PLEASE START US OFF BY INTRODUCING YOURSELF:
Hi, I’m Florian Haase, the founder and creative director of grownarts, an indie game studio. My passion lies in crafting video games that delve into emotional and social topics, offering players more than just entertainment. I’ve been working in the games industry for several years, combining my experience as both a game developer and a media educator. My goal with grownarts is to create interactive experiences that leave a lasting impact, challenging players to reflect on deeper issues and to make games that are truly significant.
TELL US ABOUT PAWS & LEAVES.
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.
HOW HAS THE DEVELOPMENT JOURNEY BEEN
The development journey has been both exciting and challenging, as we've gone through different phases from prototyping to building out the story and environments.
WHICH GAME ENGINE DID YOU CHOOSE AND WHY?
We chose Unity Engine for Paws and Leaves because of its versatility and user-friendly interface. Unity’s asset management and cross-platform support have been really beneficial for our small team. Additionally, Unity’s ability to create beautiful, atmospheric environments - while also handling complex gameplay mechanics - made it a great choice for the kind of emotional, open-world experience we wanted to craft. But we made also peeks into Unreal Engine.
WHAT'S BEEN YOUR BIGGEST DEVELOPMENT HURDLE SO FAR?
One of our biggest hurdles has definitely been securing funding for the full development. We’ve received some support for the concept and prototype phases, but scaling the game to the level we envision requires additional resources. This is why we’re launching our Kickstarter campaign in early November - to raise the necessary funds to bring Paws and Leaves to its full potential. The game’s emotional depth and unique gameplay deserve the time and attention to detail we want to give them, but without adequate funding, that becomes a challenge. We’re hopeful the community will support our vision and help us bring this project to life.
ADVICE FOR FELLOW DEVS?
Absolutely. One of the most important pieces of advice I can give is to stay true to your vision. Game development can be a long and often challenging process, but if you’re passionate about your project, that will carry you through the tougher moments. Also, don’t underestimate the power of a good team. Surround yourself with people who share your vision and complement your skills. Lastly, be prepared to iterate - things may not go as planned and that’s okay. Use every setback as a chance to learn and improve your game.
ANY FINAL THOUGHTS?
I’d just like to say that Paws and Leaves has been a labor of love, and I hope it resonates with players as much as it has with us during its development. Our Kickstarter launch on November 6th is a huge step for us and we’re excited to invite players to be a part of this journey. Games have the power to tell deeply human stories and I believe Paws and Leaves is one of those stories. Thank you for your time and I hope to see you on this emotional adventure!
-Florian
❤️
