MORSE released on November 11, 2025, bringing one of the year’s most unique gameplay concepts to Steam. Developer Alex Johansson spent years refining a minimalist strategy game that teaches players actual Morse code while defending against the Kaiser’s Imperial Fleet in a tense World War I naval setting. The entire game operates with just two buttons, transforming the lost language of telegraphy into an addictive tactical puzzle that gets your heart racing as enemy ships emerge from darkness.
How It Actually Works
You play as a telegraph operator who has taken matters into her own hands. Instead of just relaying messages, you’re calling artillery strikes against approaching German warships using Morse code to specify coordinates on a battleship grid. The interface shows a vertical column of letters and a horizontal row of numbers, creating target coordinates like A1, B3, or F7.
To select a coordinate, you tap Morse code using just two buttons. One for dots, one for dashes. Want to target position A1? Tap dot-dash for the letter A, then dot-dash-dash-dash-dash for the number 1. Your targeting reticule moves to that grid position, and you fire artillery at whatever lurks in those dark waters. Miss your timing or input the wrong code, and enemy ships slip past your defenses to wreak havoc.
The brilliance lies in how naturally you learn Morse code through repetition under pressure. Early waves give you time to carefully reference the Morse code chart displayed on screen. As difficulty ramps up and multiple ships approach simultaneously, you start memorizing common letters and numbers through muscle memory. By the time you’re deep into a run, you’re rapidly tapping out coordinates without conscious thought, your fingers translating tactical decisions directly into dots and dashes.
More Than Just Code
MORSE isn’t just a Morse code trainer disguised as a game. The tactical layer runs surprisingly deep for something operating with two buttons. After successfully repelling each wave, you choose between paired upgrades that enhance your arsenal. New artillery shell types deal area damage or pierce multiple targets. Upgraded sea mines withstand more hits, feature timed detonators, or relay warnings when ships pass near them. Reconnaissance improvements reveal enemy positions earlier, giving precious seconds to calculate firing solutions.
Sea mines create a secondary defensive layer. Deploy them across the grid to automatically damage any ships that pass through mined coordinates. This forces strategic thinking about where to place limited mines for maximum coverage while leaving firing lanes open for artillery. Upgraded mines become essential in later waves when the sheer number of approaching vessels overwhelms your ability to manually target everything.
Resource management adds another tension layer. You can’t fire artillery constantly. A resupply meter gradually refills your ammunition, forcing careful decisions about when to shoot visible targets versus conserving shots for ships you know are approaching but can’t see yet. Wasting ammunition on poorly aimed shots leaves you defenseless when the real threats appear.
Accessibility Through Simplicity
The two-button control scheme makes MORSE extraordinarily accessible. No complex keybindings to memorize. No precision mouse movements required. Just two inputs that can be mapped to any buttons you prefer, including physical telegraph keys for players who want the authentic experience. Alex Johansson explicitly designed the game to work with minimal motor skills, offering timing adjustment options that let players customize input speed to their comfort level.
Veterans of strategy games will crank difficulty settings to maximum, demanding lightning-fast Morse code input and split-second tactical decisions. Players with reduced dexterity or those simply learning Morse code for the first time can slow everything down, giving themselves time to carefully tap out each letter without overwhelming pressure. This flexibility makes MORSE genuinely playable for audiences who often get excluded from reaction-intensive games.
The minimalist graphics serve both aesthetic and practical purposes. Clean black backgrounds with white text and simple geometric shapes representing ships create high contrast that’s easy to parse at a glance. No visual clutter distracts from the core tactical information. Players with visual processing difficulties benefit from the clarity, while the stark presentation evokes the period-appropriate telegraphs and naval charts that inspired the design.
Calm Music, Intense Gameplay
MORSE features surprisingly calm, ambient music that contrasts beautifully with the mounting tension of its gameplay. As multiple enemy ships emerge from darkness and your ammunition runs low, the serene soundtrack creates an eerie disconnect between the peaceful soundscape and the desperate scramble to tap out coordinates fast enough to survive. This juxtaposition enhances rather than diminishes the pressure, similar to how horror movies use quiet moments to amplify scares.
The audio design extends to subtle cues that help players track multiple threats. Each successful hit produces satisfying feedback. Warning sounds indicate when ships breach your defenses. The telegraph clicking as you input Morse code provides rhythmic confirmation of your actions. For a minimalist game with simple graphics, the sound design does remarkable work communicating game state information beyond what appears on screen.
Roguelite Progression
Each playthrough follows roguelite structure with procedurally varied elements. The specific isogram (a word with no repeating letters) used for grid coordinates changes each run, forcing you to adapt to different letter combinations. Wave composition varies with different ship types appearing in different orders. The upgrade options presented after each wave differ between runs, encouraging experimentation with various build strategies.
This roguelite approach keeps MORSE fresh across multiple sessions. Your first few runs will almost certainly end quickly as you fumble with Morse code basics and struggle to coordinate defense systems. As your skill improves, you’ll push deeper into the night, facing increasingly difficult waves with more ships, tougher enemy types, and less room for error. The progression feels earned because it comes primarily from your improving ability to rapidly input Morse code and make smart tactical decisions rather than persistent meta-progression unlocks.
