Concode, a South Korean indie development duo, recently won the Best Mobile Game for their 2.5D pixel-art puzzle-adventure Graytail at Indie Game Award 2026, organized by Taipei Game Show. The team consists of Myeongjin Shin, who handles programming and narrative design, and Seonhyang Kim, who takes care of all art and animation.
Originally colleagues, they founded Concode in 2022 to pursue their dreams. Their debut title, The Way Home, reached a remarkable 3.5 million downloads on mobile devices alone. With the demo of Graytail now available and a full release scheduled for Q2, 2027, the team aims to push further with their second work to create a deeper, more immersive, and complete adventure experience for players.
Honoring the Classics, Pushing them Further: Building a Mobile Game Experience with Both Depth and Accessibility
Myeongjin Shin noted that the inspiration for Graytail came from replaying the 20-year-old classic The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap. Consequently, the game adopts a similar top-down perspective and 2.5D pixel style. He emphasized: “We kept the warmth of pixel art but added 3D depth and perspective… so it feels like classic pixel art evolved, not just repeated”.
Building on this foundation, the team carefully crafted various puzzles and levels to convey the charm of puzzle-adventures, while conducting continuous playtesting to balance difficulty. Most puzzles offer more than one solution, allowing players to find their own path and gain a greater sense of achievement. He added with a smile, “The goal is always for players to feel clever when they solve something”.
Myeongjin Shin highlighted that Graytail does not follow the typical mobile game formula. Instead of offering just a short, casual experience, it creates a grander and more complete adventure world. To address the control limitations of mobile devices, the team significantly reduced the number of buttons, ensuring a single action could work across many different situations. For instance, nearby objects are auto-targeted so players can interact with just one tap. They also designed a convenient save system that allows players to step away and return whenever they wish, ensuring the game rhythm is not punished by the demands of daily life.
From Flight Chaos to Gold Medal: Concode Eyes Official Launch
Myeongjin Shin pointed out that Taipei Game Show is one of the most important events for reaching players and the wider industry across Asia. The team felt it was the perfect stage for Graytail, which led them to exhibit and enter Indie Game Award 2026. They are honored to receive the award, marking the team’s second time exhibiting abroad. However, reflecting on the journey to Taiwan, he joked, “I genuinely thought I wasn’t going to make it in”.
He discovered at the airport that his passport had less than six months of validity left, leading to a cancelled ticket, a rush for an expedited passport application, and a scramble for a landing visa upon arrival. He remarked that this high-stress experience feels like something straight out of a sitcom in hindsight. Fortunately, they enjoyed a lot of great food and local hospitality in Taiwan, while receiving encouraging feedback from players and publishers.
The team is currently working hard toward the full release, which will feature more complex dungeons and meaningful story branching. They also plan to bring the game to PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch to share this charming adventure with even more players.
For the full video interview, visit the Taipei Game Show official YouTube channel, and stay updated on Concode’s latest developments by following team’s official social media.
