“Extreme Hack-and-Slash Pleasure. (translated)” (link)
– 4Gamer
“engaging gameplay with an emotionally charged narrative” (link)
– Rectify Gaming
Cyber Paradise
Title: Cyber Paradise
Target Release & Platforms: 2024 (Steam, PC & Mac), 2025 (Switch)
Genre: Action Roguelite, Story-rich, Adventure, Strategy
Steam Page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2431790
Kickstarter link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ddmeow/cyber-paradise-a-2d-action-roguelite-game?ref=4syto4
Languages: English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Japanese
Game Developer: DDmeow Games
Contact: meow@ddmeow.net (Eng), uly@ddmeow.net (Chi)
Keywords: Action Roguelite, Adventure, Story-Rich, Deckbuilding, Cyberpunk, RPG, Emotional, Atmospheric, Strategy, Dystopian, Female Protagonist, 2D, Funny, Dog
ACTIONS. DOGS. CAFE.
Revive Mini the Dog digitally through 2D roguelite actions; craft her cyber paradise with beloved moments, like sniffing dog butts XD. Uncover a deeper dystopian narrative and strengthen friendships in cafe chats—a frenetic yet cozy journey.
Heartfelt Yet Funny Narrative:
- A journey to collect memories of Mini, a beloved, deceased cafe dog.
- Gather memories for Mini’s digital revival, crafting her favourites like ‘doggie butt to sniff’ in her cyber paradise.
- Chat and bond with the dog’s friends at Mini’s cafe, or
- “Accidentally overhear” their chatter for some intriguing insights.
- Witness Mini’s friends’ backstories and unravel mysteries in a dystopian cyberpunk world through collected memories from a dog’s POV.
Strategic Actions Deckbuilding:
- Defeating enemies spawns ability-granting cards.
- Collect as many cards as desired, but:
- The larger your deck, the more enemies’ behaviour changes and frenzies.
- Enemies can pick up and use the same cards.
- Leaving cards risks enemies acquiring them to use against you.
- Strategically rearranging card sequences significantly scales abilities.
- A well-managed deck can exponentially enhance your prowess.
Other Features:
- Random level generation.
- Fast-paced combats.
- Tight control.
- Revive the deceased dog, Mini
- Weapons Selection – melee and ranged.
- Pet the dog!
In the not-so-distant future, reality as we know it has been unmasked – our world is nothing more than a computer simulation. Every aspect of life, from our appearance and possessions, to our thoughts and experiences, is pre-determined by algorithms. When we die, we are simply deleted; our life data fragmented and discarded into a digital wasteland known as The Lost Sector. There is no heaven or hell, just cold digits.
Yet, amidst the bleakness of this discovery, you seize the opportunity and turn it into a business. Catering to those still yearning for hope, you establish Cyber Paradise. This service navigates the desolate corners of The Lost Sector to recover fragments of the dearly departed, reassembling them within the warmth of a digital sanctuary, a personal paradise sculpted from ones and zeros.
You take on the role of Hayley, a skilled hacker-warrior, and team up with her dog DDmeow on this captivating adventure. Vanquish creatures manifested by the deceased’s fear and sorrow; delve into the rich narratives of your clients’ pasts, and form connections within the café that serves as your clandestine base. There, amid the hustle and bustle of Samuel’s customers, you catch a glimpse of this dystopian world through their shared stories.
In the first episode, you bear witness to the touching tale of your initial client – Mini, a dog whose recent passing leaves behind a grieving human companion, Samuel. Embark on this journey to piece together the digital remnants of Mini’s life and create for her a serene Cyber Paradise.
Demo progress: Mechanic 95% / Content: 70% / Optimization: 20% / Graphic 50% / UI 40% / combat balancing 10%
Demo Content: 1 demo level (replayable, unfinished) / 4 enemies (unfinished) / 1 boss (not started) / 3 weapons (sprites not finished) / 10+ cards (not finished) / 24 memories (images not finished) / 12+2 Cafe days (finished)
Future Plans:
Cyber Paradise is planned as a trilogy. The current project is the first episode. Each episode will feature a new deceased client that Hayley needs to save. In this first episode, the focus is on the beloved dog, Mini. Subsequent episodes may be released as either DLCs or entirely new games.
Target Release | Episode | Title | Acts |
2024 (Steam, EA) 2025 (Switch) |
1 (current game) | Cyber Paradise: Longing |
Act 1: Stray Act 2: Hand in Hand Act 3: [spoiler] |
2025 / 2026 | 2 (DLC / new game) | Cyber Paradise: Oblivion | 3 acts in total |
2026 / 2027 / 2028 | 3 (DLC / new game) | Cyber Paradise: [spolier] | 3 acts in total |
Mechanics: Dead Cells, Hades, Hollow Knight, Slay the Spire, Inscryption
Narrative: VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action, To the Moon, Spiritfarer
Art: Blueeye Norton, Katana Zero
Dog: Nine Nine (our own dog)
In celebrating the return of Mini the Dog, the Cyber Paradise demo includes a special collaboration with 5 games. This crossover will happen at the end of demo, giving players a chance to pet/eat/interact with all the animals and food from the participating games’ worlds as part of the festivities.
