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Behind every great game lies a story, and Video Game Nation is here to tell them. The eight-part short-form documentary series by No Average Joe (NAJ) dives deep into Singapore’s indie game scene, celebrating the creativity, resilience, and passion driving some of the nation’s most distinctive titles. Produced as part of SGStory’s Our Singapore, Our Stories campaign marking 60 years of nationhood, the series examines how local developers have transformed ideas born in bedrooms into games enjoyed around the world.
Each episode runs between four to eight minutes and is designed for vertical viewing on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Through its four themes — Heavy Hitters, Incredible Iterations, Coding Catharsis, and Makan Mana — Video Game Nation paints a vibrant portrait of how Singaporean game makers turn everyday inspiration into immersive digital worlds.
Theme 1: Heavy Hitters — Leading the Charge
The series opens with a look at Singapore’s breakout successes. In Episode 1, The Gentlebros take center stage with Cat Quest, a global hit that turned sword-wielding felines into RPG icons. Their story reveals how three friends built an internationally recognised franchise through humour, charm, and unmistakable Singaporean spirit. Episode 2 then shifts focus to Springloaded, the quirky minds behind Let’s Build a Zoo and Let’s Build a Dungeon. From designing pixel animals to satirical dungeon crawlers, the studio shows how offbeat ideas and unfiltered creativity can thrive far beyond the mainstream.
Theme 2: Incredible Iterations — Crafting Worlds with Character
The next theme explores the evolution of ideas and the drive to keep improving. Episode 3 spotlights General Interactive, creators of Chinatown Detective Agency, a cyber-noir adventure steeped in Singapore’s sights, sounds, and mysteries. Inspired by Carmen Sandiego, the studio crafted a modern detective experience that captures the city’s pulse. Episode 4 turns to AT-AT Games, whose passion project Ghostlore reimagines the action RPG genre through the lens of Southeast Asian folklore. With just two developers at the helm, their journey shows how cultural authenticity can resonate with global audiences.
Theme 3: Coding Catharsis — When Creation Becomes Expression
In its third act, Video Game Nation explores how frustration, emotion, and curiosity often spark innovation. Episode 5 highlights Landshark Games and their tranquil hit Zen Koi, a meditative mobile experience inspired by doodles in a notebook. The game’s global success proves that quiet creativity can be just as powerful as bombastic spectacle. Meanwhile, Episode 6 takes a self-reflective turn with No Average Joe itself. After dealing with difficult clients in the creative industry, the studio turned their stress into satire with Owe Money Pay Money and Own Time Own Target — two tongue-in-cheek games that double as both humour and therapy.
Theme 4: Makan Mana — The Taste of Imagination
The final theme blends food, fun, and culture — ingredients that are unmistakably Singaporean. Episode 7 profiles Battlebrew Productions, the team behind Cuisineer, where players battle monsters and cook up mayhem in a whimsical roguelite adventure. What began as a risky final project became one of Singapore’s most recognisable indie exports. Closing the series, Episode 8 introduces Kopiforge and their debut title Sedap!, a student project that blossomed into a heartfelt exploration of food, identity, and heritage — proving that great stories can come from anywhere, even the classroom.
A Tribute to Singapore’s Creative Underdogs
“Video Game Nation is really a collection of underdog stories,” says Joe Peter, Producer-Director and Managing Director of NAJ. “Singapore-made games often only get noticed when they go global, but there are plenty more that thrive in their own ways. These are games born here, shaped by the Singapore experience, and built with equal parts creativity, grit, and heart.”
The series premieres on November 8, on TikTok.
About SGStory and No Average Joe
Our Singapore, Our Stories is a flagship SG60 initiative featuring 150 short-form videos that celebrate local creativity and community spirit. Supported by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and led by the Association of Independent Producers (AIPRO), it empowers storytellers to highlight the human side of Singapore’s creative industries.
Founded in 2004, No Average Joe has become known for its documentary-driven storytelling across platforms like Discovery, National Geographic, and Capcom. Under Joe Peter’s leadership, the studio continues to experiment boldly across film, design, and now game development.
With Video Game Nation, NAJ shines a long-overdue spotlight on Singapore’s game developers — the dreamers, coders, and storytellers turning passion into pixels, and proving that play, too, can be a nation’s
