This series features interviews with the developers behind new indie games that have caught our attention. In this installment, we bring you a mini-interview with the developers of *Funguys Swarm*, a bullet-hell survival game developed by Stairway Games and released on August 26 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.
This game is a bullet-hell survival title with roguelike elements, where you play as a mushroom warrior defending the forest by mowing down hordes of enemies. Set in a forest engulfed in flames, you control a character called a “Funguy” to take on the army of the “Fire King.” The game supports Japanese.
“Funguys Swarm” is available now for 999 yen.
――First, please introduce yourself. What’s your favorite game?
Putu: Hello! I’m Putu, the Creative Director of *Funguys Swarm*.
My favorite game is *BioShock*. It was the first game that made me realize how the interplay of art, music, and storytelling can create something truly wonderful—and that a game can be a “true work of art.”
――Please tell us about the game’s key features. Also, how did you come up with the idea?
Putu: In *Funguys Swarm*, players take on the role of a brave “Funguy” (Translator’s note: The plural form of “fungus” is “fungi,” which is pronounced “funguy.”which sounds the same as “fun guy”) and fight as an unconventional hero against a surging horde of giant, flaming enemies. As you progress through the game, you’ll unlock characters, skills, and weapons, which you can freely combine to create your own ultimate build.
During the early stages of development, we went through numerous rounds of trial and error with the characters, and among them, the mushroom character’s design stood out the most. From there, our inspiration expanded, and the ideas evolved into the stage environments, the other characters, and the overall story.
――Were there any works that influenced the development of this game?
Putu: The initial inspiration for this game was *Vampire Survivors*. From there, we were also influenced by other titles in the same genre, as well as roguelike games more broadly.
Visually, we drew inspiration from classic Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon (Translator’s note: the former is an American animation channel; the latter is a U.S. children’s channel) animated series. The first thing that comes to mind is “SpongeBob SquarePants.”We absolutely love that nonsensical “cartoon logic”—the way creatures move so vibrantly for no apparent reason.
Also, the “Fire King” who appears in this game was heavily influenced by “Ak” from *Samurai Jack*. He’s the very embodiment of a villain you can’t quite hate—someone who, while trying to defeat the protagonist, puts on an over-the-top one-man show and addresses the player with a cackling laugh.
――Could you share one of the most memorable moments from the game’s development?
The most memorable moment during the development of *Putu* was when we started receiving real-time feedback from players. Around the time we launched Early Access, I saw a player who had created a “total pacifist build.”By combining skills and items, they managed to survive for an unimaginably long time—even though they didn’t attack at all and just stood there. Although they ultimately didn’t clear the game, they persevered tenaciously.
We hadn’t anticipated that kind of playstyle. Seeing players discover elements we hadn’t intended was a truly strange yet wonderful feeling.
――What kind of user feedback did you receive after release? Please share any particularly memorable examples.
During the Putu Early Access period, we received a lot of feedback regarding balance adjustments—comments like “This skill is too weak” or “This enemy is too strong.” That feedback showed just how much players care about this game, and it continued to support us throughout the development process.
――Taking user feedback into account, could you tell us about your plans for future updates?
Putu: Right now, we’re devoting all our efforts to fixing edge-case bugs and polishing the rough edges that players pointed out. Our goal is to bring *Funguys Swarm* to its absolute best, ensuring it stands on its own as a solid game that players can enjoy for a long time to come.
――Could you tell us about the Japanese language support for this game? What was included in the implementation, what challenges did you face, and what has the reaction been like from Japan?
Putu: Yes, the game supports Japanese. For the localization, we worked closely with our translation partner,WordKeepers.
The most difficult part was capturing the “humor.” Much of the game’s “atmosphere” stems from wordplay and the nonsensical, cartoon-like humor typical of the genre.Even the protagonist’s name, “Funguy,” is a pun on “fungi,” and jokes like that don’t come across with a literal translation. Because of this, we needed the translation team to find their own unique approach—one that wouldn’t rely on a word-for-word translation but would still effectively convey the humor in Japanese.
We haven’t received much feedback from Japanese players yet, so to be honest, we’d really love to hear your thoughts. If there are any parts of the Japanese text that feel even slightly off, please let us know! We’d definitely like to make corrections.
――Is it okay to stream and monetize this game?
Putu: Of course! Nothing would make me happier than for players to stream this game and share it with their viewers.
――Finally, please share a message for our Japanese readers.
Putu: Hello, everyone! Thank you so much for reading this interview. I’d like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has already played *Funguys Swarm*. And if you’re even slightly curious, please give it a try. It’s the perfect game to relax and enjoy during a spare moment after school or work.
――Thank you very much.
◆ About “Spotlight on Indie Mini-Q&A”
This series features email interviews with indie developers about their games shortly after release. To ensure regular publication, we’ve standardized the questions, with the goal of sharing the voices of as many developers as possible. Please also enjoy our other interview articles, which now number over 1,000.
