Do you want to see 38 games demoed live? Come to GaMaYo 24, where 300+ developers, game industry publishers, investors and platforms are in attendance. Head to Project House, Leeds on May 22nd for this upcoming games industry event.

This event is brought to you by Game Republic along with their Official Partners Barclays Games and Creative, Xsolla and Red Kite Games, with event sponsor Plus Accounting.

Today we are looking at ‘Spirits Of Heartwood’ which is confirmed to be at the event, from Panda Cat Games!

Spirits Of Heartwood by Panda Cat Games

What would be your description of your game?

Spirits of Heartwood is a skill-inclusive and wholesome 2-player co-op adventure that lets you discover the world at your own pace, ideal for players of all ages and skill levels. Experience the joy of working together by completing fun activities, solving puzzles and exploring a vibrant, magical world full of surprises! Together, you’ll:

Search for Spirits and complete activities to bring them out of hiding
Discover a world of mystical Spirits, learn about them and fill out your Almanac
Rescue the frozen Elders and unravel the story.
Restore the village to unlock features.
Revitalize the Everbloom and bring life back to the village.

It’s the perfect Sunday afternoon game that rekindles the joy of shared gaming experiences, reminding us of the simple pleasures of connection and play.

How did development start? (Were there any key inspirations or ideas that drove you?)

Development began as a passion project, rooted in the idea of creating a game that could connect people of mixed gaming experiences through a cosy and collaborative fun! It’s heavily inspired by games like It Takes Two (coop), Animal Crossing (for the social aspect and cosiness) and Ooblets (cute creature collecting and restoration).

Tell us about the team behind the game!

Panda Cat Games is an indie studio based in the UK, founded by Sarah—a generalist developer and founder with a background at companies like Google, Rocksteady and Playstation. The team is made up of 5 other core developers as well as many friends and collaborators. The Panda Cat Games team includes many diverse perspectives and a talented group of artists, programmers, designers, and writers, all passionate about crafting skill-inclusive and intergenerational games. We believe that our positive team culture and unique perspectives allows us to create innovative and charming games that help bring people together.

What kind of experiences do you hope to bring players?

The founder has many fond memories sitting down together with her family playing games like Goldeneye on the N64 and Bomberman on the Amiga and wanted to create more intergenerational games that help recreate those nostalgic and fond memories of sitting around and enjoying a fun game together with people you care about.