# Ballex

> 2019 video game

**Wikidata**: [Q122364778](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q122364778)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ballex

## Summary
Ballex is a 2019 video game released on August 13, 2019, for Microsoft Windows and macOS platforms. Classified simultaneously as a casual game, adventure video game, and racing video game, Ballex offers a single-player experience distributed exclusively through digital channels on Steam. The game supports both English and Simplified Chinese languages and maintains a comprehensive presence across gaming metadata platforms with Steam application ID 1114430.

## Key Facts
- **Publication Date**: Ballex was officially released on August 13, 2019, according to Steam records.
- **Platforms**: Available on Microsoft Windows and macOS operating systems.
- **Primary Genres**: Classified as a casual game, adventure video game, and racing video game simultaneously.
- **Game Mode**: Designed exclusively as a single-player video game with no multiplayer functionality.
- **Distribution Method**: Distributed through digital distribution via Steam platform.
- **Steam Application ID**: Identified by the unique identifier 1114430 across Steam services.
- **Supported Languages**: Offers gameplay in English and Simplified Chinese.
- **Official Website**: Accessible at http://steam.ballex.net with English language content.
- **RAWG Database ID**: Cataloged as "ballex" on RAWG video game database.
- **Lutris Game ID**: Registered as "ballex" within the Lutris gaming platform.
- **SteamGridDB Identifier**: Listed under ID 5245825 in the SteamGridDB database.
- **PCGamingWiki Entry**: Documented as "Ballex" with internal ID 141540 on PCGamingWiki.
- **GameSpot Identification**: Referenced as "ballex" on GameSpot's gaming database.
- **HowLongToBeat ID**: Assigned ID 80866 on the HowLongToBeat completion tracking service.
- **IsThereAnyDeal ID**: Indexed as "ballex" on IsThereAnyDeal price comparison platform.
- **MobyGames Entry**: Cataloged under game ID 188236 on MobyGames database.
- **VGList Video Game ID**: Registered with ID 65349 on VGList.
- **GamerProfiles Game ID**: Identified by code "wnJYK" on GamerProfiles platform.
- **Internet Game Database ID**: Listed as "ballex" with qualifier 120937 on IGDB.

## FAQs
**What exactly is Ballex?**
Ballex is a 2019 video game that combines elements of casual, adventure, and racing genres into a single-player experience. It was released on August 13, 2019, and is available for both Microsoft Windows and macOS computers through digital distribution on Steam.

**What platforms support Ballex gameplay?**
Ballex runs exclusively on Microsoft Windows and macOS operating systems. The game is distributed through Steam and does not appear on console or mobile platforms according to available database records.

**Is Ballex a multiplayer or single-player game?**
Ballex is definitively a single-player video game with no multiplayer modes. All major gaming databases including Steam, RAWG, and PCGamingWiki classify it exclusively as a single-player experience.

**What languages does Ballex support?**
The game offers interface and gameplay text in two languages: English and Simplified Chinese. This localization data is verified across multiple gaming metadata platforms referencing Steam as the source.

**Where can players purchase or download Ballex?**
Ballex is exclusively available through digital distribution on the Steam platform. The official website at http://steam.ballex.net directs users to the Steam store page where the game can be purchased and downloaded using Steam application ID 1114430.

**How is Ballex categorized across different gaming databases?**
Ballex maintains consistent identification across platforms: it's "ballex" on RAWG, Lutris, GameSpot, IGDB, and IsThereAnyDeal; ID 1114430 on Steam; 5245825 on SteamGridDB; 80866 on HowLongToBeat; 188236 on MobyGames; and 65349 on VGList, with PCGamingWiki assigning it both the name "Ballex" and internal ID 141540.

**What makes Ballex's genre classification unique?**
Unlike most games that fit neatly into one category, Ballex is officially classified across three distinct genres simultaneously: casual game, adventure video game, and racing video game. This multi-genre designation appears consistently in Steam's metadata and is replicated across academic and commercial gaming databases.

## Why It Matters
Ballex represents a significant case study in modern indie game distribution and metadata architecture. Its August 13, 2019 release coincided with the peak expansion of Steam as a primary distribution channel for independent developers, exemplifying the digital distribution model that has fundamentally transformed how games reach players. The game's simultaneous classification across three distinct genres—casual, adventure, and racing—demonstrates the evolving nature of video game taxonomy, where hybrid experiences defy traditional single-category classification systems. This multi-genre identity makes Ballex particularly valuable for researchers studying player expectations and discovery mechanisms on digital storefronts.

The comprehensive database presence of Ballex across more than a dozen gaming metadata platforms—including RAWG, MobyGames, IGDB, PCGamingWiki, and HowLongToBeat—illustrates the critical infrastructure that supports game preservation and discovery in the digital age. Each platform assigns its own identifier, from Steam's 1114430 to VGList's 65349, creating a web of cross-references that ensures the game's discoverability regardless of which service a player uses. This extensive cataloging is essential for historical documentation, as digital-only releases risk being lost without such metadata preservation.

Ballex's dual-platform support for both Microsoft Windows and macOS, combined with bilingual localization in English and Simplified Chinese, reflects the globalized nature of contemporary indie game development. By supporting two major PC platforms and two significant language markets from launch, the game maximized its potential audience despite being a single-player experience without multiplayer features. The decision to distribute exclusively through Steam's digital distribution model rather than physical retail channels underscores the economic realities facing modern indie developers, where platform fees are offset by access to a global marketplace and built-in community features.

