Idle gaming has become one of the biggest trends of the past two years, and Weyrdlets was right there at the beginning of that wave. The brain child of award-winning Malaysian indie studio Weyrdworks, the game launched free-to-play in July 2024 and has since attracted a global audience with its innovative blend of virtual pet simulator and daily productivity.
With over 10 years of experience under their belts, Weyrdworks isn’t a newcomer in the game development industry, but their journey with Weyrdlets has introduced fresh challenges and exciting wins for the studio. We had the opportunity to interview the team about their journey so far, including the recent win they picked up at the SEA Game Awards 2025.
A year ago, Weyrdlets made the bold decision to launch with a free price tag. In your opinion, has that decision aged well?
Looking back, I’d say it was a bit of a double-edged sword. We launched for free because we had a different vision at the time. But after launch, we quickly realised that Steam players tend to be cautious about free-to-play games with in-app purchases, no matter how good or genuine the game is.
That said, as the game grew, people started to appreciate what we were doing. We often hear things like “I can’t believe this game is free!” and it really makes us smile. So while it wasn’t the easiest path, I think it’s paid off in a different way as we’ve built trust and goodwill with our community, and that’s something we deeply value.
The game is now one year old, congratulations! What were the most memorable moments from the past year?
Thank you! I think one of the most memorable moments from the past year has to be our unforgettable collaboration with Among Us. We honestly never thought we’d be able to pull something like that off, but we did and it was such an invaluable experience for a small Malaysian indie studio like ours.
It’s also been incredibly rewarding to see the support we’ve received from our community over the past year. Players have shown their appreciation in all kinds of ways from sharing kind messages to cheering us on whenever we release something new. Their encouragement really reminds us that our effort matters.
And of course, celebrating our Best Game Development Studio award and seeing Weyrdlets nominated in three categories at the SEA Game Awards last year was a huge milestone for us. It was such a proud moment for the whole team.
What was going through your heads when you won the Best Technology Award at this year’s SEA Game Awards?
To be honest, the team wasn’t expecting to win anything this year, but it was incredibly validating to know that Weyrdlets was recognized for all the hard work we’ve put together. Thinking back on it, Weyrdlets has grown to be a wildly complex project in a technical sense.
No one would’ve thought that a simple virtual pet game would lead us to building a multiplayer social hub, conversational pet brains, three forms of messaging systems and a massive collection of trinkets atop a tiny island amongst other things. Having won two awards year-on-year, the team is more determined than ever to deliver their best in 2026.
Idle gaming has boomed into a massively popular genre over the past year. How has this trend impacted the reception for Weyrdlets?
The rise of idle and cozy gaming has definitely worked in our favor. People are now more open to games that let them unwind while still feeling engaged and that’s exactly what Weyrdlets aims to be. We’ve seen players describe it as their “comfort companion” while they work, study, or browse the internet. It’s really nice to see more people embracing slower-paced, feel-good games that give them small moments of joy throughout their day.
What is the biggest challenge about keeping players engaged with a game like Weyrdlets?
Our biggest challenge is keeping things fresh while staying true to what makes Weyrdlets special. While it’s a desktop pet, it’s quite different from other idle desktop games out there. Many of those take up a larger space on the desktop to include full gameplay elements, while Weyrdlets focuses on being a smaller, more personal companion that keeps players company throughout the day.
While having a desktop companion, we still want players to have meaningful things to do when they take a break like fishing, decorating, or interacting with their pet. So besides optimizing for desktop functionality, we’re also constantly designing new gameplay features that blend fun and utility. Balancing both the cozy companion experience and the engaging game elements is what makes developing Weyrdlets both challenging and rewarding.
Your ‘Fishing and Friends’ update introduced co-op play for the first time. Can players expect more multiplayer focused updates in the future?
We’re definitely thinking about it! Fishing and Friends was our first step into multiplayer, and we were so happy to see players really enjoy it. When the update first launched, players were forming parties, doing little quests together, and just hanging out. It was really great watching everyone enjoy the update to the fullest.
Right now, we’re working on two new gameplay features that will start off as single-player experiences. But seeing how well Fishing and Friends was received, we’re definitely considering adding more multiplayer elements in the future. It’s always amazing to see the community come together. It makes the game feel more connected and alive and it is something we’d love to keep building on.
In the last few years, we’ve seen an increased spotlight on games from the region. From the perspective of a developer, how does it feel to see Southeast Asia on the rise?
It’s incredibly exciting to witness. There’s so much creativity and heart coming from Southeast Asian developers, and it’s nice to see the world finally paying attention. A lot of us grew up playing international games, and now we’re getting to tell our own stories and show what makes our cultures special. It’s really inspiring and we’re proud to be part of that wave of developers from the region.
Let’s spread the love — what is a Southeast Asian game you think our readers should be playing?
So many! Definitely check out the complete list of SEA Games that competed at the recent Level Up KL conference. It’s hard to name any one game since they all vary in genre and playstyles. There’s definitely something for everyone.
Wishlist Weyrdlets on Steam, and join their community on Discord for more game updates.
