POC In Gaming

A collection of independently-made games from people of color. This blog will feature games both old and new (inbox closed for now!)

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HI HO sorry if im a bit inactive with new posts for a while. im having a screenplay i wrote in college being slowly (but surely) published into an interactive fiction thing for mobile so i’ll be working on that for a bit!!!! 

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[I.D.: A gifset containing four gifs of the pixel art game Evil Wizard.

Gif 1 shows the wizard solving a puzzle by shooting a fireball through a gate to unlock it. A dialogue box pops up with him saying, “THATS CHEATING!”

Gif 2 shows a scene of the Evil Wizard hopping across wooden platforms that are floating in water. In another scene, he has lowered a wooden bridge to cross another body of water.

Gif 3 shows various combat encounters. The Evil Wizard casts spells and uses melee attacks to fight against different enemies.

Gif 4 shows the Evil Wizard in three different areas. In one area, he has solved a puzzle and unlocked an area. In another, he stands in front of an arcade game machine with a sign reading, “BEAT THE BEST” above it. In another, he approaches an old statue of himself and the camera zooms in on the statue’s plate that says, “loser.”

end I.D.]

Evil Wizard is a humorous, action-filled RPG about an evil Final Boss trying to revive his career! After a tough defeat, infiltrate your own castle to unleash spells and solve puzzles. Rediscover long lost powers and fight to reclaim your castle from an army of so-called heroes!

For Windows. Free Demo is out now.

Developed by Rubber Duck Games, a Uruguayan company. They’re made up of 80% Love, 20% Skill and 100% Passion. You can also follow Evil Wizard’s official Twitter here.

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[Image ID: A gifset containing four gifs of the low-poly puzzle game GNOG.

Gif 1 shows a montage of several monsterous heads that act as the game’s levels turning to face the audience.

Gif 2 shows two panning shots of level areas. One is of several brightly colored birds standing on branches. Another shot focuses on a gold chest next to a stack of gold coins.

Gif 3 shows a brightly colored level that resembles a bathroom. A second scene cuts to a close-up of the shower curtain in the level. The curtain pulls back to reveal a person sitting in the bathtub as the shower runs.

Gif 4 shows two scenes. One is of a yellow monster head turning towards the audience and opening its mouth. The second scene shows the back of the head, which resembles the inside of a sea vessel as it is being flooded with water. 

End Image ID.]

GNOG is a whimsical puzzle game about exploring the secret worlds inside of monster heads! Set in a tactile world of secrets inspired by real-world toy designs, interact with joyful puzzles as each action generates lively feedback. Press, pull, slide, grab, click, and rotate each uniquely charming GNOG head to uncover its secrets!

For PS4, Windows, iOS, Linux, Mac, and Oculus Go.

Developed by KO_OP, a worker-owned studio based in Montreal, Quebec. They focus on experimental and interactive art since forming in 2012. The studio’s co-founder and Studio Director Saleem Dabbous, an immigrant from Lebanon who grew up in Kuwait, has also given a talk on self-care in game development. 

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[I.D.: A gifset containing four gifs of the game Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery.

Gif 1 is a shot of the player character reaching towards the camera. Wind brushes her hair and clothes in the air as the background behind her fades from her painting studio, to white, and then to nature outside.

Gif 2 shows two scenes. One is the player’s paint brush strokes laying down yellow paint on a drawing. Another is the player’s pencil strokes leaving behind a sketch.

Gif 3 shows three scenes. One is the player solving a puzzle to unlock a door, sliding through letter combinations. Another is a puzzle where the player must slide through different color swatches to complete a picture. The third is a scene of the player’s neighbor, his back faced to them, as he works on his painting.

Gif 4 pans across four different settings: a room with the player’s paintings hanging on a wall, the player’s canvas sitting in their studio, a meadow of pink plants blowing in the wind and the canvas easel standing amongst them, and a wider shot of the player’s studio.

end I.D.]

Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery is an interactive fiction game about an aspiring artist creating her masterpiece! Under your brusque neighbor’s gaze (and with his pesky cat around), paint and sketch artwork that conveys emotional tones. Solve puzzles, take the occasionally coffee and breakfast break, and uncover an emotional tale about chance!

For Nintendo Switch, PS4, Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac.

Developed by Silver Lining Studio, a Taiwanese company that wants to energize players using heart-warming and hopeful games to aid them in gloomy hours. They partnered with Akupara games, a publishing company that’s worked with other titles such as Mutazione and The Choreographist. 

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[ID: A gifset containing four gifs of the game 8:11

Gif 1 shows an unknown blue character approaching the protagonist, Ryker, and asking, “Ryker Dublin?”

Gif 2 shows different player characters moving through various environments and areas.

Gif 3 shows an unknown character speaking to Ryker, quickly saying “You trespass into our God’s house and mock him by stealing his goods? Do you know what Rosso used to do with thieves in the past!? ANY IDEEEEEEEEEA!?!?”

Gif 4 shows the character Accardi speaking to Ryker and saying, “Your face is telling enough, priest. The church didn’t do things like this with you, did they?”

end ID.]

8:11 is a surreal and psychological horror game about seeking revenge for your best friend, Leon, after he’s been mysteriously murdered. Follow French priest Ryker Dublin as they track down the killer’s identity by exploring foreign lands, discover angelic monsters, encounter strange people, and witness unexplainable events. Watch reality distort and see how Ryker processes their psychological trauma on their journey.

For Windows. Free demo is also available.

Developed by Dubuk, an Indigenous game dev and artist whose work focuses on the horror and surreal genres. Dubuk also has a Tumblr and likes cowboys and cows.

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[I.D.: A gifset containing four gifs of the simulation game No Umbrellas Allowed.

Gif 1 shows a customer approaching the counter of the store shop. He asks, “Umm, could you buy this off of me?”

Gif 2 is a montage of the player character, Bob, in different cutscenes. He is shown riding an elevator, running through a futuristic city, being dragged across a beach at night, and attending a form of lecture. 

Gif 3 is a montage cycling through different customers at the store’s counter.

Gif 4 shows a montage of gameplay footage. The player handles various items with customers while different information menus are interacted with.

end I.D.]

No Umbrellas Allowed is a game about running a secondhand shop in the year 2080! After washing ashore a beach with your memories gone, you are given the name Bob and become the appraiser of a pawn shop in the odd Ajik City. With strangers hiding secrets, “civil activists” being called police-mimickers, buy and sell strange items to make money!

For Windows and Mac. Demo is free to play. 

Developed by Hoochoo Game Studios, an indie company based in Seoul, South Korea. No Umbrellas Allowed is their first published title.

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[Image ID: A photoset of the interactive browser game Tamales: Con Familia.

Image 1 shows a top down first person view of a kitchen table. On the left is a plate of tamale husks and the player holds one in their left hand. Their right hand is guided to spoon in masa from a blue bowl, and a meat filling from a pink bowl. A pink speech bubble from a speaker out of frame says, “I cannot believe that Hector didn’t show up today with his family. It’s like he doesn’t care that we’re trying to get together.” The food is being assembled over a dark red placemat.

Image 2 shows the player with a completed tamale in one hand. A tray of other tamales is on the right side of the screen. A blue speech bubble says, “Good food takes time, and I have you all to help me. I’m just happy to have my girls.”

Image 3 shows the player holding a tamale husk in one hand, and a spoon full of masa in the other. A pink speech bubble says, “Now that mom’s out of the room, do you really think she’d be better in Mexico? All of her children and grandchildren are here.”

Image 4 shows the player holding a tamale husk with masa on it. Their right hand is holding a spoon of the meat filling. A mint green speech bubble is saying, “Family is still family. We’ll always find a way to stay connected.”

End Image ID.]

Tamales: Con Familia is a simulation game about preparing tamales with your family! Play as a shy, young kid and listen in on the conversations of your mother, sisters, and grandmother. As your family reminiscences on Mexico, explore stories inspired by the writer’s family that touch upon loss and change.

