Donut Dodo (available on Steam and Nintendo Switch, and with an extended version for exA-Arcadia) might be called by some a throwback. It’s got (gasp!) pixel art graphics. Each level is (shock!) a single screen. It’s (yikes!) unapologetically two-dimensional and takes its design cues from the classic era of arcades. But it’s got charming art, challenging play, and an interesting design that seems to have struck a chord among many players, and now it even has a bona fide release for arcades. We’re grateful that its creator, Sebastian Kostka, has taken time from his work to answer our questions about Donut Dodo.
Game Developer: Who are you, and what is Donut Dodo?
Kostka: Hi, I am Sebastian Kostka, founder and owner of the one-person studio, pixel games SARL-S. My main focus is to create classic arcade games that integrate modern gameplay mechanics for current-gen systems.
A recent example would be Donut Dodo, an arcade game that looks and sounds like the classics it was inspired by yet does not really play like its predecessors.
Speaking of predecessors, I was fortunate enough to witness the birth of the video game industry and have been fascinated by its evolution ever since. The moments that had the greatest impact on me are the ones that help me shape the games I create today.
Video and computer games today, even indie ones, tend to have different design attributes now than in the classic days of arcades. It really was not that long of a period; after all, there were only five years between Space Invaders and U.S. Game Crash. And yet, many games released for arcades back then have had a hold on the popular imagination that even newer games can’t match. I feel like there’s something about Donkey Kong, for example, that immediately suggests “video game” in a way that Elden Ring or Minecraft do not. What appealed to you about making a classic arcade-type game?
I passionately follow the evolution of gaming from a technical and technological point of view but lost interest in AAA games many years ago.
What I seek in games today is very similar to what I found in the arcade classics of yesteryear: simple, yet creative; short yet impactful experiences. As an indie developer, I am fortunate enough to be able to make the kind of goofy games I myself love to play, without much consideration for financial viability or market share.
While my games primarily target the Atari 2600 generation, which I am also part of and have developed an intimate understanding for over the years, I was surprised that Donut Dodo has been adopted by players of all ages, including those who are not familiar with the classics or even the arcade genre.
It just goes to show how timeless these games can be when adapted to modern standards and expectations.
