neveralonehotline.jpg Pierrec's Never Alone Hotline made me laugh, slap my forehead and smirk, miss my grandparents , roll my eyes in exasperation and ache a little on the inside. (Not all at the same time, of course.) Like so many games in Ludum Dare, the story behind this one is simple. You play as a girl named Severine and you are responsible for manning the Never Alone Hotline.

Over the course of the game, a multitude of people will call you up on your primitive-looking phone. From perverts intent on telephone sex to kittens to would-be suicides, you'll see them all. It's up to you as to how you want to respond to them. Gameplay is somewhat minimal. Asides from clicking on the phone when it rings, you won't be do much much beyond picking dialogue choices but that's perfectly fine because the conversations are a joy to experience.

Charming and well-written, Never Alone Hotline is probably one of my favorite games from this round of Ludum Dare. It's short enough to finish in a single break but amusing enough to play more than once. You can access the game via this convenient link.