List of games:
A Summer’s End – Hong Kong 1986: A visual novel set in a vibrant 1980s Hong Kong, exploring the romance between two women against a backdrop of retro art and fashion.
Omi Oh My AI: Embark on a Captchavating adventure with Omi the dog loving AI, solve over 100 unique puzzles, and learn to see the world the way AI do.
Red Rebellion: A sapphic yuri fairy tale mashup as Robin Hood teams up with Red Riding Hood to save their village in this historical fantasy.
Doggy Don’t Care: Unleash adorable chaos as a mischievous pup left at home alone!
Foodomina: Narrative Driven, Sci-Fi Food Themed Pixel RPG where you play as two cute food girls and battle… MOLD! Or maybe not?
- Nyx game awards (2023) –PC Game – Best Game Direction (Gold Winner)
- Nyx game awards (2023) –PC Game – Best Innovation (Gold Winner)
- Nyx game awards (2023) –PC Game – Best Art Direction (Gold Winner)
- Nyx game awards (2023) – PC Game – Indie (Gold Winner)
- PAX Rising Grant 2023 from Creative Victoria
- Colors of Indie Awards: Nominee (2023)
- RMIT MAGI Expo Awards: Achievement in Games (2023)
- Game Connection America Game Development Awards (2024)- Best Upcoming Game (Winner)
- Game Connection America Game Development Awards (2024)- Best Adventure/Action Game (Nominee)
- Game Connection America Game Development Awards (2024)- Grand Award (Nominee)
- Game Connection America Game Development Awards (2024)- Best Development Team (Nominee)
Melbourne International Games Week Steam Festival (Online 2023)
PAX Aus (Melbourne, Australia 6-8 Oct 2023)
Gamescom Asia (Singapore, 19-22 Oct 2023)
SXSW’s Queer Creators Showcase (Sydney, Australia, 21 Oct 2023)
MAGI EXPO (Melbourne, Australia, 9 Nov 2023)
Dreamhack Beyond Indie Showcase (Online, 15 – 17 Dec, 2023)
Taipei Game Show 2024 (Taipei, Taiwan, 25-28 Jan 2024)
DevGAMM Gdansk’24 Online Game EXPO (28-29 Feb 2024)
Indie Blast 2024 Lviv (Online, 29 Feb – 3 March 2024)
Women’s Day Steam Sale (Online, 1-10 March 2024)
Colors of Indie Steam Event (Online, 6-13 March 2024)
42 media coverages since the game page announcement in July 2023:
Interviews:
- Muse World: Interview With The 2023 NYX Game Awards Winner – DDmeow Games (2023 Q4)
- 4GAMERS (Taiwan): Steam動作Roguelike《數碼天堂》駭客為亡犬而戰,Switch版準備上市 By 薯泥 (2024 Q1)
Game Demo Launch / Taipei Game Show (2024 Q1):
- Blerdy Otome (US): Cyber Paradise – Dog-themed Game with a Queer Cast & Crossover with A Summer’s End Hong Kong 1986 and More
- GNN (Taiwan): Roguelite 動作遊戲《數碼天堂》推出試玩版 電玩瘋公開實機遊玩影片 by Jessica
- GNN (Taiwan): 結合瘋狂、溫情與好笑故事動作 Rougelite 新作《數碼天堂》試玩版明日上線 GNN by Jessica
- 4GAMERS (Taiwan): 台港女生開發動作Roguelike《數碼天堂》Steam試玩版上線,5遊戲聯動可愛派對 by 薯泥
- udn Game (Taiwan): 台港兩女生開發!Steam動作遊戲《數碼天堂》19日開放試玩 復活逝去的狗狗
- Checkpoint Gaming (Australia): Checkpoint’s Queer Game of the Month: January 2024 – Cyber Paradise by Charlie Kelly
- Cool3C (Taiwan): Steam像素動作Roguelike遊戲數碼天堂 台港女性團隊獨立製作 溫馨療癒動作遊戲 by 討喜小姐
- game.zol (Bejing): 游戏世界波澜壮阔!《数码天堂》试玩登场 by 清风与鹿
- 3DMGame (Beijing): 像素类动作肉鸽游戏《数码天堂》现已在Steam平台推出试玩Demo
- ali213 (China):《数码天堂》试玩Demo公布 将与另外4款游戏展开联动
- 遊戲狂 (Taiwan):《數碼天堂》試玩Demo公布 將與另外4款遊戲展開連動
- 66小吃網 (China): 《数码天堂》试玩Demo公布 将与另外4款游戏展开联动
- Sohu (Shanghai): 像素类动作肉鸽游戏《数码天堂》现已在Steam平台推出试玩Demo
