Unfriendly Games’ David Carmona and Karen Nguyen on the origins of their new dexterity title: Nekojima

Guys, it’s great to catch up. To kick us off, can you talk me through the origins of Unfriendly Games?
David Carmona, Co-Founder, Unfriendly Games: Hey everyone! Our first game, Virus War, was born from a dream – literally.

Oh! Go on…
David: One morning, I told Karen about the board game I had dreamt of the night before. A dream, an ambition and our journey in publishing began. We create teasing family games, which is why we are Unfriendly Games.

Your latest game is Nekojima. Karen, can you talk me through how it plays?
Karen Nguyen, Co-Founder, Unfriendly Games: Nekojima is a unique and fun dexterity game that takes you to the ‘island of cats,’ or ‘Nekojima’ in Japanese. Whether in cooperative or competitive mode, players must place or stack electric poles in designated locations without allowing any hanging cables to touch… But beware of the cats you need to hang, and make sure not to topple the structure! It’s our first UK game, and is available through Hachette Boardgames UK.

It looks great. Where did the idea come from? Was the theme there from the start?
David: The idea for the game was born even before having a theme. We wanted to innovate in dexterity games, and while renovating our house, wood was a material that resonated with us. By connecting two wooden dowels with a string, we thought of electric poles… Asia quickly emerged as the theme, and the idea of hanging objects – like laundry or birds – followed. The cats remained as a nod to the islands of cats, the Nekojima!

You mentioned innovating in dexterity games. What does this new title bring to that space?
Karen: Do you know of other dexterity games that absolutely require the use of both hands? Not really! Another appealing aspect of Nekojima is the freedom of set-up… Players aren’t limited to just one option. On top of that, the components and illustrations bring a fresh perspective.

There is an expansion in the works for Nekojima too – what can you tell us about that?
David: The Torii Pack expansion will add even more fun and challenges, and will be available through Hachette Boardgames UK! There will be a torii – the sacred Japanese gate – which will serve as a real obstacle throughout the game. Plus, there will be a cat to hang and unhook, moving from cable to cable… A real nightmare!

That’s why I have a dog! Now, for any inventors reading, do you see Unfriendly Games publishing games from external designers in the future?
David: Yes, we are open to projects created by other authors. If it aligns with our editorial vision, we would be delighted to publish others’ projects! But one thing is for sure… We will continue to create games ourselves as long as we have inspiration.

Guys, this has been fun! I have one last question: What helps you have ideas?
Karen: Our daily lives inspire us. Our home renovation and travels have been a source of inspiration. Sometimes, ideas are right in front of us; we just need to see them! Then there’s the question: ‘What do we want to play?’ That makes us want to create something cool.

Thanks again!

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