Notchcode VS Pode

• Creative and Fun Concept
  Notchcode leverages the MacBook Pro's notch as an interactive coding environment, turning a commonly criticized hardware feature into something entertaining and novel.
• Lightweight and Simple
  The project is a small, focused utility that doesn't require complex setup or heavy dependencies, making it easy to try out quickly.
• Unique Developer Experience
  It provides a humorous and unique way to interact with code, which can serve as a conversation starter or a fun demo for fellow developers.
• Open Source
  The project is open source on GitHub, allowing anyone to inspect, modify, fork, and contribute to the codebase freely.
• macOS Notch Awareness
  It demonstrates creative use of macOS APIs and screen geometry to detect and utilize the notch area, which can be educational for developers interested in macOS UI programming.

Possible disadvantages

• Extremely Limited Practical Use
  The notch area is tiny, making it nearly impossible to do any real coding or productive work within the space. It is essentially a novelty with no practical application.
• Hardware Dependency
  The tool only works on MacBook Pro models that have a notch, severely limiting the audience and making it useless on other Macs or non-Apple devices.
• Limited Documentation
  The project has minimal documentation, which can make it harder for new users or contributors to understand how it works or how to extend it.
• Niche and Unmaintained
  As a novelty project, it is unlikely to receive ongoing updates, bug fixes, or feature improvements, meaning it may break with future macOS updates.
• Poor Readability and Ergonomics
  Working in the extremely small notch area leads to terrible readability with minuscule text, making it an impractical and eye-straining experience.

• Beautiful Art Style
  Pode features a stunning, visually captivating art style inspired by Norwegian art and culture. The environments are colorful, organic, and bloom to life as players interact with them, creating a truly enchanting visual experience.
• Excellent Co-op Experience
  The game is designed as a cooperative puzzle-platformer for two players, making it a wonderful shared experience. The two characters (a rock and a fallen star) have complementary abilities that require teamwork and communication, making it ideal for couples, friends, or parent-child gaming.
• Relaxing and Peaceful Gameplay
  Pode offers a calming, stress-free experience with no enemies, no combat, and no time pressure. The gentle pace and soothing soundtrack make it a meditative and accessible game suitable for players of all skill levels.
• Unique Puzzle Mechanics
  The puzzles revolve around the contrasting abilities of the two characters — one brings life to plants and nature while the other activates rock and crystal formations. This duality creates clever and satisfying environmental puzzles throughout the game.
• Accessible for Non-Gamers
  With its simple controls, forgiving gameplay, and lack of violent or stressful elements, Pode is an excellent entry point for people who don't typically play video games, broadening the appeal to a wider audience.

Possible disadvantages

• Limited Solo Play Experience
  While Pode can be played solo by switching between the two characters, the experience is significantly less enjoyable and more tedious compared to playing cooperatively. The game was clearly designed with co-op in mind, and single-player feels like a compromise.
• Short Length
  The game can be completed in roughly 4-6 hours, which some players may feel is too short for its price point. There is also limited replay value once all puzzles have been solved.
• Occasionally Unclear Puzzles
  Some puzzles can feel unintuitive or vague, leaving players wandering around without a clear understanding of what to do next. The lack of hints or guidance can lead to frustrating moments of trial and error.
• Simplistic Gameplay
  While the relaxing nature is a strength, some players may find the gameplay too simplistic and lacking in challenge. The puzzles rarely become truly difficult, which can leave experienced gamers wanting more depth and complexity.
• Camera Issues
  The fixed camera angles can sometimes be problematic, making it difficult to judge distances or see important environmental details. This can lead to occasional frustration during platforming sections or when trying to locate interactive elements.

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An Incredibly COZY Co-op Game! Pode Review

More videos

Tracking Notchcode since Jun 2026.

• Mods for people who cant read? Help!

  While not a mod for an RPG game, Pode is a platformer/puzzler with no dialogue whatsoever. It also has co-op apparently, if that would be something interesting. I’ve never played it (as I said, I just saw a reference to this game) but I... Source: over 5 years ago