For free as a browser game.

Developed by narrative designer Samantha Ivonne Ortiz along with audio composer Caio M. Jiacomini and other developers. This game was made for the 2020 Hispanic Heritage Month jam. 

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[I.D.: A gifset containing four gifs of the soap opera game Mutazione.

Gif 1 shows the player character, Kai, in two scenes interacting with the townsfolk. In one scene, she sits with a bunch of them outside as they eat together. In the next scene, she floats in the water with a blue character.

Gif 2 shows Kai utilizing the game’s gardening interface, browsing her seed box inventory to select a Red Ti Plant.

Gif 3 shows Kai standing with two townsfolk, one of whom resembles a sort of bug. They are gathered around a little hot dog character who farts and runs off smiling. The bug-like character gets angry.

Gif 4 shows Kai sitting on a bench with her grandfather. They are surrounded by plants and music. Kai says, “There’s so much… more though.”

end I.D.]

Mutazione is a soap opera about supernatural mutants! Play as 15-year-old Kai, who is tending to her ailing grandfather as she explores the Mutazione community. Discover magical gardens, make friends, uncover old secrets, dream of a creepy bird-like figure, and navigate small-town drama to survive an apocalyptic meteor strike!

For Mac, Windows, PS4, iOS, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One.

Developed by Die Gut Fabrik, a studio based in Copenhagen, Denmark whose name means “The Good Factory” in German. They aim to develop diverse and marginalized talent through teaching, internships, advocacy, and accessible designs and have collaborated with Akupara Games. 

Their team of developers and collaborators include Creative Producer Ben Wilson; Programmer Moo Yu; Animator Rosanna Wan; Writer Sharna Jackson; and Sound Designer and Directer Tanuja Amarasuriya. 

Trans and non-binary team members/collaborators include Writer Krishna Istha; Programmer Roxanne van Dam; Composer & Sound Designer Eli Rainsberry; Story Tech Florence Smith Nicholls; and Writer Harry Josephine Giles.

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[ID.: A photoset containing four images of the sidescrolling visual novel A Taste of the Pass which has an anime artstyle.

Image 1 shows the protagonist Mei. She is a thin light-skinned Chinese girl with dark eyes and long dark hair sitting on a train. She holds an open book in her lap, with a thought bubble above her saying, “(The pages are weathered and torn, proof of generations of recipes passed down.)”

Image 2 shows a minigame. The player must select ingredients from an open fridge. On the righthand of the screen is a list asking for noodles, mushrooms, scallions, and sesame oil. Their names are listed in both English and Mandarin.

Image 3 shows Mei standing on the same train as before, this time with her grandparents. Her grandpa is saying, “The truth is, you will never stop grieving her, but you will learn to celebrate her life by cherishing these memories.”

Image 4 shows a minigame. On the right of the screen the player must assemble a puzzle of the sun and the moon in the sky. Assembling the six puzzle pieces affects the left side of the screen, where a skillet is cooking food ingredients over a hot plate.

Image 5 shows Mei on the train with two of her ancestors who are dressed in old, traditional Chinese clothing. Mei is saying, “I wish i knew how to celebrate my identity like how she did: knowing the right amount of sesame oil to ad to wontons.”

end ID.]

A Taste of the Pass is a game about self-love, grief, healing, and holding those you love close. Play as Mei, a Chinese-American high school student who has suddenly loss both her mother and her mother’s recipes. Uncover a recipe for traditional noodles as Mei rides a train with her ancestors in a story about love, discovery, and reconnecting with your heritage. 

For free on Mac, Windows, and as a Browser game. 

Developed by Sondering Studio, a group of creators whose studio name derives from the word “sonder” which means “the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries, and inherited craziness.”

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[ID: A gifset containing four gifs of the 2.5D pixel noir game Ponch: Cyberspace Investigator that has a mostly green and pink color scheme.

