Kamaeru: A Frog Refuge sheds light on the significance of environmental conservation

The world of gaming offers a unique platform for conveying vital messages, whether overtly or subtly. For Kamaeru: A Frog Refuge, the development team at Humble Reeds leveraged the concept of collecting and caring for frogs to underscore the importance of preserving ecological balance and the positive impact of restoration efforts on the planet. In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, co-founders Aurélien Condomines and Mélanie Christin shared their approach to incorporating this environmental theme and their aspirations for the game's takeaway. Released on June 8, 2024, for PC, Switch, and Xbox, Kamaeru's journey began with a different vision - as a mobile game. However, the duo encountered challenges with the business model, prompting a shift in strategy. "We weren't interested in developing a free-to-play game that required in-app purchases," Condomines explained. "This led us to initially release the game on PC and console." Christin added, "We're open to exploring mobile platforms in the future, provided we can secure a suitable partner to assist with marketing, as premium mobile games face significant sales challenges." The touchscreen aspect of mobile devices, Christin noted, aligns well with Kamaeru's gameplay. The idea for Kamaeru was inspired by games like Pokémon and Cats & Soup, but its core concept stemmed from Condomines and Christin's passion for biodiversity and natural restoration. Condomines cited Project Drawdown, a non-profit organization dedicated to climate solutions, as a primary source of inspiration. "Project Drawdown offers practical strategies for combating climate change, one of which involves restoring wetlands. This is how the connection to frogs and the game's overall concept came together," he said. The influence of other farming simulations, such as Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing, was also significant during the development process. "These games attract a similar audience, and who doesn't love frogs?" Condomines remarked, with Christin adding that she's always been fond of frogs herself. The game's booth at events has drawn enthusiasts, some even wearing frog-themed accessories, which Christin and Condomines see as a testament to the game's appeal. While collecting adorable frogs might be the game's selling point, its primary focus is on promoting biodiversity and sustainability by restoring habitats. "As players restore the wetlands, rarer frogs appear, which can be photographed and added to the Frogedex. We're using the frogs to encourage players to care about and restore wetlands, a crucial step in capturing carbon globally," Christin explained. Condomines emphasized that Kamaeru is not an educational game but rather a fun, interactive experience. "The gameplay is intertwined with the environmental message. Players receive a bioscore for fostering good biodiversity and have a carbon capture gauge that increases as they restore the environment," he said. The game's art, designed by Christin, features detailed, hand-drawn elements that bring the game world to life. "Every aspect, from rocks to trees and the critters in between, is integrated into the game," she said. Condomines praised Christin's artistic skills, describing the game as a low-tech, cosy simulator with no time pressure or punitive elements. Players can collect over 500 frogs, spread across three biomes, and engage in various activities, including breeding frogs to obtain different species and colors. The game includes seven mini-games, which the developers found surprisingly easy to create. "We discovered we had a knack for coming up with unique mini-games that fit the restoration theme," Christin said, with Condomines noting that the game has more depth than it initially appears. "There's always something happening, and players progress through different biomes, uncovering a narrative thread and interacting with NPCs who aid in the mission to restore the wetlands," he concluded. "The underlying message is one of cooperation and collective effort for the greater good."