A quiet story of connection, curiosity, and cozy exploration.
At PAX East, it always feels like every booth is fighting for your attention. Devs wave you over, trailers and gameplay demos blast from every direction, and everyone’s trying to convince you that their game is the one you can’t miss. And fair enough; that’s what the show’s all about. But Everdeep Aurora, a gentle pixel-art game about a curious kitten exploring a hidden underground world, stood out by doing the exact opposite. No gimmicks. No flash. Just a quiet screen, a sleeping cat, and a world that pulled me in before I even picked up the controller. At the Ysbryd Games booth, away from the usual noise and hype, I found something rare: a moment of calm. No hard sell, just a quiet invitation to explore. I sat down with Kyle Voong, Video Producer at Ysbryd (and genuinely one of the kindest people at the show), took a breath, and started digging. What I discovered was a vast subterranean world full of cozy corners, quirky critters, and subtle secrets just waiting to be unearthed.
“Everdeep Aurora is kind of our headline comfy game, something people can curl up under a blanket with on a rainy day. It’s quiet, but it’s not empty. It’s full of feeling,” Voong told me. “We wanted it to feel like coming home to something you forgot you loved.”
A Story Beneath the Surface
Everdeep Aurora is the passion project of Mikel Ojea and Juan Abad, the two-person indie team behind Madrid-based Nautilus Games. You play as Shell, a kitten on a heartfelt journey to find her missing mother in a world that’s been forced underground by a cataclysmic meteor storm. The first thing that grabs you is the aesthetic, a warm, modern take on pixel art inspired by the Game Boy Color’s distinctive palettes. Each area pulses with color and emotion, giving every corner its own tone and identity.
“We love that late-90s handheld look, but we wanted to give it our own glow,” Voong explained. “Each biome kind of tells its own story — even without words.”
And it works. Every tunnel and tile feels like part of a real place, like a world that’s been here long before you arrived. There’s no combat, no enemies, just characters to meet, tools to upgrade, and stories to discover.
“Everyone you meet has a little spark. Some are silly, some are sad, but they all have a reason for being there. We really wanted it to feel like you’re uncovering a story that was already there.”
Drilling Down
Gameplay in Everdeep Aurora is as gentle and deliberate as the world it invites you to explore. At its core is Shell’s trusty drill, a simple, rechargeable tool that lets you tunnel through layers of earth and uncover hidden corners and secrets. But the drill doesn’t run on endless power; to recharge, you need to gather resources by digging and gathering the ore and minerals embedded into each pixelated layer. These resources are then used at special recharge stations scattered across the underground, encouraging you to pause, plan, and soak in the atmosphere. As you dig deeper, you’ll encounter different types of rock. Some are soft and easy to break through, while others — tougher stone tiles — block your path until you upgrade your drill. These upgrades come from collecting special items and bringing them to a friendly yet stoic blacksmith, who strengthens your drill, allowing you to penetrate previously impassable stone. The loop is simple but effective: dig, recharge, explore, upgrade.
“We don’t want you to get lost, but we do want you to wonder what’s just beyond this tunnel. The map system comes in later to keep that sense of discovery alive while giving players a gentle nudge.”
A Safe Space in a Busy World
What struck me most during my demo wasn’t the visuals, the exploration, or the clever upgrade loop, it was the vibe. Everdeep Aurora feels like a warm conversation, not just a game. Every NPC has a reason to be there. Every light flickers with intent. It feels like stepping into a living memory, where your presence matters, even if you’re just sitting quietly in a quiet place.
“It’s about connection,” Voong told me. “The goal is to create something that feels like a safe space, a game you can play alone or share with family.”
And that’s exactly what Everdeep Aurora is. A safe space. A gentle story about love, memory, and moving forward, one layer at a time.
- Title: Everdeep Aurora
- Developer: Nautilus Games
- Publisher: Ysbryd Games
- Platform: PC (Steam)
- Release Date: Late 2025
- Wishlist on Steam : Everdeep Aurora
Set to release in late 2025, Everdeep Aurora is shaping up to be one of the year’s most thoughtful and heartfelt indies. Whether you’re a longtime pixel art lover, a fan of cozy exploration, or someone who just needs to slow down for a while, this is a game that will stay with you, like a cup of tea in your hands and a blanket on your shoulders, gently reminding you that you’re allowed to rest.