## Notable For
- **Multi-Genre Classification**: Officially recognized across three separate genres—casual, adventure, and racing—making it a hybrid title that defies conventional categorization.
- **Exclusively Digital Distribution**: Released solely through digital channels on Steam with no physical retail version, representing the modern indie distribution paradigm.
- **Cross-Platform PC Release**: One of relatively few indie games from 2019 to launch simultaneously on both Microsoft Windows and macOS platforms.
- **Bilingual Launch**: Supported two languages (English and Simplified Chinese) from its August 13, 2019 release date, targeting both Western and Chinese gaming markets.
- **Comprehensive Database Coverage**: Maintains active entries on over twelve major gaming databases, ensuring exceptional discoverability and preservation compared to many contemporaries.
- **Single-Player Focus**: Deliberately designed without multiplayer components, representing a pure single-player experience in an era increasingly dominated by live-service and multiplayer titles.
- **Steam Ecosystem Integration**: Deeply embedded in Steam's infrastructure with application ID 1114430, official website subdomain (steam.ballex.net), and verification across multiple Steam-derivative databases.

## Body

### Overview and Classification
Ballex is a video game released in 2019 that occupies a unique position in gaming taxonomy through its triple-genre classification. Steam, the primary distribution platform, officially categorizes Ballex as simultaneously belonging to three distinct genre families: casual game, adventure video game, and racing video game. This multi-genre designation is replicated across academic and commercial gaming databases, indicating that the game's design intentionally blends gameplay mechanics and pacing from these three categories. The instance_of property confirms Ballex is fundamentally a video game, while its wikidata_description succinctly identifies it as a "2019 video game."

The game's classification as a casual game suggests accessible mechanics and broad appeal, while its adventure video game designation points to exploratory or narrative elements. The racing video game classification indicates competitive speed-based gameplay mechanics. Together, these three genre tags create a hybrid identity that distinguishes Ballex from single-genre contemporaries and potentially broadens its appeal to diverse player demographics.

### Platform and Technical Specifications
Ballex launched with native support for two major PC platforms: Microsoft Windows and macOS. This dual-platform availability is documented across multiple sources with verification dates ranging from September 9, 2023, confirming ongoing support for both operating systems. The Steam application ID 1114430 serves as the primary identifier, with qualifiers explicitly linking this ID to both Microsoft Windows and macOS platforms. This cross-platform approach allowed the game to reach both the dominant Windows gaming market and the smaller but significant macOS gaming community from day one.

The technical infrastructure is entirely digital, with no physical distribution format. The distribution_format property confirms "digital distribution" specifically through Steam, meaning players must download the game via Steam's content delivery network rather than purchase discs or cartridges. This approach eliminates manufacturing costs and enables immediate global availability upon release.

### Distribution and Availability
Steam serves as the sole distribution partner for Ballex, as confirmed by the distributed_by property. The game's official website at http://steam.ballex.net, marked with English language qualifier P407, functions as a portal directing potential players to the Steam store page. This domain structure—using a steam subdomain—explicitly ties the game's web presence to its distribution platform.

The publication_date of August 13, 2019, marks when Ballex became available for purchase and download worldwide. As a digitally distributed title, it bypassed traditional regional release windows and physical retail logistics, allowing simultaneous global access. The game remains available through Steam's storefront, with its persistent database entries across platforms indicating continued availability rather than delisting.

### Gaming Database Ecosystem
Ballex demonstrates remarkable penetration across gaming metadata platforms, with each service assigning its own identifier. The rawg_game_id "ballex" provides access to RAWG's database, while lutris_game_id "ballex" enables Linux users to manage the game through Lutris. Steam-specific databases assign numerical identifiers: steamgriddb_id 5245825 for custom artwork and pcgamingwiki_id "Ballex" with internal qualifier 141540 for technical documentation.

Commercial gaming sites include gamespot_game_id "ballex" and mobygames_game_id 188236, while utility platforms provide howlongtobeat_id 80866 for completion time tracking and isthereanydeal_id "ballex" for price comparison. The vglist_video_game_id 65349 and gamerprofiles_game_id "wnJYK" represent community-driven database entries. The internet_game_database_game_id "ballex" includes qualifier P9043: 120937, providing an additional IGDB cross-reference. This extensive cataloging ensures Ballex remains discoverable through multiple search pathways and preserved for future reference.

### Language and Localization
Ballex supports two languages: English and Simplified Chinese. The language_of_work_or_name property documents both languages with Steam as the source, verified on September 9, 2023. This bilingual support indicates targeted localization for both Western markets and the significant Chinese-speaking gaming demographic. The English version is accessible through the official website, while Simplified Chinese support broadens the game's accessibility in one of the world's largest gaming markets. No additional languages are documented in the provided sources, suggesting the developer focused resources on these two major language groups rather than broad multilingual support.

### Game Modes and Player Experience
The game_mode property definitively establishes Ballex as a single-player video game. This classification appears consistently across all referenced sources, with no indication of multiplayer, co-op, or online competitive modes. The single-player designation means the game's design focuses on individual progression, puzzle-solving, or time-based challenges without social or competitive multiplayer components. This design choice simplifies development and ensures players can experience the full content without requiring active player communities or server infrastructure.

The combination of single-player structure with casual, adventure, and racing genre elements suggests a gameplay loop where individual players navigate challenges at their own pace while potentially competing against time trials or speed-based objectives. The absence of multiplayer features aligns with the game's digital distribution model and indie development scope, concentrating resources on a polished solo experience rather than complex networking code.

## References

1. Steam
2. GameSpot
3. Q124398839