse or controller. Player control their icon by pressing or holding inputs to navigate through levels and reach the end. The level restarts from the beginning if the player collides with an obstacle, such as a spike, sawblade, wall or ceiling. A 'practice mode' allows players to place checkpoints to explore or practice a level; however, coins cannot be collected, nor can progress be earned for normal mode. The timing and rhythm of the in-game music play a crucial role, often synchronising with gameplay.^[1][2] In platformer mode, players can move left or right as they choose.

The full version of Geometry Dash includes 26 main levels, 20 of which are available upon installation. Three levels require a specific number of secret coins, which are hidden within official levels and can also be earned through map packs. Additionally, the four platformer levels (three of which are initially locked) must be unlocked by completing the previous ones. Each level rewards players upon completion.^[1][3] The full version of the game features the ability to upload and download user-created levels.^[4]

Geometry Dash was created by Swedish video game developer Robert Topala, known professionally as RobTop. On 6 June 2010, Topala created his first video game, Bounce Ball Thingy, on Newgrounds, developing it while he was at university studying civil engineering. He later abandoned his course because he became more interested in the video game industry.^[5]

Topala decided to work alone, founding RobTop Games in 2012. The first video game he produced under RobTop Games was Boomlings, a puzzle video game released on 5 November 2012 for mobile devices,^[6][7] Topala continued to produce video games, including Memory Mastermind (2013) and Boomlings MatchUp (2013).^[8][9]

According to Topala, the game began as a project that could have moved in any direction. He remarked, 'It simply started as a template with a cube that could crash and jump'; 'There really was no detailed plan'.^[10] He previously developed it for the computer but later altered his plan and made attempts to make it a mobile game. Topala was inspired by The Impossible Game and took about four months to create the game and take it to the App Store and Google Play Store. In the beta version, the game was called Geometry Jump but later changed to Geometry Dash. The game is developed on the Cocos2d game engine.^[11]

Upon its release, Geometry Dash had seven levels and two game modes.^[12] It gained popularity around the world, especially in Canada, where it achieved the title of the most popular paid iPhone app in June 2014.^[13] There are four free versions of the game, one being Geometry Dash Lite, which includes 21 levels from the full version, including the tower levels.^[3]

The game received generally positive reviews from critics. Softpedia complimented the game's style and challenge that it brings up, saying, 'While it can get a bit frustrating sometimes, you can always complete the stages using the practice mode and then jump into the many different user-generated levels'.^[14] 148Apps also gave the game a positive review, stating, 'Geometry Dash provides all of the challenge expected from an 'impossible' game while also making it more accessible to newcomers'.^[15] Geometry Dash has also been listed by the reviewer Chris Morris on the website Common Sense Media as a child-friendly video game that parents could let their children play on, stating that the game was a 'good way to handle frustration' and that 'families can also talk about rhythm and the joy of dancing in time with music'.^[16] On the App Store, Geometry Dash was the second-best and seventh-best selling iPad and iPhone game in 2018, respectively.^[17]

Geometry Dash Lite is a free version of the game with advertisements and gameplay restrictions. Geometry Dash Lite includes 21 levels, including the tower levels, but does not offer the option to create or play custom user-generated levels. It also has a significantly more limited selection of character customisation options, lacking many icons, colours, and other character effects in the full game.^[27][28]

On 16 December 2015, Topala announced a spin-off game titled Geometry Dash Meltdown,^[29] which was released on 19 December 2015 for iOS and Android.^[30][31] It includes three levels featuring songs by F-777. The game showcased new icons and features in levels added in version 2.0 of the original game.

On 21 December 2016, Topala announced a second spin-off game titled Geometry Dash World,^[32] saying that it would come out on the same day. It includes two worlds with five levels each, introducing features that came to the original game later in update 2.1.^[33][34] It also features a selection of levels created by other players.

Gamezebo praised the game's captivation and decent gameplay styles. Although, the reviewer noted that it was not the 'most interesting looking game out there'.^[35] Gerson Noboa from AndroidGuys said that 'Geometry Dash World is a worthy addition to your game arsenal. Thanks to tightly connected graphical and sound elements, the game provides an awesome, integrated experience that is rarely seen in Play Store games'.^[36]

On 12 December 2017, Topala announced a third spin-off game titled Geometry Dash SubZero,^[37] which was released on 21 December 2017.^[38][39] Geometry Dash SubZero’s levels all contain features present in update 2.2, despite the release date being years earlier.^[40]

• Official website

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