Baldi's Basics in Education and Learning
Developer(s)Micah McGonigal[lower-alpha 1]
Publisher(s)Basically, Games!
EngineUnity
Platform(s)Windows
macOS
Linux
Android
iOS
ReleaseWindows, macOS, Linux
March 31, 2018
October 21, 2022 (remaster)
Android, iOS
December 17, 2019
Genre(s)Horror, puzzle
Mode(s)Single-player

Baldi's Basics in Education and Learning, also known simply as Baldi's Basics or Baldi's Basics Classic, is a 2018 parody horror game developed and published by Micah McGonigal, known by the pseudonym Mystman12. Set in a school, the player must locate seven notebooks which each consists of math problems without being caught by Baldi.

The game satirizes 1990s educational games (such as Sonic's Schoolhouse, I.M. Meen and 3-D Dinosaur Adventure) by deconstructing its elements into metafictional horror. This is enhanced in updates, such as in the conclusion of a package version called Baldi's Basics Classic Remastered.

Gameplay

Baldi's Basics is a puzzle horror game which satirizes 1990s educational games. There are two modes available, Story Mode and Endless Mode. In Story Mode, the player has to locate seven notebooks scattered around a school without being caught by Baldi. Each notebook typically contains two simple arithmetic problems, but the third question is unsolvable in the second notebook onwards. As the player continues to fail the impossible questions, Baldi moves faster and becomes harder to avoid. Additionally, the player has to face 6 non-player characters, which are It's a Bully, Principal of the Thing, Playtime, Gotta Sweep, 1st Prize, and Arts and Crafters.[1] Endless Mode is similar to Story Mode in terms of gameplay, except for the goal of collecting as many notebooks as possible. Additionally, only the third question of the second notebook is unsolvable.

In the expansion Baldi's Basics Plus, more content was added, including characters such as Beans, Mrs. Pomp, The Test, and Dr. Reflex, multiple floors, Challenge Mode and Field Trips, and more.[2]

Plot

A friend of the protagonist forgets seven notebooks at Baldi's schoolhouse but cannot get them himself because he would be late for "eating practice", so he asks the protagonist to fetch them. Once the player arrives, Baldi quizzes the player with simple math problems every time they find a notebook (three per book), offering a chance of getting "something special" if they answer all of them correctly. Once the questions are all answered correctly, Baldi offers the protagonist a quarter, granting them access to use a vending machine that distributes boosters when they first get past the yellow swinging doors. Baldi is prone to getting angry, and after presenting the player with impossible math problems he will start to chase them when they fail to answer them. The protagonist has to continue to search for all the other notebooks while also avoiding other students and various obstacles. After collecting all seven notebooks, Baldi tells the player to leave while they still can. He proceeds to chase the player until they find the true exit and finally escape.[1]

Development and release

Baldi's Basics was created by Micah McGonigal and it was initially made as an entry in the 2018 Meta-Game Jam on Itch.io,[3] where it received 2nd place. In an interview with Game Developer, McGonigal cited the 1996 game Sonic's Schoolhouse as his main inspiration.[4] The game used the concept of using video games and other entertainment mediums of educate kids.[5]

McGonigal launched a Kickstarter campaign, where he announced that an early access prototype, titled Baldi's Basics Plus, would be released in early 2020.[6] In late 2019, it was ported for iOS and Android as Baldi's Basics Classic.[7]

Reception and legacy

The game became an online success for its absurdist humor, difficulty and nostalgic gameplay. YouTubers such as DanTDM, Markiplier, Jacksepticeye, PewDiePie, and CoryxKenshin have made videos on the game, which have gained popularity on YouTube.[8][9]

Notes

  1. ↑ Known online as "Mystman12" and "Basically, Games!"

References

  1. 1 2 Jackson, Gita (April 12, 2018). "A Free Game That Makes Math More Scary". Kotaku. Archived from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  2. ↑ Kurosawa, Yuki (June 13, 2020). "サイコ90年代教育ゲーム風ホラー『Baldi's Basics Plus』Steamなどで早期アクセス配信開始。インターネット老人会を恐怖させるローポリ教師との鬼ごっこ" [Psycho 90's educational game-style horror "Baldi's Basics Plus" Early access distribution started on Steam etc. A game of tag with a low-poly teacher who terrifies the Internet Senior Citizens Association]. Automaton (in Japanese). Active Gaming Media. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  3. ↑ Faribeault, Francois (October 13, 2022). "Baldi's Basics in Education and Learning, le jeu qui mélange éducation et horreur" [Baldi's Basics in Education and Learning, the game that mixes education and horror]. Konbini (in French). Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  4. ↑ Couture, Joel (August 13, 2018). "How Baldi's Basics taps into the real horror of '90s edutainment". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on May 3, 2019. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  5. ↑ Bycer, Joshua (September 20, 2019). Game Design Deep Dive: Horror. CRC Press. p. 85. ISBN 9781000451016.
  6. ↑ Bald, Cameron (December 23, 2019). "Baldi's Basics Classic, a mobile version of the game, creeps onto Android and iOS". Pocket Gamer. Archived from the original on October 5, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  7. ↑ Andre (December 30, 2019). "Basically Games veröffentlicht Baldi's Basics Classic" [Basically Games publishes Baldi's Basics Classic]. Pixel (in German). Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  8. ↑ Nguyen, Keoni (June 25, 2018). "A Fake Edutainment Game Is Now A YouTube Hit". Kotaku. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  9. ↑ Wöbbeking, Jan (June 8, 2018). "Baldi's Basics in Education and Learning: Bizarrer Überlebenskampf in der Edutainment-Schule". 4Players (in German). Archived from the original on July 10, 2022. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
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