Developed by Spanish indie developer Omaet Games, The Midnight Barber combines hairstyling with rhythm-based gameplay and intricate sound design. This unique concept earned them the “Best Audio” award at Indie Game Award 2025, hosted by Taipei Game Show.
The team fondly recalls the moment when they first opened the early demo for players to play. Despite having some issues at the time, witnessing players gradually immerse themselves in the experience was truly magical. Winning this award has strengthened their confidence, reaffirming that they are creating something truly special.
“We were onto something!” the team emphasized. With this encouragement, they are now fully dedicated to refining the full version of the game.
From Concept Art to a One-of-a-Kind Game: Former Colleagues Unite to Pursue a Dream
“The core members of our team worked together for seven years at our previous job and became close friends,” the team shared. Having collaborated on multiple projects and live-service games, they eventually decided to break away and chase their own creative dreams. Omaet Games’ debut project, The Midnight Barber, originally started as nothing more than a concept illustration. Over time, they brought in talented collaborators—especially a skilled sound designer—who helped shape their vision into reality. Their ultimate goal: make small games that tell big stories in unexpected ways.
Given the team’s limited size, they decided to focus the game’s setting on a single location. The barbershop, to them, was an intriguing space—one that fosters intimate one-on-one interactions between the barber and the customer. The atmosphere is immersive and relaxing, yet there is an inherent vulnerability in sitting still while someone alters your appearance with sharp instruments near your throat. Inspired by this contrast, they designed a barbershop that only operates at midnight and exclusively serves supernatural clients. By blending an everyday haircutting ritual with an eerie supernatural backdrop, they aim to craft an unforgettable experience filled with fascinating characters and narratives.
Encouragement from Shuhei Yoshida Marks High Point, Fruitful First Visit to Taiwan
In The Midnight Barber, players step into the role of a barber. To enhance immersion and replicate the precision of the profession, the game integrates rhythm mechanics with controller joystick movements, simulating actions such as trimming, spraying, and shaving. To ensure authenticity, the team didn’t just reference a vast collection of ASMR barber videos—they also personally visited barbershops and interviewed real hairstylists. While the controller provides a natural physical feedback experience, the final release will fully support keyboard and mouse controls, ensuring a seamless gameplay experience for all players.
This was Omaet Games’ first time showcasing at Taipei Game Show, and they revealed that their journey to Taiwan was inspired by a mentor from a game incubation program in Barcelona. He highly recommended Taipei Game Show, calling it one of the best expos in Asia for indie games, the team recalled. On top of that, one of the members has a Taiwanese wife, making this opportunity even more meaningful. Encouraged by these factors, they decided to exhibit and enter the Indie Game Award, never expecting to walk away with a trophy.
“Receiving praise from Yoshida-san was undoubtedly the highlight of our time at Taipei Game Show!” the team exclaimed. As long-time admirers of Shuhei Yoshida, one of the Indie Game Award judges, they were thrilled just to exchange a few words with him at the award ceremony. However, they were even more astonished when Yoshida himself visited their booth on the morning of the show and played through their entire demo. When he finished playing, he told them that very few games are able to surprise him like theirs did, the team recalled with pride. His encouragement meant the world to the team and reinforced their determination to see this project through to completion.
At the event, Omaet Games also connected with several publishers and investors, opening up opportunities to bring their game to the Asian market. They are now fully committed to developing the final version of The Midnight Barber and eagerly look forward to sharing more updates soon.
For the full interview, check out the Taipei Game Show official YouTube channel. Stay tuned to Omaet Games’ social media for more news on their upcoming plans!
