The roguelike deckbuilding genre is one of the most popular in all of gaming. Unfortunately, these games tend to revolve around themes of violence and intense strategizing.
To combat this, Masha Mallet of Springfox Games created Nif Nif, a wholesome take on the genre that anyone can pick up and play. We had the incredible opportunity to both play the demo and interview Masha Mallet about the game and her ideas behind it while she was at Gamescom. We explore the challenged of creating an indie game as well as the future of Nif Nif.
Interview with Masha Mallet from Springfox Games
I read that you started your studio because you had difficulty finding strategy games suitable for children. Can you describe the moment your thoughts officially shifted towards creating a game studio because of this?
“My dream of starting a game studio has been brewing for years. While I’ve enjoyed creating games in Unity as a hobby, I wanted a deeper understanding of the industry. I returned to school during the pandemic to learn about game production and solidify my knowledge.
My vision of creating accessible games for children has been a long-held aspiration, dating back over a decade. While I’ve always believed in the power of games for learning, I’ve also advocated for a more immersive and engaging approach. Nif Nif emerged as the perfect project to bring this vision to life.”
Were there any challenges presented to you throughout this journey that you hadn’t expected to arise?
“Branding and marketing have been particularly challenging. As a newcomer to the gaming industry and with a limited social media presence, I’ve had to navigate a steep learning curve. Additionally, being based in Hong Kong has presented some geographical challenges in building connections within the global gaming community.”
What led you to use Kickstarter to help fund the project?
“We chose Kickstarter to gain visibility, build a community, and gather valuable feedback before the official release. While we’re confident in Nif Nif’s success, Kickstarter offered a way to test the market and secure some extra funding, especially in the current economic climate.”
Will a Nif Nif physical game version be released?
“We’re exploring the possibility of a physical release for Nif Nif, particularly for platforms like Switch. We’re actively seeking the right partner to make this happen.”
Where did the inspiration behind some of Nif Nif come from? (Creating magical soups, cleaning and polishing animals, etc)
“The idea of cleaning as a core mechanic came from a desire to create a non-violent, family-friendly game. My son’s hypersensitivity to violence influenced this decision. I chose a piglet for Nif Nif because of the positive symbolism associated with pigs in Chinese culture. The character “family” often features a pig under a roof, representing harmony and togetherness. Plus, piglets are simply adorable! And soups are good for you!”
Can we expect more games from within the world of Nif Nif?
“Absolutely! We’re excited about the potential for expanding the Nif Nif universe. Our team is keen to explore other strategy genres, such as tower defense and auto-chess. We hope to bring more whimsical adventures to players in the future.”
You can check out Nif Nif’s official demo on the Steam page, where you can wishlist it. You may also support the project on Kickstarter.
What are your thoughts?