That said, the actual Morse code knowledge transfers between runs in a meaningful way. Every session makes you better at the fundamental skill the game teaches, creating a unique form of progression where the player rather than the character develops capabilities. By your tenth run, you’ll be tapping out common letters without conscious thought, a genuine skill you’re developing through play.
Development Journey
Alex Johansson worked on MORSE for several years, iterating through prototypes and testing different approaches to the core concept. The game won awards at indie game festivals where players praised the novel control scheme and the satisfying way it integrated Morse code learning into compelling gameplay. Johansson refined the difficulty curve based on playtesting feedback, ensuring newcomers could learn gradually while skilled players faced legitimate challenge.
The developer explicitly designed MORSE to work with actual telegraph keys, though standard keyboard, controller, or mobile inputs work perfectly fine. For players who want maximum immersion, connecting a physical telegraph and learning to operate it properly adds an entirely new dimension to the experience. The game functions as both entertainment and a tool for preserving and teaching a communication method that once defined long-distance human connection.
Community Reception
Early player reviews on Steam and itch.io praised MORSE for its innovative concept and execution. Comments highlighted the excellent pacing that lets players learn without punishing early mistakes too harshly. The novel puzzle design impressed players who appreciated how seamlessly Morse code integrated into tactical gameplay rather than feeling like a gimmick pasted onto conventional mechanics.
Some players expressed hope for mobile versions, arguing the two-button design and pick-up-and-play structure would translate perfectly to smartphones and tablets. Others discussed the educational potential, noting that MORSE teaches Morse code far more effectively than rote memorization drills by creating meaningful context and motivation for learning each letter and number.
The minimalist presentation proved divisive in predictable ways. Players who value mechanical depth and systemic complexity found plenty to love beneath the simple graphics. Those who need visual spectacle and elaborate production values might bounce off the stark aesthetic, though that likely speaks more to personal preference than any actual failing of the game’s design.
Why It Matters
MORSE represents the best of what indie games can accomplish. It takes a genuinely novel concept, commits fully to that vision, and executes with polish and purpose. Teaching players an actual historical skill through compelling gameplay creates value beyond mere entertainment. The accessibility features ensure diverse audiences can engage with the concept regardless of physical limitations. The tight mechanical loop rewards skill development in ways that feel satisfying across multiple sessions.
In an industry increasingly dominated by enormous productions with massive budgets and teams, MORSE proves that a single developer with a clear vision and years of dedicated refinement can create something more interesting than many AAA releases. The game doesn’t try to be everything to everyone. It knows exactly what it is and executes that specific vision with confidence and care.
FAQs
When did MORSE release?
MORSE launched on November 11, 2025, exclusively on Steam for PC. The release date coincides with Remembrance Day/Veterans Day, fitting for a World War I themed game.
What is MORSE about?
MORSE is a minimalist strategy game where you defend against the Kaiser’s Imperial Fleet by using actual Morse code to call artillery strikes. The game teaches you real Morse code through tactical gameplay using only two buttons.
Do I need to know Morse code to play?
No. MORSE includes an on-screen reference chart and teaches you Morse code gradually through gameplay. By the time you’re several waves in, you’ll naturally start memorizing common letters and numbers through repetition.
What platforms is MORSE available on?
MORSE is currently available on PC via Steam and itch.io. The developer hasn’t announced ports to other platforms, though the simple control scheme would translate well to mobile devices.
Can I use a real telegraph to play MORSE?
Yes. The game was explicitly designed to work with physical telegraph keys. The two-button control scheme maps to any input device, including authentic telegraph equipment for maximum immersion.
How long does a playthrough take?
Individual runs vary based on skill and how far you survive into the night. Early runs might last 10-15 minutes. As you improve, successful runs can extend to 30-45 minutes or longer depending on wave difficulty and upgrade choices.
Is MORSE difficult?
Difficulty is adjustable. Players can customize timing windows and input speed to match their comfort level. The game can be extremely challenging for players seeking fast-paced tactical combat or more relaxed for those focused on learning Morse code.
Does MORSE have progression between runs?
MORSE follows roguelite structure with procedural variation between runs. The primary progression comes from your improving ability to input Morse code quickly and make smart tactical decisions rather than persistent unlocks.
Who developed MORSE?
Alex Johansson developed MORSE over several years, refining the concept through prototypes and festival appearances where it won awards for innovative design.
Conclusion
MORSE proves that innovative game design doesn’t require massive budgets or cutting-edge graphics. By committing fully to a focused vision of teaching Morse code through tactical gameplay, Alex Johansson created something genuinely novel that works beautifully despite (or because of) its minimalist approach. The two-button control scheme creates accessibility without sacrificing depth. The roguelite structure encourages repeated play while your improving Morse code skills provide tangible progression that extends beyond the game itself.
For fifteen dollars on Steam, MORSE delivers a unique experience you won’t find anywhere else. Whether you’re interested in learning an actual historical skill, enjoy tactical puzzle games, or just want to try something genuinely different, MORSE justifies your time and money. It’s the kind of creative, thoughtful design that reminds us why indie games matter. Sometimes the most interesting ideas come from developers willing to spend years refining a single brilliant concept rather than chasing trends or playing it safe. MORSE is that concept fully realized, and gaming is better for it.