Gif 1 shows the protagonist, Ponch, who has a black dog head with pointed ears and is wearing a long green coat. She walks through town and approaches a building with a sign above it that says, “In Loving Memory.” Pixelated NPCs populate the background.

Gif 2 shows a dialogue between Ponch and the human NPC Tiny Tim. Ponch is standing at Tiny Tim’s food stand and is presented with two dialogue options: “How’s business?” and “Got my order?” The player selects “How’s business?” to which Tiny Tim replies “Keeping busy, so can’t complain” in a tan-colored text box.

Gif 3 shows the Chatter Mail feature of the game where the player can read information on characters. A pink window is open on the human NPC Flynn. Her bio says, “Our new client. She hired us to find her missing girlfriend, Hera. Even though Ponch thinks Hera left of her own volition, I get the feeling she might be in serious trouble.” A pixelated portrait of Flynn is next to her Bio. A quote from Flynn says, “…I’m a flyer distributer. Part-time.”

Gif 4 shows a convesation between Ponch and the human NPC Flynn. They are sitting at a table together in a dimly lit room. Flynn has a red dialogue box that says, “It smells in here…” to which Ponch replies, “Of course it does.”

end ID.]

Ponch: Cyberspace Investigator is a 2.5D noir game about the nuanced identities of lesbians of color and their resistance in a post-globalist, cyber dystopia. Play as Ponch, a poor private eye running her illegal business out of an abandoned funeral home’s basement. Take to the streets of the virtual metropolis CITYB and infiltrate its network of MIND.SPACE. to reveal the city’s dirty secrets!

Currently in development. Free demo is available for Mac and Windows.

Developed by a team of three: Lead Programmer KT Mclain, Lead Narrative designer Jay Guisao, and Director/Artist Jude Pinto. Both Guisao and Pinto are alumni of the NYU Game Center.

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[I.D.: A gifset containing four gifs of the game Common’hood.

Gif 1 shows a first person perspective of the player walking through an area with gardens and picking crops while another NPC digs.

Gif 2 shows a changing 3D model of a building structure against a blank minimalist background . The player adds several plants around the structure’s frame.

Gif 3 shows a crafting menu interface. The menu closes to reveal an automated arm operating.

Gif 4 shows several gameplay scenes. The player is collecting resources, digging, and rearranging furniture layouts.

end I.D.]

Common’hood is a simulation management game about building a community! Set in the background of an economic crash, take care of the needs and aspirations of your settlers in a post-capitalist society. Scavenge for materials, build a home, grow food, develop automated technology, craft tools, and build a new family! 

Set to release March 2022 for Windows. Free demo is out now.

Developed by Plethora Project, a design studio exploring the notion of Discrete Architecture. It’s directed by Jose Sanchez, an Architect, Game Designer, and Theorist based in Detroit, Michigan. Game Devs of Color Expo has also interviewed him about the game on their YouTube channel.

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[I.D.: A photoset containing four screenshots of the Twine text game Child of Light.

Image 1 is of the game’s cover. It presents a scratchy drawing of a feminine figure reaching up to the sky as beams of white light shine from the form. The figure appears to be overlayed on top of a land mass surrounded by water, with clouds surrounding her body.

Image 2 is of white text from the game against a black background. The text reads, “Invaders. Encroachers wanting the land: the cave, the resources, the women. We are too few to fight these distant cousins. We will go to another place.” Blue text of a link within the game then reads, “Come along! hurry, before they come.”

Image 3 shows italicized white text against a black background. The text says, “Nona’s mother’s tribe had crept nearer after hearing the screams of the doomed, finding a young woman who’d not reacted to their approach. One of the warriors had thought to take her as his own until he saw the dead baby she carried.” Two options for the player, both presented as links with blue text, read “Stay in the cave and fantasize” and “Approach the old woman again.”

Image 4 shows white dialogue text against a black background that says, “We’ve been waiting for you. We’ve all been waiting for you. We are all here now, all the Children of Light. Welcome home.”

end I.D.]

