Steam News22 August 202510mo ago

Dev Insights: Nala's Parents

At one point in the game, the world collapses and Nala begins to reminisce about her own memories.

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changedMemories of the FamilyThe memories of her parents were vague, so we portrayed them using shadow puppets inspired by Indonesian performance Wayang Kulit which literally translates to "Skin Puppet." We felt this medium could somehow convey deep emotions even with abstract and less detailed visuals.

changedMemories of the FamilyThe performance usually brings ancient tales, memories of the past, which in this case is Nala's family. We drew from that inspiration, simplified it, and reshaped it as if told out of a children's book. The style resonates with the visuals of Nala's childhood book, Echo , which her mother often read to her when she was around.

changedMemories of the FamilyNala was born into a warm, loving family. As an only child, she was cherished by her parents and grandparents. Her early years were filled with laughter, stories, and love. But everything changed when she was five. Her parents left her without warning, and not long later, her grandmother passed away. From that point on, Nala lived alone with her grandfather.

changedMemories of the FamilyGrief had hollowed her grandfather. Though he tried to care for Nala, his heart was broken, and the emotional warmth she needed slowly faded. He provided, but he couldn't always be present. And Nala, still so young, didn't understand why the love around her had gone quiet. She grew up feeling alone, unloved even. While her friends spoke of being pampered by their parents, Nala listened in silence, carrying a quiet jealousy she never dared to voice.

changedHere is how you can help us:https://store.steampowered.com/app/3180670/Undying_Flower/

Undying Flower changes

changedThe memories of her parents were vague, so we portrayed them using shadow puppets inspired by Indonesian performance Wayang Kulit which literally translates to "Skin Puppet." We felt this medium could somehow convey deep emotions even with abstract and less detailed visuals.

changedThe performance usually brings ancient tales, memories of the past, which in this case is Nala's family. We drew from that inspiration, simplified it, and reshaped it as if told out of a children's book. The style resonates with the visuals of Nala's childhood book, Echo , which her mother often read to her when she was around.

changedNala was born into a warm, loving family. As an only child, she was cherished by her parents and grandparents. Her early years were filled with laughter, stories, and love. But everything changed when she was five. Her parents left her without warning, and not long later, her grandmother passed away. From that point on, Nala lived alone with her grandfather.

changedGrief had hollowed her grandfather. Though he tried to care for Nala, his heart was broken, and the emotional warmth she needed slowly faded. He provided, but he couldn't always be present. And Nala, still so young, didn't understand why the love around her had gone quiet. She grew up feeling alone, unloved even. While her friends spoke of being pampered by their parents, Nala listened in silence, carrying a quiet jealousy she never dared to voice.

changedhttps://store.steampowered.com/app/3180670/Undying_Flower/

At one point in the game, the world collapses and Nala begins to reminisce about her own memories.

Memories of the Family

The memories of her parents were vague, so we portrayed them using shadow puppets inspired by Indonesian performance Wayang Kulit which literally translates to "Skin Puppet." We felt this medium could somehow convey deep emotions even with abstract and less detailed visuals.

Wayang Kulit (The Jakarta Post/Stefanus Ajie)

The performance usually brings ancient tales, memories of the past, which in this case is Nala's family. We drew from that inspiration, simplified it, and reshaped it as if told out of a children's book. The style resonates with the visuals of Nala's childhood book, Echo, which her mother often read to her when she was around.

Steam post image Steam post image

Nala was born into a warm, loving family. As an only child, she was cherished by her parents and grandparents. Her early years were filled with laughter, stories, and love. But everything changed when she was five. Her parents left her without warning, and not long later, her grandmother passed away. From that point on, Nala lived alone with her grandfather.

Grief had hollowed her grandfather. Though he tried to care for Nala, his heart was broken, and the emotional warmth she needed slowly faded. He provided, but he couldn't always be present. And Nala, still so young, didn't understand why the love around her had gone quiet. She grew up feeling alone, unloved even. While her friends spoke of being pampered by their parents, Nala listened in silence, carrying a quiet jealousy she never dared to voice.

Chasing What Fades

As the perspective shifts, we invite players not only to explore those memories but to live them in first person.

As a teenager, Nala's loneliness deepened. She kept chasing the feeling of being loved, desperate for connection, but it always seemed just out of reach. Slowly, she began to realize, everyone she once felt close to seemed to drift away. First her parents, then her grandfather, who had never quite recovered from losing his wife. With no one else to blame, Nala turned inward. She blamed herself.

It's been so long since she felt parental love that sometimes she forgets what her parents looked like. She has to study old photographs just to remember their faces.

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https://store.steampowered.com/app/3180670/Undying_Flower/

Source

Steam News / 22 August 2025

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