AVAILABLE TODAY, WITH TACTICAL COMBAT, ANCIENT
KINGDOMS & JINN MYSTICISM
UAE-Based Indie Studio Kashkool Creates Games to Share the
Rich Stories and Heritage of the Middle East, Hoping to Bridge Cultures
and Foster Understanding
APRIL 8, 2024 – Indie game development studio Kashkool Games announced that its inaugural game, Sheba: A New Dawn,
will launch later today. The game is one of the first indie titles to
come out of Abu Dhabi that has garnered international attention and a
strong following on the Steam platform, serving as another example of
the potential and exponential growth of the emerging MENA games market.Sheba: A New Dawn is a Metroidvania Action-RPG that follows Enar, a humble shepherd, who encounters Mirah, an escaped Jinn prisoner who upends his world and triggers a chain of events. Together they must traverse interconnected realms while facing legendary monsters and unraveling ancient mysteries to set things right and uncover his true fate.
Kashkool, the game’s developers, is a team comprised of the three Almansoori brothers – Omran, Haroon, and Edrees -- who grew up obsessed with playing games on the family computer. They eventually created their own games to challenge one another, then decided to start their own studio. But first, they had to learn everything they could about game development and running a studio, which was challenging in a region with no game curriculum or even a business license category for such endeavors.
“Growing up, we never saw game characters or stories that authentically represented our country’s people and culture,” said Omran Almansoori, Kashkool’s co-founder and CEO. “The Middle East has amazing stories, deep history, and rich heritage that we want to share with the rest of the games industry and the world. We wish to build game experiences that bridge that gap and feel great responsibility to highlight the region’s talent and potential.”
Key game features:
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Classic Metroidvania gameplay with heavily populated levels that encourage exploration and keep the player in motion;
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Combo-based combat: 45+ combo skills and elemental finishers that make each encounter feel like an action fight;
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Semi-tactical combat with customizable fighting styles with RPG attributes and level-ups;
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67+ unique Jinn, monsters, and bosses with their own strategic fighting styles, and collectible rewards;
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A variety of puzzles to solve, and power-ups and abilities to collect;
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An authentic Arabic setting & story and voice.
Sheba: A New Dawn will be available starting at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT today or 5 AM GST Tuesday, April 9th for PC on Steam for $18.99 USD with additional platforms to follow. For additional information, please visit KashkoolGames.com, join our Discord, or follow us on Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
About KashKool Games
Kashkool Games is an independent games studio focused on creating engaging games that authentically showcase the rich stories and heritage of the Middle East to serve as a cultural bridge to shared experiences and mutual understanding. Founding in 2016 by the Almansoori brothers, Kashkool is the first game studio in Abu Dhabi to receive global recognition for its first title, the Metroidvania Action-RPG Sheba: A New Dawn, slated for release in Spring 2024 for PC and leading consoles.
Article by: Susan N.
