Conceived as an adventure game for mobile devices. You play as a domestic guinea pig, accustomed to the luxuries and affection provided by your loving owners, a young girl, María, and her mother. When you haven’t seen them since the previous day, you grow worried for their safety and, of course, for your own needs. Driven by hunger and concern, you venture out of your cage in search of food and clues to solve the mystery of their disappearance. From the guinea pig’s perspective, the world becomes a vast dungeon filled with challenges, where he sees himself as a wizard navigating this strange and perilous world.

Although Cobaya Hero was ultimately canceled, I want to showcase the work I’ve done in creating the early story, game design and artwork.

Narrative

Main Characters

The Guinea Pig: Adopted as a baby after being found orphaned, he was lovingly accepted into María’s family. He deeply loves his owners and is incredibly loyal, willing to risk his life for them.

María: An 11-year-old girl, intelligent but often distracted. She has never known her father, but her mother has showered her with love. María enjoys roller skating and only appreciates math when it’s outside of school.

María’s Mother: A young, single mother and veterinarian. She has taught her daughter to love nature and be independent.

The Dog Clan: After the mysterious disappearance of humans, dogs were the first species to organize. Their leader plays a significant role in the story.

The Ape: A resident of the same building as the guinea pig and his family. He seems angry and has few friends, harboring a deep resentment toward humans, especially hunters who killed his family and caged him. The ape is the prime suspect in María and her mother’s disappearance.

Hamster Allies: Small, clumsy, but courageous. These hamsters help the guinea pig find food and clues in hard-to-reach or overlooked places.

Game Introduction

The guinea pig is happily being fed and doted on by his main owner, María. Her mother is rushing to get ready, as it’s time for school and work. They both affectionately say goodbye to the guinea pig before leaving their apartment. After a stormy night, the new day begins. It seemed like a nightmare, but María and her mother are still missing. Is time for our pal to start the adventure.

Game Mechanics

Main Mechanic

The core gameplay revolves around exploration in a top-down, third-person view. Players must solve puzzles and explore the environment to find food and clues that help them progress through the game.

Gameplay

Since the target platform is mobile devices, the character should be easily controlled using a single finger. The simple and intuitive mechanics focus on navigating the world, solving puzzles, and uncovering secrets.

Art

Characters

Flat design with clear outlines, adopting a cute, Western-inspired aesthetic. Shadows are minimal unless required for atmospheric purposes.

Levels

Presented in a top-down view with three visible walls for depth.

Backgrounds

Geometric particle effects using additive-like shaders. Outlines are not clean or uniform, resembling brush strokes more like pencil sketches. The fill colors intentionally spill out of their designated areas, giving an expressive, imperfect style.

References