We're so excited to finally share our progress since last year's Kickstarter!
Dancing with Ghosts is a cozy Thai narrative game about a girl learning to feel alive again after loss - and as part of the Wholesome Games Celebration, our latest demo is playable right now!
Play as Mai, a grieving teenager, and Pim, the little ghost only she can see. The demo is about 90 minutes, containing the opening of the story, your first steps into a hand-drawn Thai river village, and a taste of the blend of tender dialogue and charming cultural mini-games (making roti, the riverboat taxi, our Thai dance rhythm game) that add up to a unique little offering for your cozy game shelf!
Our new Rotii making mini-game, playable now in the demo
And here's what makes this demo special: it's the first time anyone can play Dancing with Ghosts with our real English voice acting. Voice direction is by Genevieve Goings, of Disney's Choo Choo Soul, and we worked within SAG-AFTRA's program for independent productions, which lets even a tiny studio like ours collaborate with union talent. It's something we're proud to have invested in to support our fellow artists. Hearing Mai and Pim finally speak changes everything, and this demo is where you get to hear it first! We're also introducing these lovely voice actors one by one over on our socials - come meet them on our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DancingWithGhostsGame
We won Best in Show at The MIX earlier this year, as a tiny, tiny team with a lot of heart. If what you're seeing speaks to you, we'd be so grateful if you play the demo, follow our socials, and wishlist us! For a team our size, every bit makes a difference.
A feedback survey and Discord server, so you can connect with us directly
A look at what's coming for our community - developer diaries, artist spotlights, deep dives into Bang Pa-In (the real Thai village that inspired the game), a closer look at the real Thai culture woven into the game, and more!
Early Access Release Date!
In the meantime, enjoy the demo, meet Mai, Pim, Grandpa, and the other villagers... and tell us how they make you feel. We can't wait to hear from you!
With love,
Greg, Yada, and the Dancing with Ghosts team
Greg Johnson's dev blog: https://gregjohnson88.substack.com