Description

EMUUROM is a nonviolent creature-scanning exploration platformer, where you document an ancient paradise before it's lost forever. EMUUROM is a rule-discovery game ("metroidbrainia") in the vein of Animal Well, Void Stranger and Tunic: knowledge opens new paths. Equipped with a unique SCANNER BEAM, you reveal hidden pathways and study the EMUUROM creatures to gain knowledge and create new paths forward. The environmental puzzles range from obvious to obscure, with a plethora of secrets hidden in plain sight: this creates a multi-layered experience for many kinds of players. As you gain a better understanding on the world around you, the machinations of the EMUUROM creatures begin to unfold...

History

EMUUROM is created with the TIC-80 fantasy console, a game engine with idiosyncratic retro restrictions, like Pico-8. EMUUROM's demo was the first TIC-80 game on Steam, and it started its life as a jam game for the Fantasy Console jam 3 in early 2018. The first post-jam demo was released on Itch.io in 2020, and later that year, the demo was a part of the Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality. A new demo was released on Steam in Fall 2021 for the Steam Next Fest. I've documented the development process and new demo updates in my Itch.io devlog (link at the bottom). EMUUROM has been featured in multiple events, including Busan Indie Connect, Nordic Game Conference, Pocket Gamer Connects and multiple Cerebral Puzzle Showcases.

Features

  • Emphasis on exploration and discovery: Explore a dense, interconnected land brimming with surprises around every corner!
  • No hand-holding: It's up to your own wits to figure out the workings of the world.
  • Level up your brain: There are (almost) no power-ups - learn the systemic behaviour of the EMUUROM creatures to get around!
  • Past findings are always at your fingertips: Document your findings in the EMUUDEX, and recall them at any time.
  • Unique retro look and structure arising from the fantasy console restrictions.
  • 10-30 hours of gameplay with countless secrets to uncover.

Videos

Story trailer 2022 — YouTube

Images

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Selected Articles

  • EMUUROM brought me back to the golden age of indie Flash games – it's a beautifully crafted, creative, exploration-focused experience full of secrets and cozy feelings.
    Obskyr, Comment on Itch.io
  • The energy of the game is certainly different from other titles. Cozier and inquisitive, it appeals to a more academic mindset that adores the surprise that video games can deliver. It's a medium that can be anything that you can possibly fathom. Emuurom embodies this at its core
    The Visualist's Veranda, Thoughts on Emuurom (Steam Next Fest 2022 Demo)
  • This is actually one of my most anticipated games out of like, all of them. [...] There are so many metroidvanias out there that feel like they're going down a checklist, and EMUUROM feels like something really fresh. [It] makes me feel like I can still be excited about video games.
    kubrow_egg, Comments on Reddit
  • It's a very relaxing, birdwatching-esque vibe at times [...]. I am more than excited to see EMUUROM's completion.
    The Entity, The Entity's EMUUROM demo review
  • EMUUROM from Borbware has got to be one of our most anticipated indie games! This game is just oozing with retro gaming goodness.
    Pursuing Pixels, A post on Twitter
  • it's literally for the people who go into the journal feature of creatures in games and just spend hours there
    CheshireCreeper, Comment on Itch.io

About Borbware

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I am Borb. I make dreamy little broken worlds.
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More information on Borbware, our logo & relevant media are available here.