A first look at the culinary poetry of Venba

A new year brings forth new games to look forward to, and while there’s a lot of them I’m anticipating on the AAA side of things, my list is just as brimming on the indie scene. One of them I’m particularly starry-eyed for is the upcoming Venba!

A cooking narrative game developed by a small team based in Toronto, Venba has been in the works since February of 2020. The game’s Twitter account has been giving glimpses of the art and gameplay since then, but the first trailer was showcased in the Wholesome Games Indie Showcase during December. 

http://pspan%20style=font-weight:%20400;A%20new%20year%20brings%20forth%20new%20games%20to%20look%20forward%20to,%20and%20while%20there’s%20a%20lot%20of%20them%20I’m%20anticipating%20on%20the%20AAA%20side%20of%20things,%20my%20list%20is%20just%20as%20brimming%20on%20the%20indie%20scene.%20One%20of%20them%20I’m%20particularly%20starry-eyed%20for%20is%20the%20upcoming%20emVenba/em./span/ppimg%20class=alignnone%20size-large%20wp-image-66569%20src=http://www.gameffine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/1-1024×576.png%20alt=%20width=840%20height=473%20//ppspan%20style=font-weight:%20400;A%20cooking%20narrative%20game%20developed%20by%20a%20small%20team%20based%20in%20Toronto,%20emVenba/em%20has%20been%20in%20the%20works%20since%20February%20of%202020.%20The%20game’s%20Twitter%20account%20has%20been%20giving%20glimpses%20of%20the%20art%20and%20gameplay%20since%20then,%20but%20the%20first%20trailer%20was%20showcased%20in%20the%20Wholesome%20Games%20Indie%20Showcase%20during%20December. /span/ppa%20href=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3E4mZey1EUspan%20style=font-weight:%20400;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3E4mZey1EU/span/a/ppspan%20style=font-weight:%20400;Focusing%20on%20the%20titular%20character,%20Venba,%20the%20game%20follows%20the%20journey%20of%20a%20South%20Indian%20immigrant%20family%20in%20Canada%20in%20the%201980s.%20The%20gameplay%20is%20focused%20on%20cooking%20various%20South%20Indian%20cuisine,%20restoring%20lost%20recipes,%20building%20relations%20through%20conversations,%20and%20overcoming%20exploring%20themes%20such%20as%20family,%20love,%20loss,%20and%20more.%20The%20artstyle%20doesn’t%20take%20the%20form%20of%20the%20usual%203D%20models%20or%20pixel%20sprites,%20and%20instead%20takes%20on%20a%20more%20organic%202D%20look%20that%20reminds%20me%20of%20a%20lot%20of%20animated%20short%20films.%20It’s%20been%20a%20delight%20to%20see%20how%20the%20game’s%20art%20has%20evolved%20since%20the%20project’s%20inception./span/ppimg%20class=alignnone%20size-large%20wp-image-66570%20src=http://www.gameffine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/6-1024×576.png%20alt=%20width=840%20height=473%20//ppspan%20style=font-weight:%20400;Last%20year’s%20indie%20hit,%20Raji:%20An%20Ancient%20Epic%20shed%20light%20on%20the%20untapped%20potential%20that%20Indian%20mythology%20has.%20emVenba/em,%20on%20the%20flipside,%20will%20portray%20the%20modern%20struggle%20that%20Indian%20families%20have%20relocating%20abroad,%20and%20tell%20a%20heartwarming%20tale.%20It’s%20elements%20such%20as%20the%20soundtrack%20inspired%20from%20‘Indian%20musicals’%20and%20the%20charming%20character%20designs%20that%20have%20me%20really%20excited%20for%20the%20game,%20not%20to%20mention%20all%20the%20decadent%20food. /span/ppspan%20style=font-weight:%20400;The%20game%20can%20now%20be%20wishlisted%20on%20a%20href=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1491670/Venba/Steam/a,%20and%20has%20a%20release%20set%20around%20November%20of%20this%20year.%20You%20can%20follow%20the%20game’s%20a%20href=https://twitter.com/venbaGame?lang=enTwitter/a%20account%20for%20more%20updates!/span/p

Focusing on the titular character, Venba, the game follows the journey of a South Indian immigrant family in Canada in the 1980s. The gameplay is focused on cooking various South Indian cuisine, restoring lost recipes, building relations through conversations, and overcoming exploring themes such as family, love, loss, and more. The artstyle doesn’t take the form of the usual 3D models or pixel sprites, and instead takes on a more organic 2D look that reminds me of a lot of animated short films. It’s been a delight to see how the game’s art has evolved since the project’s inception.

Last year’s indie hit, Raji: An Ancient Epic shed light on the untapped potential that Indian mythology has. Venba, on the flipside, will portray the modern struggle that Indian families have relocating abroad, and tell a heartwarming tale. It’s elements such as the soundtrack inspired from ‘Indian musicals’ and the charming character designs that have me really excited for the game, not to mention all the decadent food. 

The game can now be wishlisted on Steam, and has a release set around November of this year. Gameffine also snagged an exclusive interview with developer Abhijeeth from Visai Games – check Episode 47 of our Press Start To Play podcast out for more details!