Microgames

Microgames are simple video games created by the fictional company Wario Ware, Inc.. Nintendo's line of Wario Ware games each feature these Microgames, which are generally less than 5 seconds long. Microgames are even simpler and shorter than the minigames found in other games such as Mario Party.

Gameplay in all Wario Ware games is distinct from most other games, as they involve the player or players trying to beat as many Microgames as possible as each is presented, one by one, at increasing speed.

Gameplay

All Microgames are quite simple. First the player is presented with a quick instruction such as "Avoid!", "Eat!", or "Get Blue!". Then, the microgame will appear and the player will have to complete the game according the instruction.

For example, in one Microgame, the player is told to "Enter!", and is presented with a scene from The Legend of Zelda. The player must use the directional buttons to move Link to a cave entrance before the time runs out. In another game, you drive a car and must "Avoid!" oncoming traffic.

Time

The unit of time for all Microgames is beats. In Wario Ware, Inc. Mega Microgame$, a standard Microgame is 8 beats, but Microgames in the IQ genre last 16 beats. In most games, the beats per minute (BPM) will start out relatively slow (about 140 BPM) and will increase as the player or players complete Microgames.

At the slowest, a standard 8-beat Microgame will last: 8 beats / 140 beats per minute * 60 seconds per minute = 3.4 seconds.

Difficulty

Some Microgames are intrinsically harder than others, and an increased BPM (i.e increased speed) will make any Microgame more difficult to complete than the same Microgame at a slower BPM.

Each Microgame is also featured in three different versions: Blue, Yellow, and Red. Blue presents the task in an easier way while Red presents it in a much harder way.

From the above the Legend of Zelda example: the Blue version of this Microgame usually places Link very close to the cave entrance that he must get to. The Yellow version will place the entrance further away and will place an enemy that will block Link. The Red version will place the entrance yet further, and include a second enemy that shoots at link from a lake.