Developer Interview: Tales of Seikyu

Hello! We're the team behind Tales of Seikyu, a passionate group of indie developers from ACE Entertainment. You might know us from our previous title, Candy Disaster, a 3D trap-style tower defence game. Our journey began in 2019, driven by a shared love for folklore, cosy games, and immersive storytelling. Over the past five years, we've poured our hearts into crafting a world where players can experience the magic of [yōkai] culture intertwined with the joys of farming and community life.

The inspiration came from our fascination with yōkai — supernatural beings from Japanese folklore. We wanted to flip the traditional narrative by allowing players to step into the shoes (or paws!) of these creatures. This perspective offers a fresh take on the [life simulation] genre, where players can explore the world through the eyes of beings often misunderstood in myths.

Diversity and depth were our guiding principles. Each NPC in Seikyu has [a] rich backstory, a unique personality, and a personal growth arc. We drew inspiration from various cultures and folklore, ensuring that players from all walks of life could find characters they resonate with. Our goal was to create meaningful relationships that go beyond surface-level interactions.

We've integrated transformation mechanics that allow players to assume different yokai forms, each with unique abilities. For instance, transforming into a Tengu lets you soar through the skies, while becoming a Slime enables you to navigate underwater areas. These transformations not only diversify exploration and combat but also tie back into farming, such as using specific forms to access rare resources or tend to unique crops.

Early Access is our way of inviting the community into the development process. We believe that player feedback is invaluable in refining gameplay mechanics, balancing systems, and expanding content. By joining us early, players can help shape Seikyu's evolution, ensuring it becomes a world that truly resonates with its inhabitants.

Certainly! Our farming and relationship systems were inspired by Stardew Valley and Harvest Moon. I am a huge fan of Kirby, which is why transformation has always been a core part of the game's identity. As for storytelling, we drew heavily from RPGs like The Legend of Zelda, The Witcher 3, and Baldur's Gate 3, aiming to create a rich and immersive narrative experience.

The biggest challenge has been striking the right balance between RPG elements and cosy life simulation gameplay. We want Seikyu to feel special, somewhere you can experience rich stories and gain deeper insight into yōkai society. At the same time, we don't want it to feel like a CRPG where you're constantly worried the world will end if you don't go save it right away.

Yes, co-op is something we've definitely considered, it's one of the most requested features from our community. That said, implementing it is a massive undertaking, especially for a small indie team like ours. We're currently focusing all our efforts on delivering a rich single-player experience first.

The most fun part has probably been the team discussions around designing romanceable characters, figuring out what kind of yokai they are, why they came to [the island], what they like, and what makes them charming or lovable. Creating these characters naturally led us to expand the world-building of Seikyu itself. We truly hope to keep growing this universe and continue the series for a long time.

When I played Persona 5 Royal and met Yusuke Kitagawa, I was honestly amazed. It's rare to see real-world art forms integrated so meaningfully into an RPG. Around that time, we were also creating the character Liliana, and we wanted to respectfully represent a traditional art form and help more people learn about Japanese rock painting.

That's when we met Miwa, a Nihonga (Japanese-style mineral pigment) painter. Through our interviews with her, we gained insights into the techniques behind the art and the personalities of artists who devote themselves to it. We licensed a series of her past works, which became the foundation for Liliana's Heart Events. Our hope is that players can truly feel what it's like to fall in love with a Japanese Rock painter (Yoni, the singer character, was created in a similar way. She started out as a sweet lounge singer with big dreams.).

Of course! We travelled to many regions across Japan to conduct on-site research, diving deep into local folklore and yōkai traditions. Interestingly, one of the early inspirations for Seikyu's cultural design came from Spirited Away. In that story, Yubaba is essentially a Western-style witch, yet she runs a very traditional Japanese bathhouse. That blend of cultures really fascinated us.

So, while Seikyu is rooted in Japanese yōkai culture, we've intentionally woven in creatures from Chinese and Western folklore as well. For example, we're currently working on a vampire character who wears traditional wooden geta sandals and is accompanied by a kasa-obake (umbrella yōkai) who shields him from the sun, reimagining a Western myth through an Eastern lens.

Another example is the tengu, traditionally portrayed as a stern, male mountain spirit. In Seikyu, we wanted to subvert that expectation by introducing a female daitengu character, adding a fresh and unexpected take on a classic yōkai.

Yuchen Wang: A fox, undoubtedly. Foxes are clever, adaptable, and deeply rooted in folklore — qualities we admire and strive to embody in our creative endeavours.

Klaus Zheng: Probably cats. I have two of them, and they always look for each other in important moments, yet still maintain their independence. My father and I don't talk much directly — there used to be a sense of distance between us, and I used to think that was a bad thing. But as I've grown older, I've come to see it differently. It feels more like a quiet understanding between us, because deep down, we both look out for each other.

Klaus Zheng: The tengu is my favourite yokai transformation. I often dream about flying at night, and whenever I play a game, I tend to choose faster-moving characters or weapons.