10 video games in Catalan from the SAGA Barcelona Game Fest that must be followed closely

A couple of weeks after the debut of the SAGA Barcelona Game Fest and the confirmation of the second edition, we delve into discovering some of the more than 200 indie video games that could be seen there. The merger of the three fairs was a success, and the presence of local creators continued to be a fundamental pillar of the experience. In particular, the attention given to creators by the IndieDevDay team and the presence of the Catalan language, promoted by Plataforma per la Llengua, an inheritance from the original SAGA, stand out. A very positive new element this year has been the clear signage of the languages available for each game, as at a glance it was possible to see if the Catalan option was available.

On this occasion we have compiled 10 video games, all available in Catalan, among which we find great variety but, above all, passion behind the project. Furthermore, within the list we find everything from debuts by very young studios to new proposals from more established teams, some of which were awarded at the same fair. Several titles still do not have a date or will be released during the coming year, but you have links at hand to keep track of the studios or titles that catch your attention the most. If you are still not satisfied, you have more to choose from in the selections of 2024 and 2025. Have fun!

We start the list with a game already published, developed by a team that was born in 2020 with the intention of creating games to make the world a better place. Its debut, Those who came, received the audience award at SAGA 2022, and this September its third project saw the light of day. Alex & Arty recounts a science fiction adventure in which the young protagonist wants to restore life to a planet with the help of a mysterious alien creature. Beyond its pacifist and environmentalist approach, the player's actions can have an impact on the real world with the expansion Restoring Planet Earth.

The most important project of the Half Sunk Games team is heading into the final stretch of development under the label and support of the publisher Super Rare Originals. Blow-up is a first-person shooter game with frenetic action and a retro-futuristic aesthetic. It is also labeled as a boomer shooter, which is what modern titles that recover the fast and direct gameplay of 90s classics like Doom, Quake or Duke Nukem are called. In this case, the player's avatar is a giant industrial robot with a brutal arsenal and programmed for absolute destruction.

The great debut of Monoii Studio arrives this November after winning the fair's award for the most addictive game. Their proposal is a cozy management game, in which the player controls a small honey farm through a cute family of bears. Collecting new bees, growing the flower field, or preparing the best jars of honey to sell are some of the tasks to optimize this sweet new business.

Developed solo by TimeSeeker, this small retro-aesthetic incremental mining game is now available, having received a very good reception in its first few weeks of life. The goal is simple: dig to the center of the planet. To achieve this, the player must obtain better resources, optimize the drill, and reach greater depths in a loop of constant and satisfying progression, all through simple controls.

A few days before the fair, the second project from the team behind Sol, the free visual novel –only– available in Catalan, was made official. El monstre té gana retains the same narrative spirit and graphic realism elements as its predecessor, but explores the graphic adventure genre through interactive mechanics such as exploration or the management of a small inventory. The setting also changes, leaving behind the more contemporary Barcelona to explore the memories of two children in rural Catalonia at the end of the nineties.

This interesting project has been a finalist twice in the best art category and once in the innovation category. The debut from Wheel of Games is an exploration and platform game in a dark world devoid of color. The simple yet charming protagonist has the ability to spread paint wherever they go, and little by little (error by error) they will draw and bring the stage to life. Thus, if the player wants to progress in the adventure of Pain-T, they will have to take a leap into the void.

After Instants and its cozy tone, the studio Endflame returns to the psychological horror of its debut Ikai. The new proposal returns to rural Japan but in a more current era, in which the player assumes the role of a taxi driver with a night shift. The driving mechanics and paranormal elements are mixed with the narrative that emerges from the clients' unsettling stories. The new proposal, published by tinyBuild, has taken the award for the best horror game of the fair.

Claysoft is a group of childhood friends who have joined forces to create a multidisciplinary team and develop a very promising first project. But do not be fooled by the aesthetic beauty of the title and its classical music soundtrack. Sophia is a demanding rhythm game, in which the protagonist and her cello face creatures born from the psyche of those people she wants to heal.

Set in a small barbershop in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona in the late 70s, this narrative adventure explores the experience of Clara, its clerk. Through mechanics of rhythm, conversation, and trust, the protagonist will unravel the stories of a very curious clientele, inspired by fantastic creatures. These three fellow developers have taken home the award for best sound at the fair for a proposal they also label as ASMR, due to its pleasant sensation on the controller.

The game considered the best at the fair is the second project from Herobeat Studios, and it is no coincidence. In 2023 they won the Bafta for the game with the most social impact for Endling: Extinction is forever, an international recognition that few Catalan studios have achieved. Their new title recovers an emotional narrative about friendship and responsibility, while maintaining an environmental tone, but makes a radical change in game mechanics. Wilderings bets on action in an open world, which it mixes with elements of roguelite, creature collection, and a metroidvania-style progression. Without a doubt, one of the most ambitious and promising Catalan titles for the near future.