Rock Hard Platformer 'This Game Refunds You' challenges you to beat it within Steam's 2-hour refund window

If you've played Baby Steps or Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy, you'll understand the pure appeal of a game that makes you clench your jaw until your teeth shatter and you bounce around the room. One developer has taken this style to its logical conclusion, challenging players to beat it within two hours so they can get their $3.99 refunded from Steam.

If you've played Baby Steps or Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy, you'll understand the pure charm of a game that makes you want to clench your jaws so hard your teeth fall out and bounce around the room. One developer has taken this style to its logical conclusion, challenging players to beat it within two hours to get their $3.99 back on Steam.

Payback is a challenging 3D platformer where you have to reach the top in less than two hours. Your reward for doing it? Under Valve's own refund policy rules on Steam, you can legally request (and be granted, no questions asked) a refund.

"Take your likeness to the top in this 3D platformer Getting Over It!" The developers wrote on the official Steam page. "Stick your piece to the walls, bend it and launch yourself at high speed! One mistake means you'll fall all the way down. Can you reach the top and get your payback in less than two hours?"

In the game, you jump through psychedelic virtual space of shapes and colors. You only get one checkpoint that you can place anywhere on the course.

It's clever marketing for this particular type of YouTube bait game - especially since it includes leaderboards for those who choose not to get their money back. The Steam page also features a secret endgame challenge, but you'll probably have to spend more than two hours figuring it out.

In July of this year, developers criticized Steam's two-hour refund policy. The discussion started with a post from indie boat adventure developer Paddle Paddle Paddle that had positive Steam reviews from people who proudly enjoyed the game, spent time with it, then gave it back.

"It would be great if you could finally do something about your refund policy," the developer said. "Got dozens of reviews like this and a 21% refund rate even though 90% of the reviews are overwhelmingly positive. That's over 55,000 refunds btw..."

Valve has already included a section on "abuse" of its refund policy in the platform's terms and conditions, which states that refunds are "not a way to get free games" — and that anyone who unfairly takes advantage will have their refund points suspended. As someone covering the industry for the past 15 years, I have never seen evidence of this policy being enforced.

Steam's refund policy is obviously a good thing for consumers, but could probably be finessed for shorter indie games. These are generally made by very small teams, while mammoth triple-A games escape politics relatively unscathed.

As for the refund, the game currently has a "positive" rating on Steam, although there aren't many reviews yet (it only launched on October 12th). A Steam review, from someone who had 1.9 hours of playtime at the time of the review and currently 5.5 hours, urged players not to refund if they enjoyed the game.

"The game is fun, it's a good game, although I think if it's priced right, you shouldn't be paying back games you've enjoyed."