Behind the Scenes of Koira: A Journey of Companionship and Craft
Feature
A Labor of Love
Developing Koira was a marathon, not a sprint. The project spanned four years in total, beginning with a full year of exploration followed by three years of intensive development. Despite the polished final product, the team remained intimate, peaking at just nine people.
For Lega, this marks a significant milestone as his first commercial project. While he admits to being more of a "cat person" himself, he chose a canine protagonist because of the specific interactive nature of the species. "Cats have less of an interaction with humans, while dogs are companions," Legae xplained.
Inspirations and Design
The game's atmosphere draws from some heavy hitters in the industry. Lega cited the atmospheric masterpiece Limbo as a personal favorite and a clear influence. His own history with gaming—rooted in hours spent with Pokémon and Zelda on the Gameboy Color — also informs his design sensibilities.
One of the most distinct aspects of Koira is its length. Clocking in at roughly two hours, the brevity was a deliberate choice. "The intent from the start was to make a game that could be beat in one long sitting," said Lega.
Looking Ahead
While the game has only been out for a week, the team is busy monitoring social media and press reception. Despite the name's Finnish origin, Lega noted he has never actually been to Finland for publishing; instead, he found his partners in France and showcased the game at Gamescom to connect with fellow professionals.
When asked what he would do with a massive "blank check" budget from a major publisher, Lega's vision remained focused on the power of the medium: "An adventure game with an interesting story". For now, Koira stands as a testament to that goal—a short, impactful story about the companions that walk beside us.
As always, follow Hooked Gamers on Instagram for news updates, reviews, competitions and more.