What's the best way to create a game? Probably, the answer is to put in genuine effort and commitment to the project. That's what the creators of the recently released cinematic platformer Deer & Boy have done.

The game follows a heartfelt story about a runaway boy and his companion, a fragile fawn, and the creators filmed real-life animation references to bring them to life. The characters' silent story, told through visuals and emotional music, follows the fawn as it grows from a fragile creature into a majestic deer. As the pair experience their adventures together, their friendship deepens along the way.

Check out another clip with real-life footage recorded for animating the characters:

Take a closer look at the process of creating the characters, from sketching to 3D modeling:

Deer & Boy, from developer Lifeline Games and publisher Dear Villagers, was released on June 23 and has been warmly received by the audience, being called a "hidden indie gem" and praised for its cinematic graphics, calm, relaxing gameplay, and touching storytelling.

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