Light the path to salvation in cozy strategy game Sainthood

Bisong Taiwo :

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 23, 2024

Winnipeg, Canada – Embark on a heartfelt and sacred adventure in Sainthood, a cozy Catholic-themed video game steeped in African folklore. Created by award winning filmmaker Bisong Taiwo, Sainthood puts you in the shoes of a nun with a secret past, who is stranded on a mysterious island.


With just 33 days left until your ship comes in, you must uncover the truth behind the island by helping others and strengthening your faith. Your decisions will shape your fate and that of the island, for better or worse. Uncover fragments of your past, delving deeper into the events that brought you here. Every action impacts whether you will be canonized as a saint at the end of your journey — making each playthrough unique.
In Sainthood, navigate a beautifully illustrated miniature-like grid representing the island which moves through beautiful seasons and day/night cycles. Immerse yourself in a relaxing, meditative world. Find and free the Angel Spirits known as 'Ehi' who will assist you with building upgrades. But be careful, when night descends, mysterious evil spirits known as the 'Shetani' emerge, hungry for your Faith.


Balance time management with meaningful missions, ranging from delivering packages to volunteering at the hospital and orphanage, to uncovering sacred artifacts. Engage in acts of charity, prayer, and reflection while exploring the mysteries of the island.


As you interact with the custodians of each building—such as the Prioress in the Convent—learn snippets of Kongo culture and history, and the stories behind several saints from Africa and all over the world. 
“Most video games that deal directly with the Christian faith typically fall into the realm of parodies, making them controversial, or are used as part of a larger strategy to dominate and subjugate, as is the case with 4X Strategy games,” says Taiwo, creator of Sainthood. “I thought it would be a great idea to build a non-violent strategy game where the focus is on helping and serving others rather than conquering and controlling them.”
Inspired by allegorical games like Final Fantasy X and the dreamlike quality of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, Sainthood mixes cozy and relaxing gameplay with deep narrative themes. Sainthood also promotes themes of kindness, spirituality, and personal growth. The game’s focus on Catholic faith and African culture provides a rich tapestry of influences.


“Sainthood is a small, high-quality faith-based game that avoids the negative tropes sometimes associated with religion,” continues Taiwo, “and instead focuses on a positive, cozy experience that inspires players to serve and nurture their local community, whatever their faith.”


Sainthood will launch in the fall of 2024, and a demo is available on Steam to play now. The game will also be available as part of the upcoming Steam Next Fest. Console gamers can look forward to an Xbox launch of Sainthood in Fall 2024.


For more information, visit https://sainthoodgame.com and follow us on https://x.com/sainthood_game.


About Bisong Taiwo


In 2020, founder, game designer and filmmaker Bisong Taiwo began creating Sainthood, a beautiful, cozy game steeped in Christian mythology, philosophical values and the evocative, sometimes eerie fantasy of titles like Zelda: Link's Awakening. By tapping into his rich expertise as a filmmaker, game designer and storyteller, Taiwo is crafting a moving, aesthetically pleasing video game experience that appeals to both religious and secular players alike.


About our mission


Most video games that deal directly with the Christian faith typically fall into the realm of parodies, making them controversial, or used as part of a larger strategy to conquer and control, as is the case with 4X games. Instead, we wanted to make a small, high-quality faith-based game that avoids the negative tropes sometimes associated with religion, and instead focuses on a positive, cozy experience that inspires players to serve and nurture their local community.