While we usually talk about retro games here at Retro Dodo, I feel like when a game comes out with such a pivotal '90s icon like the old brick phone we all used to have, it's definitely worth noting.
Welcome to Flipping is Hard, a new retro-inspired game that's dropping on Steam in 2026. Your mission - flip your brick phone through some of the most nailbiting levels known to humankind in a game that looks like it would make me lose all of my hair if I wasn't already bald. After falling down a drain and landing in a new world, you'll flip your way through snowy scenes, fiery chasms, and across rooftops.
Explaining why they chose a phone as the main character on Reddit, Elegant Horse Studios says that they originally had the idea to use a plank of wood, but a phone felt 'more fun and more ridiculous'. They quickly realised that they could do much more with a phone than a plank, and it allowed them to include retro-themed games to collect, like Snake, as you play through the game.
And we all know the pain of dropping our phone, right? Back in the 90s, the phones could have been dropped from a crane and still survived, whereas I dropped my iPhone off a chair today and the camera lens protector smashed. The 90s really were a great time!
According to Creative Bloq, there are also games like Flappy Bird and Bounce to unlock over the game's seven levels. There are also other collectibles to find like Tamagotchis, though I doubt Hairo Satoh's TamagonHAI will make it in there. You can also customise your phone as you move through the game and get new cases. I wonder if I'll be able to input my own ringtones on it too?
Honestly, I can see this game being one that I get really angry with on a regular basis, but also one that I can't stop myself from going back to. That much is written on the actual Steam page itself, with a message of 'Most players quit. Not because it’s hard but because they can't stay calm. Falling isn’t failure. Quitting is. Prove you’re different' underneath a heading that says 'Warning'!
What do you think, readers? Would you have a go at this game, or will you be steering clear because it brings back too many painful memories of having to press multiple buttons just to make a word?
