Paws and Leaves – A Last Tale is an emotional, narrative-driven game where you play as a young fox on his final journey between life and death. With the help of a butterfly named Ani, the player explores a beautifully crafted world, uncovers memories, and collects personal keepsakes. The idea for the game came from my desire to explore themes of memory, identity and loss in a deeply personal way, drawing inspiration from various films, games, and mythology.
At its core, Paws and Leaves is a reinterpretation of the Greek myth of Orpheus, turned inside out. In the myth, Orpheus descends into the underworld to retrieve his lost love, but our game shifts the focus to a more personal journey - about the search for identity and agency in a world where true change feels rare. The player’s fox character isn’t seeking to bring someone back, but to rediscover and reclaim his own memories and meaning as he faces the end of his life. This inner search for understanding mirrors Orpheus’ quest, but here it’s about confronting loss and coming to terms with it, rather than trying to reverse it.
The emotional storytelling in games like Life is Strange and Firewatch inspired the character-driven narrative and the weight of personal choice. Films like Life of Pi and What Dreams May Come deeply influenced the visual and thematic elements, especially in the way they tackle the blurred lines between reality and imagination, life and death. The Graveyard by Tale of Tales also sparked the idea of creating a game that reflects on mortality, offering a contemplative, meditative experience. And nature’s beauty and fragility in Bambi helped shape the portrayal of the world and seasons, serving as metaphors for the fox’s fading life.
Ultimately, the game is about the personal journey of letting go, of searching for identity and significance when the world feels static and finding peace in the process.
