LogInNgọc Hữu Nguyễn, the co-founder of TripleBricksGames, told us about Just A Shadow Game, a "demonic fusion of deckbuilding, ritual duels, and roguelite," inspired by Loop Hero, Inscryption, and Monopoly, which a demon told him to create in his dream.
Introduction
Hello! My name is Ngọc, my English name is James, and I am the co-founder of TripleBricksGames as well as the game director for the Just A Shadow Game project. Like with many other game developers, my childhood and hobby revolved around video games. I played many different types of games and even enjoyed creating board games for my friends to play. However, it wasn’t until my college years that I decided to pursue game development seriously. It might have been a bit late compared to others, but in a traditionally conservative country like mine, people don’t have the most favorable view of this industry.
As for TripleBricksGames, we are a young team from Vietnam with a burning passion for video games. Fueled by our youthful energy and love for the craft, we dedicate ourselves fully to every creative project, no matter how challenging the journey may be. Our previous game, Legendary Hoplite, was a decent effort but didn’t quite meet our expectations. However, it still received recognition in Vietnam, including nominations for Vietnam Game of the Year and Vietnam Indie Game of the Year. These achievements are a testament to the many challenges and obstacles we faced along the way, but we persevered and succeeded.
TripleBricksGames
We met by chance, brought together by our shared passion for making games. Initially, each of us had our own jobs and worked on games in our free time. However, the irregular schedule eventually wore us out, and we realized we didn’t know when the game would ever be finished. That’s when we decided to quit our jobs and start a company to fully dedicate ourselves to creating indie games.
We started with just three people, and now our team has grown to 11 members. We’ve divided the group into two smaller teams, with each team working on a different game. Our team is currently handling the project Just A Shadow Game. The unique aspect of our team is that we operate entirely remotely, primarily to reduce costs
Just A Shadow Game
Deckbuilding is one of my favorite genres, and this game draws inspiration from Loop Hero, Inscryption, and Monopoly. However, the real reason I decided to create this game is a bit unusual. I once had a dream where I met a demon. He was bored and wanted to try something new. Seeing my frustration over the lack of success in my previous game, he offered me a contract to make this one. He promised it would be a huge success, but in return, a part of my humanity would be absorbed into the game. When you play, you'll experience a piece of that soul.
We use Unity to make this game. Regarding the art style, we drew a lot of inspiration from cartoons like Gravity Falls and games in the same genre, such as Inscryption, Don't Starve, and Cult of the Lamb. However, the game will still feature our own unique artistic touch.
In Just A Shadow Game, you are thrust into a world shrouded in darkness, tasked with ascending into an Eldritch entity. Weave spells of untold horror, summon the dead from the Void, erect defensive buildings that defy nature itself, and experience demonic story-telling method with Shadow as the Game Master as you strive to become the true Overlord of the world.
You will be the Player, role-playing as Warlock in a game created by Shadow himself. The game tells a story about the journey of Warlock, a fierce and ruthless Overlord of Bestia. His desire for power far surpassed his mortal flesh; thus, he formed a pact with Shadow, tasked with slaying three mighty Eldritch entities. By fulfilling this task, Warlock would be granted absolute power.
The game world is post-apocalyptic for the denizens here. All species are subjected to subjugation by Shadow. Beyond merely affecting the races, Shadow also distorts the world according to his own will.
Virtually all races within this realm exhibit humanoid-animal hybrid characteristics. Each race possesses distinct abilities that affect how the Player's Ritual works. Bearing similarity to Earth's animals, the denizens in this realm are categorized into groups called clans by the denizens themselves. Each clan has unique cards, buildings, and Pagans, creating distinct combos and play styles among clans.
According to our plan, in the official release, the Player will be able to experience three main clans:
- Rodents: This clan balances between offensive and defensive playstyle.
- Carnivore: This clan thrives on a highly offensive playstyle, focusing on attacking and sacrificing Pagans as well as other cards.
- Union of Shell: This clan consists of crustaceans, thriving on defensive capability.
For each match, the Player will be provided with a sacrifice. This is a living creature that is tied to a stake at the center of the Ritual and harnesses its own soul to run the Ritual, as well as providing souls for the Player. The Ritual of Shadow works the same way. Once this sacrifice is eliminated, the Ritual will no longer be able to maintain and be immediately destroyed.
Gameplay
Just A Shadow Game combines roguelite deckbuilding with ritual dueling mechanics. Players participate in ritual-based duels, where the goal is to protect your sacrifice while attacking your opponent’s ritual. The central gameplay revolves around a looping road where NPCs, called Pagans, automatically move and activate the effects of adjacent buildings. These buildings can either defend, summon creatures, or directly attack the opponent’s ritual. The game also includes a card system, where players draw and play cards to build their Rituals, place structures, or activate special effects.
The game starts with a basic deck, and players use cards to build and manage their Ritual. Each card can summon buildings, activate powers, or support the player's defenses and attacks. The dueling aspect comes in when you need to balance defense and offense – protecting your sacrifice from being destroyed while also trying to destroy the opponent’s sacrifice. Decisions on which cards to play and which buildings to activate are key to outsmarting your opponent and progressing through the game.
In addition to the vast content that players can explore, such as cards, buildings, and races, Just A Shadow Game also features a mysterious and compelling storyline. The narrative revolves around themes of love and greed, focusing on a Warlock’s tragic journey to revive his kin and the pact he forms with Shadow. This tale adds emotional depth to the game, and we believe it will be a crucial element that players will remember long after they finish playing. The story is intricately woven into the gameplay, creating a strong connection between the player's actions and the unfolding drama, making each decision feel meaningful and impactful. This rich narrative, combined with strategic deckbuilding and dueling, ensures that Just A Shadow Game offers an unforgettable experience.
One of the most exciting features is Shadow’s role in the game. Shadow is not just a character: it's a living entity that actively interacts with players, from manipulating the user interface to making choices about rewards. Shadow’s hands may sometimes help or hinder you during the game, and its dialogue changes based on your decisions, creating a dynamic, immersive experience that makes players feel like they're dealing with an intelligent, malevolent force.
Community
Our game has now reached more than 6,000 wishlists on Steam in just a month, which is a great achievement for us. However, we haven't done anything special apart from posting on Facebook. We are passionate about making a great game, but our resources are limited. That's why we are currently looking for a publisher to help us take Just A Shadow Game to the next level. We are planning to release a demo in the next 1-2 months, and we hope that by then, we will have many potential publishers reaching out to us.
We have big ambitions for this game and are eager to partner with a quality publisher. Our plan is to have a demo ready in 1-2 months. After that, we’ll seek out a publisher and focus entirely on creating the best game possible.