Painted Waters is a simple adventure for young children. You explore a secret miniature world on a Walker Doodle (the game's version of caterpillar) using a single button to get around and play the puzzles and challenges you find. It's unique not only because of the approachable and accessible controls and storybook visuals, but because it combines these with nuanced interactions and tests of skill.

Play involves directing your fish or Walker Doodle using a single button (mouse button, any key, controller button, or other camera peripherals like Tobii, Eyegaze). In the world you make single press choices about the turns and directions to go. In this way you explore from place to place and find a range of miniature adventures (mini-golf, pachinko, board game, and block bashing).

Each of the mini adventures are also played with a single button, but also provide ingenious ways to make strategic choices and timed throws. For example you make your way around the edge of a mini-golf hole and can choose when to hit the ball and in that way control the angle of your shot.

Completing one of the adventures rewards you with a prize that you can then use to decorate and customise the world. This might be a giant cherry to hear a joke, a seed to grow a flower, a block, button or statue. You can also find items in some of the mini adventures that let you customise those spaces, and how those games play.

Painted Waters is currently available in a trial mode as part of early access. The game is in ongoing development and will see many content updates and fixes as it moves towards a full release.