Child of Light is a short text-based game about a fantasy world set in the ancient past. Play as a young girl as she survives by making hard choices. But no matter how dark the consequences may be, there is always a ray of light. 

For free as a browser game.

Developed by Red Haircrow, a writer; educator; psychologist; and filmmaker who is of Chiricahua Apache, Cherokee, and African American descent. They are based in Berlin, Germany and their research is centered around the intergenerational trauma of marginalized groups. Their consultation company is Flying With Red Haircrow Productions.

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[I.D.: A gifset containing four gifs of the interactive graphic novel It Will Be Hard.

Gif 1 shows the protagonists Arthur and Harold in the kitchen, with the comic panels slowly revealing themselves over a white background.

Gif 2 shows the menu interface of the graphic novel, including settings and save files.

Gif 3 depicts three panels. The first panel features a character out of frame slamming a large cup down saying, “Aaahhh! That’s the stuff!” The second panel is revealed, showing a small building. The same character says, “Shite! I’ve got it everywhere. Sorry!” The screen scrolls down as the third panel is reveal. It shows three people side-by-side at a bar counter. The character on the far right says, “You know, I’m really gonna miss this when the place gets busy again.” The character on the far left says, “The quiet does have a charm.”

Gif 4 depicts two panels. In the first panel, Harold, who is out of frame  addressing a friend: “Should we hop bars again? I’ve lost count of how many places we’ve been already…” His friend replies, “Why don’t we haunt your friend’s bar? And where is Arthur anyways? Shouldn’t he be your wingman?” In the second panel, Harold is in focus saying, “Arthur… Well, he works there. We both do, actually. He doesn’t get anything out of these outings. Unlike me, he doesn’t need to hook up.”

end I.D.]

It Will Be Hard is an interactive graphic novel about working towards a fulfilling relationship! Experience the story of Arthur and Harold, two men whose sexualities are the polar opposite. This gentle, optimistic, and optionally erotic story focuses on gray-asexuality, polyamory, and the importance of communication between partners.

For free for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Developed by Hien Pham, a gay Vietnamese developer who focuses on making optimistic queer stories of respite, caring, and being loved. 

This game was recommended by @sqbr.

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[I.D.: A gifset containing four gifs of the game We Are The Caretakers.

Gif 1 shows a cutscene of one of the caretaker characters mourning the loss of a slain rhinoceros-like alien creature. The character looks up as a black darkness leaks down from the top of the frame. 

Gif 2 shows inventory menus that display different stats for the characters (such a a level, class, and health bar) and locations in the game. 

Gif 3 shows a top down shot of the game’s resource management. The player is observing the statuses of different areas of the level’s map.

Gif 4 show different scenes the characters fighting each other with energy spells; some of which shoot beams of energy, others which cause small explosions, and others which make fire drop from the sky. 

end I.D.]

We Are The Caretakers is an Afrofuturist RPG about protecting endangered animals and the world from aliens! Assemble a squad of 9 arcane members in a procedurally generated, morally-complex world. Meet leaders, research technologies, and balance diplomacy!

For Windows.

Developed by Heart Shaped Games, a design-centric indie studio made of diverse veterans in the industry. Their mission is to create an impact through meaningful and memorable games that players will love.

They will also be donating 10% of all game revenue to the Wildlife Conservation Network’s Rhino Recovery Fund.

[Image Description: A grayscale shot of two rhinos standing amongst grass. Beneath them is white text reading, “10% of game revenue goes to save rhinos.” The Wildlife Conservation Network’s logo and abbreviated acronym (WCN) are in the bottom right corner. End Description.]

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[Image ID: A gifset containing four gifs of the first person game Neon White.

Gif 1 shows a first person perspective of the player character, Neon White, in two different levels. One level is set amongst the rooftops of white buildings in the clouds and the player is using a Soul Card with the Stomp ability to jump off a ledge and slam down in front of an enemy. The scene transitions to a different level inside a building with warm lighting. One enemy points a read laser beam at the player as they destroy another enemy.

