Go hands-on with these made-in-Singapore games at GameStart 2017

BattleSky Brigade by BattleBrew Productions

• Genre: Strategy
• Platform: Mobile
• Expected Release Date: Early 2018

BattleBrew is a studio helmed by industry veterans, led by CEO Shawn Toh, a former game designer who cut his teeth in successful mobile game companies such as Nubee and Gumi Asia. The studio’s maiden title, BattleSky Brigade, is a mobile strategy game that leans heavily into the strength of mobile gaming – by placing a heavy focus on guilds and the social aspect of gaming. The team plans on releasing the game on Android and iOS in the first half of 2018.

Buglords by Ratloop Studios

• Genre: Strategy
• Platform: TBA
• Expected Release Date: First half 2018

In Buglords, botanical bugs form symbiosis with their plants that rely on their hosts to propagate and protect their species. In return, the plant supplies the bug with an intense energy it can channel from fertile soil. Pit your skills against other insects and defeat other Buglords to expand your garden empire! The game has both player vs player and player vs environment elements and up to four players can play at the same time.

Cat Quest by The Gentlebros

• Genre: Open World RPG
• Platform: iOS/Android/PC
• Expected Release Date: November 10, 2017 (Nintendo Switch); released on other platforms

Cat Quest is a 2D Open World RPG set in the fantastic and wonderful world of cats! Play as a cat-venturer as you explore a massive continent crafted in the unique style of tapestry! Relive the good old days of exploring an overworld map as you raid dungeons for epic loot, complete quests and meet the many furry denizens of this world.

Songbird Symphony by Joysteak Studios

• Genre: 2D Musical Adventure
• Platform: –
• Expected Release Date: TBA

Pamper yourself with this prime real estate with Birb Bath included #screenshotsaturday #pixelart #indiedev #gamedev #birb pic.twitter.com/23xLevTAae

— Songbird Symphony (@SongbirdSymph) September 30, 2017

Songbird Symphony is a 2D musical adventure game depicting the tale of a young bird named Birb as he leaves the safety of his nest to confront the outside world and discover his true identity. Along the way, he encounters other feathery denizens and learns the language of the forest, ultimately unveiling his destiny. Songbird Symphony has been in development since late May 2017, born from the idea of making a game about birds teaching songs to each other, and presented in the style of a musical.

Since the debut of the game’s demo,, Songbird Symphony has won several awards and features from online game portals such as Newgrounds, GameJolt and Kongregate, while also garnering good reviews from online journals such as Waypoint (VICE), Alpha Beta Gamer and Lunawolf Gaming. It has also been nominated for the “Best Foreign Game Award” at IndiePlay 2017.

Avertigos South China Sky by Playware

• Genre: Board Game
• Expected Release Date: TBA

Avertigos is a Living Miniatures game that uses an innovative and proprietary height widget to allow players to raise and lower their miniature flying ships on the table top to simulate flight. These flying ships can rise to an impressive height of 12 inches over the game board, creating a thematically appropriate and satisfying visual and tactile experience while playing. In the game, ships that attain greater heights get tactical advantages such as reach and initiative over their rivals.The ships are modular and can be customised to look and act very differently from each other. Customising the ship is easy to do by simply picking up and replacing one module with another. The modules are sculpted to show what they do and represent various tactical abilities and features. This creates many permutation and combinations of strategies and tactics for players to experiment with. The Game adopts an Asian Steampunk aesthetic that is evident in the design of the ships, modules and sails.

Dusty’s Raging Fist by PD Design Studio

• Genre: Action RPG
• Platform: PlayStation 4/Nintendo Switch/Xbox One/PC
• Expected Release Date: Q1 2018

When the occurrence of the dark moons began, Dusty, Darg and Kitsune knew that something is amiss. An ancient evil from a faraway land threatens the peace of Double Bill Town. Prompted by a visit from the helpless Elijah, the trio set off to seek the Iron Knight’s help. Along the way, they must battle rogue villains, encounter ancient powers and face the battle of their lives.

Players will be able to co-op play up to three players in the style of classic beat’em up games in a stylistic world as they play one of the three protagonists, while being able to call up powerful support characters to aid them in combat. Players can also collect and utilise powerful guardians and elemental powers to help them in their quest.

Fighting RPG by Cheong Mun Chun

• Genre: RPG
• Platform: PC
• Expected Release Date: TBA

This prototype RPG prides itself with its unique mechanics, integrating the levelling up and linear storyline of RPGs with the robust and dynamic combat system of a fighting game. The concept was born out of the idea to introduce casual gamers to the fighting game genre while also providing a new experience to fans of fighting game titles.

Masquerada by Witching Hour Studios

• Genre: RPG
• Platform: PC/PS4
• Expected Release Date: Released

A liner-based storyline RPG with pause-for-tactics mechanics, this Singaporean-made game was globally lauded for its story, while backed by a stellar cast of voice actors such as Matthew Mercer.

In the turmoil-ridden Citte della Ombre, religion holds no sway. Only the songs sung of one’s deeds will carry an Ombrian’s legacy beyond death. Those who hold even the smallest morsel of power will make every effort to ensure their songs live on. Enter the Mascherines – masks from an ancient time that allow its wielders to channel the elements into destructive magic.

Players can take advantage of synergies between each character’s magic spells by way of the Elemental Tag system. By casting particular elements in succession, players can leverage element – based status effects for crowd control, such as blinding smog or a debilitating cloud of steam. For example, an earth spell inflicts an enemy with an earth elemental tag, which can be triggered by a water spell to ensnare the enemy in show-stopping mud.

• Genre: RTS-MOBA
• Platform: PC
• Expected Release Date: Early 2018

Neo Impossible Bosses is an RTS-MOBA game where the player utilises a group of heroes, and even teaming up with his friends, to defeat impossible bosses. Inspired by the original custom map “Impossible Bosses” by Psyris and many other MMO raidbosses, each boss is a unique, challenging encounter and has their own signature abilities.

Noiro by Diceroll Studios

• Genre: 2D Puzzle-Action
• Platform: PC/Mobile
• Expected Release Date: Early 2018

Noiro is a mobile and PC 2D puzzle-action game set in a stylised world. The game utilises a unique drawing mechanic that allows players to plan and guide the characters Huey and Satura across beautiful but dangerous landscapes as they embark on a journey to help Satura regain her memories while recolouring their world. 

Stifled by Gattai Games

• Genre:: Thriller/horror
• Platform: PS4
• Expected Release Date: End 2017

Stifled is a VR and mic-enabled sound-based stealth thriller, where sound is the only way you see and the enemies hear your fear. The game uses the theory of ‘echolocation’, with characters revealing the hidden world around them through the sounds they make. Players will have to tread the balance between making sounds to see, and staying quiet to avoid the attention of the creatures that lurk in the darkness. The game has received global recognition and accolades since the announcement of its launch last year.

Stratos Fantasea by Kaiju Den

• Genre: Action RPG
• Platform: PlayStation VR/Vive/Occulus
• Expected Release Date: Early 2018

Stratos Fantasea is a virtual-reality game where players take the role of a hunter as they look to hunt flying monsters. Players are able to customize their crew and ship as well as team up with their buddies to hunt or simply explore a beautiful world in Virtual Reality.