Luke Muscat, renowned for developing global hit games like Fruit Ninja and Jetpack Joyride, has announced his latest project, Feed the Deep. This new game marks Muscat’s first solo venture into the gaming world since his days at Halfbrick Studios. Scheduled for a Q3 release on Steam, Feed the Deep promises to blend elements of popular roguelike and diving exploration games.
Muscat gained fame in the early 2010s when he led the development of Fruit Ninja, a game that achieved over a billion downloads by 2015, making it one of the most downloaded games ever. A decade later, he has ventured into indie game development, creating a PC game that he describes as a cross between Dave the Diver and Dome Keeper.
Feed the Deep is a roguelike diving game that immerses players in procedurally generated undersea caverns. Players will navigate these labyrinthine caves, collecting resources and trading them for upgrades. The gameplay trailer showcases a satisfying mechanic where players launch lines to grab colourful, chunky objects while dodging obstacles like coral tentacles. Additionally, the game includes a unique twist where players can engage in a retro shooter game mid-dive.
The atmospheric game draws inspiration from titles like Spelunky and incorporates Lovecraftian elements, setting players the task of placating a Cthulhu-esque monster to prevent it from destroying floating cities above. This element adds a dark, mysterious layer to the game’s narrative, differentiating it from Muscat’s previous works.
Muscat has been openly documenting the development process on his YouTube channel, providing fans with a transparent view of what it takes to create an indie game today. Feedback from early demos has been positive, with many players expressing their enjoyment and anticipation for the full release.
Feed the Deep not only offers a complex, engaging gameplay experience but also illustrates the challenges and rewards of being a solo indie developer in the 2020s. As the game approaches its launch later this year, interested gamers can add it to their Steam wishlist and follow Muscat on X/Twitter for the latest updates on this exciting new venture.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, games, and comics — you name it. When she’s not reading or geeking out about the latest shows on Netflix, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of meeting her idols.
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