As protestors confronted off towards ICE brokers and legislation enforcement in Los Angeles, sport builders gathered only a few miles away for Summer time Recreation Fest. They’d come to the annual present in early June to point out off their video games and make skilled connections. The workforce at Outerloop Video games was no completely different. However the studio, led and staffed by brown and Black builders, lots of whom are immigrants themselves, had further precautions to contemplate: “In case of an ICE raid,” says sport director Chandana Ekanayake of the workforce’s plan on the time, “we’re gonna keep collectively.” Whether or not that meant on the occasion itself, and even dinner after, the workforce saved observe of one another for the complete occasion.
Outerloop, creator of Thirsty Suitors and Falcon Age, had been on the occasion to point out off their latest undertaking, a “spicy” narrative turn-based RPG referred to as Dosa Divas due out in early 2026.
Because the Trump administration carries out mass deportations, targets visas, disappears migrants right into a international megaprison, and tweets “ASMR” movies of individuals being deported in chains from the official White Home account, Outerloop is making video games that discover methods to attach individuals to completely different cultures via meals. “That is essentially the most accepted model of ourselves or of tradition, is meals,” Ekanayake says. “Individuals are undoubtedly prepared to strive meals earlier than they’re prepared to simply accept the folks that make it.”
Outerloop’s video games have all the time featured meals in some capability, and Dosa Divas solely ramps up its significance. Named for dosas, savory crepes widespread in South India, the sport stars two sisters preventing towards an evil quick meals empire, actually; characters in its turn-based fight have distinctive talents related to completely different “taste profiles,” like candy, spicy, or bitter. To assault successfully, you should match strikes to the enemy’s taste craving.
Dosa Divas facilities round three sisters—Samara, Amani, and quick meals entrepreneur, Lina—the final of which has turn into estranged after their household restaurant closes down. Lina’s fast delicacies has turn into so widespread that no person actually cooks anymore.
Ekanayake says that a part of the sport’s story is about reconciliation and reconnection, particularly via meals. Accumulating elements and cooking performs an essential function within the sport. By sharing meals with villagers, gamers may also help restore communities and construct their very own fame.
Very similar to Thirsty Suitors, Outerloop’s earlier sport, Dosa Divas is ready in a colourful, vibrant world that mixes fantastical components with the on a regular basis. In Thirsty Suitors, heroine Jala battled her exes in over-the-top battle sequences, skateboarded, and tried to make peace along with her dad and mom. Dosa Divas provides an enormous mech to the combo who helps the sisters beat up attorneys.
Early reactions to the sport are constructive, with critics praising the sport’s humor, esthetics, and flavor-themed battles. Summer time Recreation Fest had “many video games set in spooky or dystopian locales that made for a weekend crammed with a lot of darkish, shadowy worlds that felt largely devoid of shade,” wrote ScreenRant. “After a lot grey, to come back throughout a vivid shade palette and such a visually-appealing artwork type within the sport felt so inviting.” RPGFan mentioned “its fight felt intuitive, its writing was witty.”
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