#latine devs

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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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[ID: A gifset containing four gifs of the handrawn point & click game Lunar Axe.

Gif 1 shows a dusty, dimly lit and partially destroyed corridor with cob webs. A figure in a black cloak glides up a staircase before fading into nothing.

Gif 2 shows an illustrated page with an ornate border. The left side of the page depicts a night time scene of two people outside watching a giant snake raise its head above trees in the distance. Text on the right reads, “Since the beginning of time there has been a mythological snake that inhabits this island. Nobody knows what its origin is or its goals. Generally, it remains asleep underground for centures, but when it wakes up and goes to the surface, several earthquakes occur and it generates destruction everywhere it passes with its colossal body.” Two text options below the excerpt read “Leaf” and “Moon.” 

Gif 3 shows the game’s lock-picking minigame. The player is presented with a view of a pin tumbler lock, with the player using the pick to push the lock pins up. When the pins reach the right height, they turn green.

Gif 4 shows a mossy scene of a moss covered skeleton leaning against a stone wall as water rushes by it. The player clicks on a journal next to the skeleton, with the screen displaying pages from the journal. The journal entry reads, “Friday, April 1, 1672. This is the end. These will probably be my last words... Someone broke into my house and chased me into the basement. I am hurt... they left me here to bleed out... I believed I would be safe after the failure of Beckman’s revolt, but it seems I still have enemies to this day... Damn it, I can’t die yet, someone needs to protect the ax-”

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Lunar Axe is a point & click adventure game inspired by Brazilian folklore and real world locations! After an earthquake, find yourself trapped in an abandoned house. Unravel mysteries, solve puzzles, meet a guardian spirit, and collect items before the city is destroyed!

For Windows and Linux. Free demo is available on itch.io

Developed by Ops Game Studio, an indie company based in São Luís, Maranhão, Brasil. They focus on immersive games that create unique experiences; advergames to promote products; and serious games to teach audiences different skills.

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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 action RPG game Nobody Saves the World. 

Gif 1 quickly cycles through different forms the player can take on. There is the default formless form, a body builder, a ghost, a martial artist, a horse, a zombie, an egg, and a magician.

Gif 2 shows three forms the player can take to get through areas. One form is a mouse going through a narrow path, another form allows the player to glide through water, and a martial artist form summons a ring of energy around the player.

Gif 3 shows the player in their horse form as they meet another horse. A text box reads, “Your horsey eyes have never beheld such beauty. This is the stallion you’ve dreamed of your whole horsey life.”

Gif 4 shows the player utilizing different abilities in different forms across multiple level environments. One ability shoots a stream of green liquid from the horse form, another summons a spell ring around the egg form, another shoots projectiles as a ghost, and another rapidly fires arrows.

end I.D.]

Nobody Saves the World is an action RPG about transforming into a slug, a ghost, and even a dragon! Play as a featureless Nobody who gains 15+ additional forms to mix and match powers when the ancient Calamity re-awakens. Complete quests for this world’s strange inhabitants, explore shape-shifting dungeons, and try to save the world by yourself or in co-op!

For Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S.

Developed by Drinkbox Studios Inc, a company based in Toronto, Canada. They’re behind other games such as Guacamelee! 2.  

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[I.D.: A photoset containing five screenshots from the game Portrait of a Texas Family.

Image 1 shows the character customization menu. Brown skin, a hairstyle of long reddish brown dreadlocks swept over the shoulder, a large chest, a large body, and dark brown eyes are selected.

Image 2 shows the player character standing in their living room with three dialogue options listed. They read, “Text Martín that you need to chat when they arrive,” “Wait for them to get home,” and “Text them that you love them.”

Image 3 shows the player at the beach with their transgender daughter Sofía and their partner Martín. Martín’s dialogue text box says, “...It’ll be your first time playing with other kids since you told us how you felt, right?”

Image 4 shows a desk with a computer on it. The player’s internal thoughts in a text box say, “All of this was meant to show how unconditional we both were in our love and care for our daughter in case Child Protective Services ever investigated us.”

Image 5 shows the family outside of a small market. Martín, with arms crossed, says, “I know to you it’s just clothes, but you need to be careful about saying certain comments in public spaces.”

end I.D.]

Portrait of a Texas Family is a slice-of-life game about love and resilience. Set amidst Texan Governor Greg Abbott’s transphobic state orders, care for your transgender daughter, Sofía, as you and your partner Martín gather items for your “safe folder.” Customize yourself and recount key, gender-affirming moments from the past as you and your family prepare for an unknown, but hopeful future.

