This series features interviews with the developers of intriguing new indie games. In this installment, we bring you a mini-interview with the developers of *Port Jumana*, a 2.5D roguelike action game developed by Red Dunes Games and Agate, which was released on September 8 for PC and PS5.
This 2.5D action game incorporates roguelike elements, allowing players to explore various seas while battling enemies lurking on the ocean floor. Players take on the role of Mansour, a young man who embarks on an adventure to save the world while caught up in a series of unfortunate events. Completing missions unlocks new abilities and gear, and with this upgraded equipment, players can take on even more challenging seas.The game also supports Japanese.
“Port of Jumana” is available now for 1,600 yen.
――First, please introduce yourself. What’s your favorite game?
Shandhi: Hello! I’m Shandhi Sayogo, the Game Director for “Port of Jumana.” Right now, my favorite game is “DARK SOULS.”
――Please tell us about the game’s key features. Also, how did you come up with the idea for it?
Shandhi: The defining feature of “Port of Jumana” is that it’s perfect as an introductory title for those new to the roguelike genre, while still offering a challenging and enjoyable experience for hardcore roguelike fans.Although each play session (referred to in-game as a “dive”) is relatively short, it’s packed with a thrilling gaming experience. The game also draws inspiration from the Arabian tradition of “pearl diving” and features a diverse cast of unique and quirky characters.
The idea for this game originated from the realization that, while there are countless roguelike games out there, there were no titles aimed at a more casual audience. At the same time, Red Dunes Games’ Creative Director proposed the highly unique theme of “Arabian pearl diving,” which provided a strong impetus for the project.By combining these elements with adorable visuals that perfectly match the game’s world, “Port Jumana” was born.
――Were there any games that influenced the development of this title?
Shandhi: Yes. In fact, *Port Jumana* was heavily influenced by *Cult of the Lamb* in terms of its visuals and some of its roguelike elements.
――Could you share one episode that left the deepest impression on you during the game’s development?
Shandhi: It was the fact that we had an extremely short development period—essentially just three to four months—to prepare for our exhibition at the Tokyo Game Show 2025.We began development around May 2025 and spent the first month on concept design and brainstorming ideas, but immediately afterward, we were given the ambitious goal of “exhibiting a playable demo at that year’s Tokyo Game Show.”
I had to carefully prioritize tasks to ensure all elements meshed together seamlessly. Although we only showcased the battle mechanics, the entire development team did a truly amazing job and completed a playable build, which allowed us to receive overwhelmingly positive feedback from the many players who experienced the game at the Tokyo Game Show 2025!
――What kind of user feedback did you receive after release? Please share any that left a particularly strong impression on you.
Shandhi: Surprisingly, almost all of the feedback we received was very positive. I had braced myself for some harsher criticism, but the players were very kind and told us they “really enjoyed it.” Of course, there were a few minor bugs, but nothing serious that couldn’t be fixed.
One piece of feedback that stood out in particular came from a player who told us that, ever since having a bad experience with a roguelike game a few years ago, they had been avoiding titles in that genre altogether—but *Jumana Harbor* completely changed their perception of the genre.
They became interested in the game after hearing it was “a title aimed at a more casual audience,” and when they actually played it, they found it to be a truly wonderful introduction to the roguelike genre—so much so that they ended up playing for hours on end, completely engrossed. It made me incredibly happy to see that players had picked up on exactly what we intended to convey with this game.
――Taking user feedback into account, could you tell us about your plans for future updates?
Shandhi: Sure. First, we plan to prioritize fixing the minor bugs that have been identified so far. On top of that, we’ve received numerous requests from players asking us to “make it easier to collect gold coins,” so we plan to proceed with adjustments for this as a top priority as well.
――Could you tell us about the Japanese localization for this game? What was implemented, what were the challenges, and how has the response from Japan been?
Shandhi: This game is fully localized into Japanese, and during the localization process, we positioned Japanese as one of our top priority languages. The main reason for this is that I grew up surrounded by Japanese games and have a special attachment to the Japanese language and culture.Thanks to the localization team’s hard work, the translation process went smoothly, and I feel that being able to play in Japanese has allowed Japanese players to enjoy the world of “Port Jumana” even more deeply.
If you notice any areas in the Japanese translation that need correction or have suggestions for more natural phrasing, please feel free to send us your feedback!
――Is it okay to stream or monetize this game?
Shandhi: Yes, that’s fine. We wholeheartedly welcome anyone who streams “Port Jumana” on their own channel to help more people discover the game we’ve created.
――Finally, please share a message for our Japanese readers.
Shandhi: Hello to all our readers in Japan! A demo version of *Port Jumana* is available on Steam, so please feel free to give it a try. Also, purchasing the game on Steam, PlayStation 5, or the Epic Games Store is a huge show of support for us.
Well then, have a wonderful “dive”!
――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 updates, we’ve standardized the questions, with the goal of sharing the voices of as many developers as possible. Please also enjoy our archive of over 1,000 other interview articles.
