I swear I never plan to write this much about one simple browser game. And yet, here we are again. Because every time I think I’ve experienced everything it has to offer, one more session sneaks up on me and gives me a brand-new story—usually ending in disaster, sometimes ending in laughter, and almost always ending with me clicking “Play Again.”

This post is another slice of my very casual, very emotional experience with a game that somehow turns floating circles into a full-on rollercoaster. If you’ve ever gotten attached to a pixel version of yourself, you’ll understand exactly what I mean.

How It Always Starts: “I’ll Just Warm Up”

There’s a lie I tell myself before almost every session: This is just a warm-up. Maybe before work. Maybe before bed. Maybe while waiting for something else to load.

The game loads instantly, and I’m dropped into the map as a tiny dot with big dreams. Those first few seconds are calm. Peaceful, even. You drift around, collecting pellets, feeling like the world is wide open.