As an avid player and lover of games, Daigo started making games when he was still in middle school. After studying computer science at university and working for several game companies, he decided to strike out on his own. That’s how the indie studio Odencat came to be, and he’s been making indie games since then. His creations include the heartwarming Bear’s Restaurant and Mousebusters, among many others.

“I’ve always loved developing games, but I realised that what I really want to do is tell stories, so I’ve been focusing on developing games that are centred around a story.”

Although Odencat is a one-person studio, Daigo recruits a team for each project. His global teams include writers who craft the game’s plot and each character’s arc, artists who create the game’s visual style and composers who work on the music.

“Including translators, we have 20 collaborators all around the world, including Japan, Vietnam, Denmark, America and France. We use Discord as our main communication tool, and we communicate in English or Japanese. These team members are my school friends, office colleagues, game creators I met online and artists I met on business trips, We’re still getting to know new people and finding new synergies between individuals who share our enthusiasm for Odencat.”

The unique RPG engine that Daigo developed is the key to the team’s creative direction, and made it possible to create the studio’s signature pixellated visuals.

In Bear’s Restaurant, one of Odencat’s most popular games, you play as a cat, an assistant to the bear chef who runs a cosy restaurant. It first appears to be a normal diner, but soon you’ll discover that it serves a last meal to those whose lives on Earth have just ended. As you chat with the customers to discover their favourite foods, you’ll also get a glimpse of their stories through their fragmented memories, prompting you to pause and reflect on your own past.

As a game about the afterlife, it’s fitting that Bear’s Restaurant was Daigo’s last attempt at making it as an indie developer: if the game wasn’t well-received, he would lose the funds and passion to continue creating.

He recalls: “To present the serious theme of life-and-death in a lighthearted way, I created a world that is picturesque, approachable and gentle. I wanted to surprise the player with the game between the game’s presentation and content. The pixel art gives the player room to imagine, while also reducing the amount of work needed to develop the visuals. I think the art style goes well with the game’s theme.”

His approach paid off: the game was a success, and now even has a spin-off sequel: Fishing Pardiso, a fishing game set in heaven. In addition to expanding your fish collection, you’ll also meet friends, decorate your space and explore different areas of the afterlife. All these elements of the game are designed so that you would want to stay immersed in the world.

When spring comes, the snow melts. In Snowman Story, the snowy hero must escape from the warm weather and reach a sanctuary of eternal winter, while solving puzzles along the way. As you encounter artefacts left behind by your snow brethren, the game prompts you to consider questions of life and death.

The initial idea came from a sketch Daigo made in his notebook, one of a snowman running away from spring, two years before he started working on the game.

He says that the game is a like a picture book that can be enjoyed by anyone: “It’s fun, and you can also learn from it.”

Mousebusters is set in a haunted apartment building, and centres around the relationship between the residents. When the protagonist is turned into a mouse, he joins the Mousebusters to eliminate the evil spirits that haunt the apartment building and free the residents from their gloomy presence.

“I started developing the game because I wanted to prompt players to think about how we are all connected to one another,” Daigo explains. He says that every interaction in the game is designed to lead you to the final scene: “The player has to make the final decision by themselves.” He feels that the game is successful in drawing the player into the story and experiencing it for themselves.

The stories that Daigo crafts are created to leave a lasting impression on the player. He reflects: “Most of the games that stayed in my memory are Japanese RPGs. They’re more than a way to pass the time, they left their mark on me. That’s why I want to make games that provide a unique, memorable experience to the player.”

He understands that in order to touch people’s hearts, it’s necessary to add surprises or deep, profound elements, so he considers these while developing the game’s story and structure.

The most important thing in game development, according to Daigo, is whether the team would be interested in playing it and confidently share it with the world.

Because he wants the games to be enjoyed by as many people as possible, they’re always released in English, Japanese and Korean at the same time. Certain games, including Bear’s Restaurant, Fishing Paradiso, Snowman Story and Mousebusters, are available in more than 10 languages as they’re released in different regions around the world.

What’s the meaning behind the name “Odencat”? Daigo laughs and says that it’s named after the oden-loving cat in Bear’s Restaurant. It’s laid-back, quirky and represents the studio’s approach of encouraging creators to bring their unique talents to the table.

Thoughtfully designed games can stay with us long after the final scene, because they’re filled with the creator’s feelings. If you want to experience a lighthearted yet profound story told through a game, here are a selection of Odencat games you might like.