Indie game studio and publisher Toge Productions has long championed emotionally resonant storytelling – and proudly Indonesian voices.

Founded in 2009 by Kris Antoni, the studio grew from a two-person team working out of a garage into a 50-person force behind titles such as A Space for the Unbound, When the Past Was Around and She and the Light Bearer.

“In Southeast Asia and the global south, there’s a lot of talented people who are looking for the opportunity to prove themselves,” says Antoni. “We want to give more underrepresented game developers a chance to grow and shine.”

And if someone picks up a Toge title for the first time?

“I hope they can see that Indonesia has a lot of cool games, experience something new, see a different perspective, cry a little, have a good time and perhaps [the game can] make a lasting impact on their lives.”

Here are three of Toge’s Indonesia-inspired games you should know about.

What it is: A side-scrolling coming-of-age adventure about anxiety, connection and supernatural teenhood.

What we love: Its tender writing, pixel-perfect nostalgia and quietly powerful message. The game explores heavy themes – depression, domestic abuse, emotional trauma – with rare sincerity. “Maybe our game could be a friend for those who navigate that dark tunnel,” director Dimas Novan Delfiano shares. To strike that balance, the team consulted mental health professionals to shape a narrative that’s both adventurous and empathetic.

How it’s Indonesia-inspired: “Its unique set, a fictional rural Indonesian town in the late 1990s – early 2000s,” says Delfiano. Local elements are also sprinkled throughout the game. Think cimol carts, keroncongmusic and an abundance of fluffy neighbourhood cats.

What it is: A wordless puzzle game about love, loss and letting go.

What we love: The unforgettable, bittersweet love story. The game takes you on an emotional journey through Eda’s happiest and most heartbreaking memories with Owl. As you progress, you comb them for clues to unlock new ones while guiding her through grief, acceptance and healing.

How it’s Indonesia-inspired: “The place where Eda and Owl met was inspired by Jalan Tunjungan in our hometown, Surabaya,” says director Brigitta Rena. Even the smallest objects – an Indonesian postal box, a blirik enamel mug – are drawn from the team’s daily life.

What it is: A hand-drawn point-and-click forest fairy tale starring a tiny firefly on a big journey.

What we love: Whimsical narration, folk-inspired music and a magical story rooted in nature. The game tells the story of a firefly looking for Mother, a figure that has been missing for too long. To find her and save the forest from creatures called the Devourers, it will need to accomplish a number of tasks.

How it’s Indonesia-inspired: “We draw inspiration from the folklore of Dewi Pertiwi or Pṛthivī Mātā,” says Rena. The Hindu goddess is the inspiration for the Indonesian patriotic song, “Ibu Pertiwi”, which tells of the sorrow of the Motherland. Hand-woven fabrics from across the archipelago, batik, ikat and songket, also appear in the game. Rena describes diving into Indonesian folklore as “finding hidden treasures”. The game channels that joy into something young players can connect with – and maybe even build on. “Perhaps our younger audiences can create even more amazing stories in the future by learning about these folklores at an early age.”