There’s something absolutely magical about creating your own games – and then being lucky enough to ship them. To see something go from a spark in your imagination to the enjoyment of players around the world is a very special feeling that not everyone will get to experience.
Helping someone else realize this dream is a whole other kind of magic. Through Sony Interactive Entertainment’s (SIE) India Hero initiative, WhiteMoon Dreams has been helping small development teams in India reach their goals, bringing them one step closer to sharing their own games with the world.
From SIE’s perspective the idea is fairly straightforward:
“India Hero Project (IHP) is an incubator program founded by Sony Interactive Entertainment focused on identifying and supporting emerging developer talent from India.”
What this means for the developers is the opportunity and support to take their existing projects and studios to a global scale. That requires a certain degree of guidance and mentorship, so when SIE invited us on to this project to provide that for the developers, it was a no brainer. YES PLEASE.
We’ve been working behind the scenes with these teams, taking our years of experience and guiding them to their own goal lines. The projects are all so different and each one requires its own recipe for success.
Some titles have needed help with optimization and tech while others have needed assistance with design or QA. Each project has taken on a life of its own and it’s been such a treat to walk this road together with the devs, watching their games become stronger and better through each iteration.
As far as we’re concerned – the sky’s the limit for these titles and this program. The more happy, thriving developers there are in this world, the better for all of us who love to create and play games.
We highly recommend checking out the first cohort of India Hero dev teams and their projects below!
Meteora: The Race Against Space Time
Meteora is an arcade combat racer where you play as a meteor cascading through a volatile universe, outmaneuvering and obliterating rival meteors in a race for survival. Features power-ups, cosmic hazards, and high-speed action.
Developer: Big Boot Games
Platforms: PS5, PS VR2, and PC
Website: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1155220/METEORA/
Fishbowl
A slice-of-life coming-of-age story told over one month, following Alo as she navigates her first work-from-home job in a new city. Features pixel art, lofi soundtrack, and explores themes of grief, connection, and self-discovery.
Developer: imissmyfriends.studio
Platforms: PS5 and PC
Website: https://imissmyfriends.studio/
Mukti
A first-person story exploration game set in an Indian museum. Players uncover harrowing truths through rich storytelling and immersive gameplay designed to provoke empathy and spark dialogue.
Developer: underDOGS Studio
Platforms: PS5 and PC
Website: https://www.muktithegame.com/
SURI: The Seventh Note
A 2D rhythm hybrid Metroidvania set in mythical India where the world synchronizes with an enigmatic beat. Features diverse biomes inspired by Indian landscapes, from Himalayan temples to Rajasthan forts.
Developer: Tathvamasi Studios
Platforms: PS5 and PC
Website: https://www.surithegame.com/
Requital: Gates of Blood
A 2D side-scrolling action platformer set in the Egyptian underworld of Duat. Play as warrior Zahrah in boss-rush encounters against powerful Gods, Demons, and Beasts, featuring hand-drawn art and animation.
Developer: Holy Cow Productions
Platforms: PS5 and PC
Website: https://requitalthegame.com/
