In Creatures of Ava by Spanish indie studio Inverge Studios, players take on the role of Vic, a young explorer stranded on the planet Ava alongside her companion, Tabitha. As they navigate this new world, their primary objective is to tame and save the planet’s many threatened creatures while combating a pervasive infection known as The Withering. “We’re excited that it conveys an important conservationist message that we believe is very meaningful,” says Pablo Martínez Carratalá, CEO of Inverge Studios and the game’s director.
Creatures of Ava is a project born from the desire to create a game similar to Slime Rancher. However, as development progressed, the concept evolved into something much more narrative-driven. The involvement of renowned writer Rhianna Pratchett was instrumental in shaping the game’s narrative. “Once the main gameplay of Ava was decided and functioning, Rhianna joined the team and created the main storyline and characters from a high-level standpoint,” Carratalá explains. “Later on, our narrative designers expanded, iterated, and wrote the final story and dialogues, respecting everything that had been set up prior to their involvement.”
Inverge Studios was formed by a group of students who met during their studies, the journey from a fledgling team to an established indie studio was not without its challenges. “Getting a company off the ground is not easy,” Carratalá admits. “It took some time, but we finally established an indie studio that has grown to a team of 11 people. Throughout the development of various games, we have learned a lot. Each team member has been able to focus and specialize in their area of expertise, ultimately forming a team capable of excelling in all aspects of game development.”
Sprinkle of alien essence
The development of Creatures of Ava began in July 2019 in collaboration with fellow Spanish indie studio Chibig, with publisher 11 bit studios joining the project in March 2020. “Our cooperation with Chibig was limited to the initial stages of development,” says Carratalá. “We enjoyed our time together, but eventually, we had to part ways as Chibig had big projects to focus on.” This separation allowed Inverge to refine and manage Ava’s concept more efficiently, leading to a final product that the team is rightfully proud of.
One of the game’s standout features is its stunning visual style and unique creature designs, which were meticulously developed through trial and error. “Finding the right color palettes was more challenging than in other projects,” Carratalá notes. The creatures themselves always begin with inspirations from Earth animals. “With that in mind, and by adding a sprinkle of love and alien essence, Ava’s unique creatures come to life,” he says.
Sense of empathy
A particularly proud aspect of Creatures of Ava for Carratalá and his team is the ability to take control of the various creatures. “Controlling Ava’s various creatures in third person, seeing the world from their perspective, and using their unique abilities is one feature that still gives us goosebumps to this day,” Carratalá shares. This mechanic deepens the emotional connection between the player and the game’s environment.
Creating a game with mechanics that align perfectly with its narrative goals proved to be one of the most significant challenges for Inverge Studios. The team aimed to ensure that players would feel a sense of care and empathy towards the creatures of Ava, avoiding any form of violence. “Making these more passive mechanics fun, while focusing on the exploration of this alien world, was a tough task that we solved through trial and error,” Carratalá reveals.
Save the whales
“At its core, Creatures of Ava is all about nature preservation. That’s why we, together with our publisher 11 bit Studios, started a partnership with the Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC).” This collaboration ensures that the game’s conservationist message is more than just thematic; it has real-world implications, with proceeds from WDC-inspired DLC going directly to the protection of whales and dolphins.
The development of Creatures of Ava has imparted many lessons to Carratalá and his team, the most significant of which is the importance of thorough preparation. “Spend more time on pre-production to ensure all the mechanics and game development run more smoothly,” he advises. “Thorough planning and preparation can save a lot of time and effort down the road. Remember, sometimes running alone can actually slow you down. Collaborate, share ideas, and work together. It’s amazing how much faster and more enjoyable the journey can be!”
Creatures of Ava is out now on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and Game Pass.