Yokai-themed Project
Developed at: Magic Media
Client: Moku.gg
A strategic auto-battler that brings Japanese folklore to life through engaging gameplay.
Contributions and Responsibilities
Collaboratively designed and balanced core mechanics, yokai abilities, and progression systems, ensuring a strategic and engaging player experience.
Designed innovative gameplay elements that expanded on the foundation of Super Auto Pets while introducing fresh depth and replayability.
Collaborated closely with art, UI, and VFX teams to integrate gameplay with visuals and create a cohesive experience.
Interpreted client feedback and translated it into meaningful design improvements.
Used a T-shaped competence to communicate effectively across disciplines, creating support materials and resolving challenges in real-time.
Maintained and iterated on design documentation, keeping the team aligned and efficient.
Advocated for player-centric design through iterative testing and refinement.
Yokai-themed Project exemplifies my ability to lead design efforts while fostering collaboration across diverse teams, navigating complex stakeholder relationships, and delivering an innovative, culturally rich product that stands out in the competitive auto-battler genre.
Title under NDA.
More details incoming after the game’s public release.
From Myth to Strategy
Yokai-themed Project offers players the opportunity to assemble teams of iconic yokai in a blend of cultural storytelling and competitive strategy. As Senior Game Designer, I led the creation of core systems and mechanics, ensuring the game balanced strategic depth, accessibility, and an authentic representation of Japanese folklore.
My extensive stays in Tokyo and long-standing fascination with Japanese culture were instrumental in shaping the game’s thematic and mechanical framework. These experiences gave me a nuanced understanding of yokai lore, allowing me to interpret the client’s brief with cultural authenticity while integrating gameplay goals. This personal connection to the material ensured the game resonated deeply with both the client and players.
Designing Familiarity with a Twist
The client requested a design inspired by the simplicity and accessibility of Super Auto Pets, while requiring meaningful innovations to make the game unique. This challenge demanded a careful balance of familiarity and originality:
Cultural Depth Meets Gameplay: Incorporated the lore and characteristics of yokai into their mechanics, ensuring abilities reflected their mythical origins while providing strategic value.
Enhanced Synergy Systems: Designed yokai traits and abilities to reward experimentation, allowing players to discover innovative team compositions.
Dynamic Progression: Introduced evolving yokai forms and skill-based upgrades, offering a sense of growth and investment in team-building.
By blending the simplicity of drafting and automated combat with innovative mechanics and cultural depth, Yokai-themed Project stood out in a competitive genre while remaining accessible and engaging.
I adapted the Super Auto Pets template by leveraging yokai-themed shapeshifting. Units like the Kitsune evolve during gameplay, echoing SAP’s Autobus mechanics while adding strategic depth and aligning with the mystical unpredictability of Japanese folklore. This is an example of how, as a designer, I can work within established border while finding innovative and coherent solutions.
Cross-Department Collaboration
While my primary role was leading the design, the game’s complexity required extensive collaboration with other departments. My T-shaped skill set enabled me to communicate effectively across disciplines, ensuring alignment and resolving challenges:
Art Synergy: Worked with artists to ensure character designs were both visually compelling and functionally aligned with gameplay.
UI Accessibility: Partnered with UI specialists to create intuitive interfaces that simplified complex mechanics, making the game approachable for all players.
VFX Feedback: Collaborated with VFX teams to enhance player feedback through impactful effects, making combat feel dynamic and rewarding.
Stakeholder Collaboration and Real-Time Solutions
Close collaboration with the client was critical to the project’s success. I acted as a bridge between stakeholder feedback and development, ensuring the game stayed aligned with their vision while addressing practical challenges:
Client Alignment: Maintained open communication with the client, interpreting their feedback into actionable design improvements.
Proactive Problem Solving: Anticipated potential implementation challenges and provided clear solutions, ensuring smoother workflows.
Support Materials: Created supplementary documents, mockups, and diagrams to clarify concepts across teams and stakeholders, reducing misalignment and delays.