An Overwatch Environment Artist Builds His Dream Game

The Nugget

  • Helder Pinto, an Overwatch environment artist, builds his dream game, Europa, which prioritizes immersive world-building and storytelling over combat gameplay.

Key quotes

  • "I actually believe it's an important story to try and tell in today's world, where many struggle with meaning, just like Zee does." - Helder Pinto
  • "There's always room for immersive single-player experiences, as long they're doing something special that connects to players' hearts somehow." - Helder Pinto
  • "Just because there's no classical combat with enemies doesn't mean the game is easier to make, despite what I foolishly thought when I started this journey." - Helder Pinto

Key insights

Helder Pinto's Journey

  • Helder Pinto, an experienced game developer with a background in world-building for franchises like Crysis and Overwatch, embarked on creating his own game, Europa, after working on the acclaimed Overwatch series.

Unique Aspects of Europa

  • Europa stands out by eschewing combat systems, focusing instead on art, sound, story, and player immersion to create a tranquil and meaningful gameplay experience.
  • The game aims to revive and innovate the genre of peaceful games, offering players a meditative and visually striking journey akin to titles like GRIS, ABZÛ, and Journey.

Themes Explored in Europa

  • Europa delves into themes of the future of humanity, the pursuit of meaning, and the exploration of identity through the protagonist, Zee, an android seeking purpose in a transformed world.
  • Pinto hopes that players engage with the deeper themes of the game, finding moments of introspection and contemplation amidst the gameplay experience.

Make it stick

  • 🌌 Europa by Helder Pinto prioritizes immersion, art, and storytelling over combat gameplay.
  • 🎨 The absence of traditional combat systems in Europa challenges players to explore a visually lush and meaningful world.
  • 🤖 Join Zee, an android protagonist in Europa, on a journey of self-discovery, purpose, and contemplation in a transformed world.
  • 🎮 Embrace the tranquility and thematic richness of Europa as it launches on Steam, offering players a unique gaming experience.
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