Taiwanese indie studio Bearbone recently triumphed at Indie Game Award 2025, organized by Taipei Game Show, securing both the Best Narrative and Grand Prix with their five-year passion project, Minds Beneath Us. The game’s deeply immersive storytelling, meticulously crafted characters, and a stunning art style that seamlessly blends cyberpunk aesthetics with Taiwanese cultural elements have not only earned an overwhelming 95% positive rating on Steam but also received high praise from the judging panel.
Ted, the studio’s producer and writer, shared that Bearbone currently has a seven-member team, many of whom have been working together since their university days. He admitted that after winning these prestigious awards, the team has received numerous business inquiries, allowing them to finally go all-in on developing their next title—one that will push creative and innovative gameplay to new heights.
Inspired by Other Developers, Crafting a Uniquely “Taiwanese” Game
“I love pondering different perspectives and observing various people and their way of thinking, so naturally, I tend to write more serious stories,” Ted explained. Minds Beneath Us was not directly inspired by any specific real-world social event; instead, it drew influence from games like Detention and Devotion, igniting the team’s ambition to create a uniquely Taiwanese game.
However, realizing that their knowledge of traditional culture was somewhat limited, they instead leaned into the sci-fi genre, which they were more familiar with. Balancing futuristic themes with everyday realism was a challenge. For this title, they adopted a more conservative design approach. The team aims to embrace bolder creativity in future projects.
Each character in Minds Beneath Us has a distinct mindset, making moral judgments ambiguous and complex. As the game’s sole writer, Ted never faced any ideological disputes with the team but actively listened to their feedback to ensure the story resonated with a wide range of players.
When asked about his favorite ending, he revealed a preference for the ” Taking the gun and join OWL” ending, which, while humbling and painful, aligns most with real-world logic and carries an underlying message of hope—that even after accepting the world’s harsh realities, one can still choose to believe in the future.
From Graduation to Entrepreneurship—”Doing What You Love is the Most Meaningful Thing!”
Looking back on the journey from a graduation project to founding a game studio, Ted candidly admitted, “The biggest challenge was, of course, financial pressure, along with learning how to run a company and handle administrative tasks.” Despite these obstacles, making the game remained deeply fulfilling for the team, as they found meaning in pursuing their passion. Supports from the fans also played a crucial role in keeping the studio going.
He fondly recalled a memorable experience at the Tokyo Game Show when a group of dedicated fans, who had missed their booth, were so eager to meet them that they organized a late-night gathering in a nearby park. Despite being surrounded by mosquitoes, the team and fans engaged in deep conversations about their game—an unexpected yet surreal moment that left a lasting impression.
Opportunities After Winning Indie Game Award
Regarding their decision to enter Indie Game Award, Ted emphasized that Taipei Game Show is one of the world’s most renowned gaming events, and the award itself holds significant credibility. The moment they heard about the competition, they immediately decided to apply. Winning the award has notably increased their visibility among potential business partners. While general players awareness of awards might be limited, Ted believes that within the gaming industry, accolades serve as a seal of quality, giving studios a competitive edge in securing collaborations.
Moving forward, Bearbone is fully committed to developing their next game, aiming to introduce more innovative gameplay mechanics while preserving their signature story-driven narrative. Ted hinted that previous technical limitations had constrained their ability to experiment with gameplay mechanics, but this time, they plan to push boundaries while maintaining their focus on compelling storytelling.
For the full video interview, visit the Taipei Game Show official YouTube channel, and stay updated on Bearbone’s latest developments by following their social media pages.
