Czech Indie Game Vranygrai Wins Activision Special Prize at Digital Dragons: Introducing a Unique Blend of Slavic Mythology and Historical Inspiration to Polish Gamers

Dire Badger Studio :

Warsaw, Poland – The Czech indie game Vranygrai, developed by solo creator Ivan Kubál, has won the prestigious Activision Special Prize at the Digital Dragons conference in Kraków. This recognition marks a significant milestone as Vranygrai introduces its unique blend of storytelling, historical inspiration, and mythical elements to the Polish gaming community.
 
To give a glimpse of the game's progress, a new video titled "Road to Vertical Slice" is now available on YouTube, showcasing gameplay and providing insights into the development process. Please note that some elements in the video, such as animations, VFX, lighting, and postprocessing, are still in early stages of development.
 
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/Z42BBBqPPVM
 
Story and Gameplay
Vranygrai follows the poignant journey of a shattered Volkhv (priest) seeking redemption after a tragic event that led to the death of his sister. Inspired by the formation of Great Moravia, a Central European Slavic state from the 9th century, players navigate a world where history and mythology intertwine. The protagonist must confront internal demons, remnants of the Avar Khaganate, and mythical creatures from Slavic legends.
 
With a main story spanning approximately 8 hours and additional side content adding another 4 hours, Vranygrai offers an immersive experience within a 2x2 km semi-open world. The game features story progression through dialogues, 2D cutscenes, mission-like quests, exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat. The combat system, inspired by titles like God of War (2018), combines light and heavy attacks, dodges, rolls, blocks, and parries to create dynamic and engaging battles.
 
Unique Features
Souls-lite Combat: Players experience a blend of melee actions, bow-ranged mechanics, and mythological skills unique to the protagonist.
Handcrafted World and Story: Emphasizing quality storytelling and a meticulously crafted world, Vranygrai evokes deep emotional connections with its characters.
Historical and Mythical Fusion: The game blends historical inspiration from Great Moravia with a connection to pagan gods, setting it apart from conventional historical dramas.
Voice-acted Main Story: The narrative is brought to life with full voice acting, enhancing the immersive experience.

Development Journey and Current Status
Vranygrai stands out as an indie game developed solely by Ivan Kubál, with occasional outsourcing for 3D models and dialogue texts. This solo development journey highlights the dedication and passion driving the project, with a commitment to delivering a high-quality gaming experience despite limited resources.
 
Current progress
Originally announced in November 2022 in Czech and Slovak media, Vranygrai received very positive feedback. The following year focused on establishing development pipelines and improving the game's graphical and technical state. The development of Vranygrai's Vertical Slice is now well underway, with approximately 60% of the game systems implemented. The completion of this slice, offering about 45 minutes of gameplay, is planned for summer 2024.
 
The first chapter, representing about 20% of the game, is expected to be completed by fall. Ivan Kubál is actively seeking a publisher or financial opportunities to expand the team and enhance the game's development, aiming for a potential release by the end of next year.
 
Developer Background
Ivan Kubál, with over a decade of experience in the creative industry, has worked on renowned projects in theaters, contemporary circus, dance, film, and fashion. As a producer at Hangar 13 (2K), he contributed to the Mafia franchise and TopSpin 2k25. Vranygrai is the first title under his new label, aiming to establish a strong presence in the story-driven fantasy game market and potentially evolve into a trilogy with rich lore and spin-off possibilities.

Contact:
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2143550/Vranygrai/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vranygrai/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vranygrai
Twitter: https://twitter.com/vranygrai
Web: www.vranygrai.com
E-mail: [email protected]