This Exciting Local Game Is Bringing Filipino Species Into the Spotlight

Getting bored of doomscrolling through your feed? We discovered a game that will get you hooked!

Climb Knight is available via App Store

Whether you’re looking for a mobile game that brings back the nostalgia of the arcade games you grew up playing or one that offers something new and refreshing, Darius Immanuel Guerrero brings his personal experiences and love for retro gaming to life through Climb Knight!

“I really love retro games. I’ve even made titles that are playable on vintage systems like the ZX Spectrum, NES, and Game Boy. Climb Knight is my love letter to the aesthetics of the other games I grew up with, like brick games and games on Nokia phones,” he said in an exclusive interview with WhenInManila.com

Darius Immanuel Guerrero

Climb Knight, a retro climbing platformer featured in the App Store’s Games Come Home campaign, is an easy-to-play mobile game where players must tap, jump, and climb their way up the leaderboards while dodging traps and monsters.

According to Darius, the game was inspired by popular one-button games like Flappy Bird, Canabalt, and Zombie Tsunami.

The game might sound simple at first, but there’s more to it than meets the eye! For this year’s edition, the game introduces special, limited-time wildlife-inspired gameplay that puts Filipino species in the spotlight. It also highlights the country’s unique biodiversity and shows how local wildlife can find its place in the mainstream gaming scene.

Meet Tarsier Tales

Integrated into Climb Knight, Tarsier Tales is a mini-game that introduces players to the Philippine tarsier, a species endemic to the southeastern part of the country.

According to Darius, this wildlife-inspired gameplay was inspired by his own experience of seeing tarsiers in Bohol. Through Climb Knight, he found that tarsiers were a natural fit and could complement the game’s mechanics!

Initially, the tarsier was supposed to be included as a bonus character or a non-playable character (NPC) in the game. However, his memorable experience of seeing the animal eventually changed his mind.

“Climb Knight and Tarsier Tales are featured on App Store as part of the Games Come Home on App Store, celebrating indie games from the Southeast Asian region. With this year’s theme spotlighting endangered species in the region, the Philippine tarsier felt like a natural fit. It’s a fascinating animal, and its climbing abilities connected well with Climb Knight’s gameplay,” he said.

In the game, players take on the role of a knight tasked with finding tarsiers across ten short levels. Once they complete each level, they also get to learn something new about these fascinating animals!

Touching on tarsier conservation, the game developer emphasized the importance of responsible wildlife tourism. He also highlighted how a game that raises awareness about this cause can serve as a quick yet fun introduction to wildlife conservation for players.

What’s next for Darius and Climb Knight?

The future of Climb Knight is promising!

Climb Knight is available via App Store

As the mobile game captivates players with the charm and nostalgia of retro games, it also shines a light on the Philippines’ rich heritage and wildlife.

While there’s still so much that can happen, Darius hopes to bring “wildlife, folklore, and local stories” into his games—not as a checkbox or a marketing gimmick, nor simply for the sake of showing off, but to strengthen Filipino representation in the gaming scene and create games that players can be proud of.

“I don’t want to add culture to a game just to tick a box. I’d only do it if the gameplay and the story both call for it. But since so much of what I make draws on my own experiences, without even trying, some of that Filipino flavor always seeps through.

He also believes that there’s so much “potential” among Filipino game makers and developers, with Climb Knight serving as living proof that even a small project can find and reach an international audience and earn recognition from major platforms.

“I also see plenty of local developers meeting up and joining game jams, and many college students releasing projects with great reviews. I love seeing Filipino games recognized because they’re great games, and not only because they’re Filipino. Our country has always been full of creatives, and I’d encourage them to give game development a try. It might be just the way to tell the stories they’ve always wanted to tell,” he said.

At the heart of it all, Darius simply wants to have fun in life, whatever he may be pursuing.

And truthfully, we’re seeing that mindset come to life! His rich experiences shine through Climb Knight and his future endeavors.

“I want my creations to be playful experiences that people enjoy and that might leave a lasting impression.

With Tarsier Tales, I’d be happy if even one player got curious enough to look up the Philippine tarsier. Sometimes getting someone to care about something they have never thought about is the right place to begin, and if that happens, our tiny knight has done his job.

You can install Climb Knight on the App Store!

ALSO READ: How a 19-Year-Old Solo Developer Built a Horror Game on a P1,247 Budget

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