For free on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Developed by Lookout Drive Games, a diverse studio in New York City that aims to create inclusive, narrative-driven games. They were inspired by a tweet from Denton, Texas mother and activist Amber Briggle in response to Texan Governor Greg Abbott’s order declaring trans-affirming healthcare for children as a foundation of parental abuse. The game’s page also links to the following charities to help transgender children and their families: 

Equality Texas

Organización Latina de Trans en Texas

Transgender Education Network of Texas

Trans Pride Initiative

ACLU of Texas

Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund

Lambda Legal

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[I.D.: A gifset containing four gifs of the upcoming game Tiny Witch. 

Gif 1 shows customers approaching the player’s counter. The player is seen putting ingredients into an activity station. 

Gif 2 shows a cauldron from one of the activity stations firing a blue spell that damages the player.

Gif 3 shows the player at different activity stations filling orders. The player briefly looks at their recipe book and flips through the pages.

Gif 4 shows a customer firing a spell at the player after being dissatisfied with the service.

end I.D.]

Tiny Witch is a management game about running a magical store that creates minions! Keep up with orders placed by dungeon masters by activating spells and recipes. Satisfy your customers’ requests or suffer the consequences! 

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

Developed by Creative Hand, a studio located in São Paulo, Brazil. They are a small team of four who focus on creating premium pixel art games in the Game Maker Studio 2 engine.

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[ID: A gifset containing four gifs about the narrative game Where the Water Tastes Like Wine.

Gif 1 shows an animation of a traveller sitting on a train car watching the passing scenery. It transitions into the traveller walking in a field. 

Gif 2 shows a stranger in a straw hat sitting by a fire at night. A menu displays an inventory where the items are illustrated as tarot cards.

Gif 3 shows a text snippet from a story: “The hotel is an old manor house that’s seen better days, a grand structure surmounted by a gambrel roof that dwarfs the house itself. It’s eerily still, but for two boys at play; each one so small and light they barely leave tracks in the deep snow.” An illustration of two boys along with the two selectable options saying “Make your way inside” or “Watch them” accompany the story. 

Gif 4 shows a skeleton carrying a stick with a bindle tied to it as it walks across a map of the United States

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Where the Water Tastes Like Wine is a narrative adventure game about traveling, sharing stories, and surviving manifest destiny. Set in the Depression era of the United Staes, come across folkloric stories from the strangers you meet. Encounter strange and unsettling things, see where folk tales bleed into life, and unlock the most powerful type of stories in people!

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

Developed by Dim Bulb Games and Serenity Forge. Its writing team features a diverse set of creators such as Black creators Austin Walker and Gita Jackson; non-binary Nádleehí Diné artist Demian Dinéyazhi'; São Paulo-based writer Bruno Dias; and Anishinaabe writer Elizabeth LaPensée.

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[ID: A gifset containing four GIFs, depicting trailer footage for the sci-fi visual novel, The Sky Left Us.

Gif 1 shows text displayed on the screen, with a dark abstract environment in the background. The text reads, "A planet with a semi-toxic atmosphere. A rigid caste system drawn across tiers of air quality."

Gif 2 presents three portraits of the game’s characters. The first two are Indigo and Avery, known as "The Pirates". Next it shows Breeze, "The Windy Kid".

Gif 3 is footage of a dialogue scene between the player character Spire Risan and Chiro Halen, another character. Spire says “I don’t know how to dance” and Chiro responds with “I can tell. I don’t care.”

Gif 4 presents portraits of two other characters: Lior, "The Revolutionary," and Vee, "The Diver."

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The Sky Left Us is a sci-fi visual novel about climate change, classism, and relationships! Play as nonbinary protagonist Spire Risan, an off-world scientist who becomes entangled in the drama surrounding the mountain they came to save. With technology that could rewrite the atmosphere and culture of planet Zé, explore complex routes of love, family, and the systems that shape us!

Set to release summer of 2022 for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Demo is out now.

Developed by Ratworm Games, a diverse studio specializing in speculative fiction games that are lgbt+ inclusive. With the inclusion of platonic, sexual, romantic, aromantic, and polyamorous relationships in their game, Ratworm Games has also created an original soundtrack that can be heard on their YouTube channel.

This game was recommended by anon.