My grandma’s birthday was also on the same day as PAX Aus 2024, and unfortunately, I couldn’t attend the celebration. So when I got the chance to play Fishbowl, by imissmyfriends.studio, it made me emotional as it brought up the feelings I have for my grandma when playing this heartfelt narrative about a young girl’s love with her family. Fishbowl was developed by a two-person team in India and you can watch the demo trailer down below.
Fishbowl tells the story of Alo, a young video editor who works from home in India and is still grieving the death of her grandmother, Jojo. Days following the funeral, a package arrives, containing a handful of sentimental items and a toy fish that eventually comes to life. The game has a variety of gameplay features that tell a compelling narrative. Not only is it somewhat of a “choose your path” adventure, where your dialogue will affect the game’s outcomes, but it also includes other fun things like a quick-time colour-matching video editing game.
Another thing worth noting is its assets. The demo showcases this cute pixel art style, soothing music, and quirky and touching dialogue flawlessly. While the full version has yet to be scheduled, it already does a good job of trying to convey a story about isolation and grief. Mac users should be pleased to hear that Fishbowl is compatible with macOS as that device was used during PAX. According to Fishbowl’s programmer and pixel artist, Prateek Saxena, Fishbowl was built with Mac users in mind as during the time of development 3 years ago, it was the only device this small team had.
Fishbowl was created during the pandemic and its narrative has some nods to what that life was like. But even after knowing all that, it’s still relevant as its themes can relate to anyone, regardless of the time period. Fishbowl’s writer, Rhea Gupte, said that while the game had some influence on their personal lives, especially during the pandemic, it just played a role in Fishbowl’s overall theme.
“It is a very personal story, but it is not inspired by very specific events in our lives. More like an overall theme, and we’ve made it fictitious to suit the story of Alo and what we want to tell to the world. It is a mix of our life story but set in a fictional setting.”
Fishbowl’s demo shows the potential to tell a great evocative story about a young girl and her love for her grandma. Just playing a few minutes of it will bring you to the verge of tears, and will bring back memories of you and your loved ones. While the story was inspired by the dev’s experience during the pandemic, the narrative can stand on its own two feet and remain relevant and timeless.
Fishbowl’s demo is available to download on Steam and can be added to your wishlist on Steam and PlayStation.
About the Author
Erielle Sudario
If she's not podcasting, Erielle Sudario is seen either playing Baldurs Gate 3, The Sims, or a really cute cozy indie game that she found either in conventions or on TikTok. Outside of gaming, she's either embracing her inner Swiftie, building keyboards, or watching shows/films in theatres or streaming platforms.
