Kerala-based horror 3D game, Thekku Island, to launch on February 27

Kerala's first horror 3D game, Thekku Island, launches on February 27, featuring a gripping mystery and immersive gameplay.

Set on a mysterious island in Kerala in the 1980s, a journalist investigating it goes missing. More details about her absence are revealed as her husband, the protagonist, goes looking for her on this isle, with challenges emerging one after another. This is the premise of Thekku Island, touted as Kerala’s first horror 3D game, created by Ales Devs Games and RedWills Interactive, set to launch on Steam (a digital distribution platform for PC gaming) on February 27.

The game, of the horror-thriller genre, is the brainchild of Athul George, game director of Thekku Island, and has been in development for nearly a year now. “Athul and I met through online game development communities. We got closer over the games we designed, giving each other feedback. That’s when he mentioned Thekku Island, which was then in its alpha stage. And one day, Athul asked me to get on board for this game, to produce it on a larger canvas,” says Aswin Sunilkumar, creative director of Thekku Island. After finishing 12th class, Athul was engaged in game design, teaching himself the craft through YouTube.

The five-member team also includes Aswin PV (marketing head) and Adithyan P S (Game Operations), both Integrated MCA students at Saintgits College of Engineering (Autonomous), Kottayam and classmates of the creative director Aswin. Adhi Gopakumar, as music director, completes the ensemble. Everyone on the team is currently 21 or 22 years old.

(From left) Athul George (Game Director) Aswin Sunilkumar (Creative Director ), Adhi Gopakumar (Music Director), Adithyan P S(Game Operations ) and (behind) Aswin PV (Marketing Head) | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

“All of us, born after 2000, have been observing different trends in the gaming industry. We transitioned from Road Rash (a motorcycle racing video game) to Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (an action-adventure game) and so on. Even when we played these games back then, we contemplated why we had not released such a game from Kerala. That thought brought us together,” says Aswin.

Thekku Island is a first-person PC game with a playtime of three hours, straying away from the recent mobile phone-oriented games. “We decided amongst ourselves to develop the game for PC. Both types have their own difficulties. For PCs, especially the individual gaming experience depends on their customised specifications,” says Aswin.