Gif 2 shows Neon White speaking to the character Neon Violet in a typical visual novel layout. Neon Violet’s text box says, “You can just really tell a lot about someone by how they’d like to be murdered.” Neon White asks, “So this is a question you ask a lot?” and Neon Violet replies, “On every date, yes.”

Gif 3 shows a first person perspective of the player switching between Soul Cards. The player first uses the Soul Card labeled as Purify, which appears as a purple card with an assault rifle’s silhouette on it, to shoot at enemies. The player approaches a ledge and switches to the yellow Soul Card labeled as Elevate, which displays a silhouette of a pistol, to float to the next part of the level.

Gif 4 shows Neon White and another character talking to the NPC Mikey. They are in a standard visual novel layout. Mikey appears to be an orange cat with triangular sunglasses on a floating cloud. A text box displays Mikey’s dialogue saying, “If you saw my true form you’re freakin’ head would explode!!”

End Image ID.]

Neon White is a fast-paced first person game about killing demons in Heaven! Play as Neon White, an assassin plucked from Hell to compete with other demon slayers for a chance to live in Heaven. Collect or discard “Soul Cards” to use your abilities, uncover Heaven’s mysteries, and learn about your past life!

For Windows and Nintendo Switch. 

Developed by Angel Matrix, whose dev team includes designers Aims Zhang and Justin Lu, video editor Tiffany Lockheart, narrative writer Samantha Ivonne Ortiz, illustrator Jorge Luis González Anton, and more.

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[ID.: A gifset containing four gifs of the upcoming low poly game Petit Island.

Gif 1 shows the player character, a cat named Lily, approaching an NPC on the beach. The NPC is a brown bear and Lily’s speech bubble reads, “Hi Pete!”

Gif 2 shows Lily being customized by the player, who can select the colors of Lily’s fur, clothing, and backpack. Of all the options, Lily has large circular glasses that are a constant. 

Gif 3 shows Lily running along a path through town. The path goes past several colorful buildings and the player runs with their arms spread out like an airplane. 

Gif 4 shows the player looking through a camera lens at a turtle. The lens flashes, with the scene transitioning to a polaroid picture of the turtle. 

end ID.]

Petit Island is an open-world game about relieving your grandpaw’s youthful adventures! Play as Lily as you capture beautiful photos to help grandpaw remember his past. Discover a the spirit for adventure in yourself as you explore Petit Island, find hidden treasure, meet a quirky cast of characters, and customize yourself to your heart’s desire!

Release date for Windows is to be announced. 

Developed by Xelo Games, a small studio based in Bali, Indonesia. The studio’s Twitter links to an official Discord server for the game, and they have produced other titles such as Escape from Naraka. They also post frequent community questions on their Instagram.

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[ID: A gifset containing five gifs of the upcoming game Grid Force - Mask Of The Goddess. 

Gif 1 showcases the characters Donna, Pan, Bird, and Koniko next to their avatars and gameplay footage of their abilities.

Gif 2 showcases the characters Pai, Himba, Joja, and Seke next to their avatars and gameplay footage of their abilities.

Gif 3 shows gameplay footage of different fights, showing off the abilities of the characters with the text “The speed of a fighting game” at the bottom.

Gif 4 shows upgraded stats of characters with the text “Power and mask upgrades” at the bottom.

Gif 5 shows various boss fights against the player with the text “Giant boss battles” at the bottom.

end ID.]

Grid Force - Mask Of The Goddess is an upcoming grid-based action RPG with an all female cast! Play as Donna as she seeks to create the perfect team of heroines to fight the Goddess of Gora and save the future. Recruit and evolve dozens of unique characters through a manga-style narrative in a story about inclusion, personal growth, and responsibility in the multicultural world of Gora!

Set to release for Windows in 2022. Free demo is out now.

Developed by Playtra Games, a small studio based in London and founded by Black developer Dan Bernardo. Their mission is to create games that will define a generation with the values of redefining fun, building memories, and creating a legacy.