- 游戏信息资讯网 (China): 像素类动作肉鸽游戏《数码天堂》现已在Steam平台推出试玩Demo
- 玩家乐园(China): 台港女生开发动作Roguelike《数码天堂》Steam试玩版上线,5游戏联动可爱派对
- Breaking Latest News (Earth): Steam action roguelike “Digital Paradise” hackers fight for the dead dogs, the Switch version is ready to be released
PAX Aus / Gamescom Asia (2023 Q4):
- Checkpoint Gaming (Australia): PAX Aus 2023 Highlight – Cyber Paradise by Charlie Kelly
- WellPlayed (Australia): The Best Games We Played At PAX Aus 2023
- Dexerto (Australia): 5 promising Indie games at PAX Australia 2023 by Eleni Thomas
- QUALBERT (Australia): PAX AUS 2023 – Indie Game Wrap-Up
- Player2.net.au (Australia): Cyber Paradise | #PAXAUS 2023 Preview by Renee O’flynn
- Rectify Gaming (Canada): Gamescom Asia Beta/Demo Review: Cyber Paradise by fncwill
- Best Indie Games (Singapore): 10 Awesome Indies from Gamescom Asia 2023 by Clemmy
Game Page Launch News (2023 Q3):
- 4GAMERS (Japan): 故人の断片データを回収せよ。グリッチ演出が特徴的な新作タイトル「Cyber Paradise」,Steamストアページを公開。クラファンも実施予定 by 蒼之スギウラ
- GNN (Taiwan): 2D 動作 Roguelite 遊戲《數碼天堂》預定 2024 年問世 駭入失落領域回收逝者靈魂記憶 by 紙箱
- ali213 (China): 2DRoguelite游戏《数码天堂》Steam页面现已上线
- 3DMGame (Beijing): 2D动作Roguelite游戏《数码天堂》Steam页面上线 支持简体中文
- Gamebase (Taiwan): 2D 動作 Roguelite 新作《數碼天堂》發表,駭進失落領域幫助委託者回收故人記憶 by 多多
- Gamers Global (Germany): Cyber Paradise
- 9game (Guangzhou): 数码天堂游戏玩法介绍
- 网易 (China): 肉鸽游戏《数码天堂》Steam页面 支持简中
- Syndicate Y (Australia): Create Digital Havens for the Dead in the Upcoming Cyber Paradise
- MMO30 (Russia): Обзор игры Cyber Paradise
- Breaking Latest News (Earth): DDmeow Games Announces Exciting New 2D Action Roguelite, ‘Cyber Paradise’, Set to Launch on Steam in 2024
Others:
- hitomevorecraft (Japan): 2023年にクラファン・その上で2024年にリリース予定~ローグライトデッキ構築ACTゲーム「サイバーパラダイス」
Briefly Mentioned:
- 4GAMERS (Japan): 週刊Steam広場 第15号:煉獄が舞台のローグライトFPS「Soulslinger」や,解体シム「Deconstruction Simulator」などが発表に by YamaChan
- Kotaku Au (Australia): All The Aussie And NZ-Made Games Set To Release In 2024 And Beyond by Emily Spindler
- Checkpoint Gaming (Australia): The 100+ Aussie games of 2024 and beyond by Elliot Attard
- 太報 (Taiwan): 玩家頂寒風奔TGS台北電玩展 「赤燭」新作將發售!現場人氣爆棚 by 戴嘉芬
- WellPlayed (Australia): Every Australian And New Zealand-Made Game Released In 2024 by Zach Jackson
DDmeow Games is a wife-wife game dev team dedicated to making weird, fun, and story-rich games. One member is from Hong Kong and the other from Taiwan; they are now based in Melbourne. The duo had been creating animations for clients for over 10 years before deciding to pursue their game dev dream. Their first game, Psycho Bathroom, has received over 100 very positive reviews on Steam and is described as weird, funny, yet emotional. Currently crafting Cyber Paradise, an action roguelite game about reviving a dog digitally. More info.
Contact: meow@ddmeow.net (Eng), uly@ddmeow.net (Chi)
Game credits: Link
Left: Uly (She/Her), right: Sze (She/Her)
- The alpha demo had been streamed and playtested over 100 times within 5 months, leading to over 100 updates before the public launch.
- The demo was launched as an open alpha with WIP features, aiming for wider playtesting to further improve the game.
- The game was pirated before the launch of the demo.