Penguin Colony: An Anti-Soulslike Satire on Lovecraft and Colonialism

Key points

• Released October 16, 2026, on PC by Fellow Traveller, with PS5 and Switch versions planned for 2027.
• Players control multiple penguin species, swapping between them to solve puzzles (e.g., heavy penguins press switches, chicks fit through tunnels).
• The game is a retelling of At the Mountains of Madness, set a few years after Lovecraft’s death, featuring Nazi occultists and English collaborators.
• Collectibles are words in English and Te reo Māori, not gear or XP, encouraging community discussion rather than 100% completion.
• Includes a Māori warrior narrative (the Kaitiaki) that briefly becomes playable, contrasting with the penguin’s indifferent perspective.
• Features Soulslike elements like difficult level design and a Shoggoth boss, but subverts combat expectations by allowing players to bypass threats.

Background

Origame Digital, an Indigenous team based in Melbourne on Wurundjeri Woiwurrung land, previously developed Umurangi Generation. The studio has expressed interest in creating more Lovecraftian games, with Cthulhu cited as a future target. The game’s design philosophy draws from Wiradjuri professor Norman Sheehan’s framework of 'respectful design,' emphasizing that knowledge is absorbed from the world rather than created internally. This approach contrasts with traditional Silicon Valley game design, which often spoonfeeds content to players. The game’s release coincides with broader discussions about the decline of real penguin colonies due to climate change, though the game’s penguins are fictional and not tied to specific species' ecological statuses.

How outlets are covering it

Rock Paper Shotgun praises the game as a 'cracking parody' of Lovecraftian empires, highlighting its 'unforgiving' Soulslike elements and 'lumpy platforming.' The Guardian calls it an 'audacious, frequently brilliant retelling,' emphasizing its 'incendiary conclusion' and 'cosmological map' that reveals missed secrets. ABC News focuses on the game’s critique of colonial myth-making, quoting developer Naphtali Faulkner on how the penguin’s indifference exposes the absurdity of European invaders. ScreenHub describes it as an 'esoteric experience' that defies traditional quest structures, noting how the Māori narrative recontextualizes Lovecraft’s work as a colonialist narrative. All outlets agree on the game’s innovative use of perspective and its critique of Lovecraft’s racism, but differ in emphasis: RPS focuses on gameplay mechanics, The Guardian on narrative depth, ABC on cultural critique, and ScreenHub on experiential design.

Why it matters

Penguin Colony challenges traditional game design by subverting Soulslike expectations and using a non-human protagonist to critique colonialism and racism. Its collectible word system encourages community discussion rather than completionist play, reflecting a shift in how games can engage players with narrative and cultural themes. The game’s Indigenous development team and use of Te reo Māori highlight the importance of diverse perspectives in game design, offering a counter-narrative to Lovecraft’s original work. Its success could influence future games to explore similar themes of perspective and critique, moving away from traditional combat-focused designs.

What to watch

PS5 and Nintendo Switch versions are planned for 2027. Origame Digital has indicated interest in developing more Lovecraftian games, with Cthulhu cited as a future target. The studio may continue experimenting with Soulslike design and Indigenous design principles, potentially expanding into other Lovecraft stories or exploring new themes of colonialism and cosmic horror. The game’s post-credits 'Zodiac constellation' of lore may encourage replayability and community discussion, though developers have stated they prefer players not to aim for 100% completion.