Developers 'Skybound Games' and 'ManaVoid Entertainment' launched 'Rainbow Billy: The Curse of the Leviathan' in October of 2021. This game blends wholesome, family-friendly themes with advanced role-playing game (RPG) elements.
Players will assume the role of 'Rainbow Billy' and travel through several diverse landscapes, such as caverns, mountains, and seas on a quest to return the color that had been stolen by the 'evil Leviathan' to the world. Rainbow Billy is not alone, though, as they are accompanied by a talking fish named Rodrigo and a boat cleverly named 'Friend-Ship.'
On top of this, this game has creature-collecting elements similar to 'Pokémon' with over 60 creatures to collect. However, Rainbow Billy is made even more family-friendly because conflicts are not resolved through violence. Instead, players will need to build trust and show empathy to come to an understanding with the creatures in the game to resolve any conflicts. Rainbow Billy is also filled with puzzles and additional gameplay elements such as fishing.
As a result of the growing need for inclusive video games, Rainbow Billy offers accessibility features for color-blindness, Dyslexia, and more. Rainbow Billy: The Curse of the Leviathan is currently available on Xbox One, PS4, and PC through Steam for $29.99, with a Nintendo Switch version coming soon.
Family-Friendly Platformer Games
Skybound Games and ManaVoid Have Launched a Family-Friendly RPG
Trend Themes
1. Family-friendly Rpgs - The rise of family-friendly RPGs presents an opportunity for developers to create engaging games that appeal to a wider audience while still retaining traditional RPG elements.
2. Inclusive Gaming Features - The inclusion of accessibility features in video games, such as support for color-blindness and Dyslexia, presents an opportunity for developers to further improve inclusivity in the gaming industry.
3. Non-violent Conflict Resolution - Developers can explore non-violent conflict resolution mechanics, similar to Rainbow Billy's trust-building and empathy-focused approach, to create unique and engaging gameplay experiences for players.
Industry Implications
1. Video Game Development - The family-friendly and inclusive features of Rainbow Billy: The Curse of the Leviathan suggest that video game developers can find success by targeting a wider audience and embracing diversity and inclusion in their games.
2. Educational Gaming - Rainbow Billy's emphasis on empathy and conflict resolution suggests that educational games could benefit from exploring and developing these elements to create engaging and educational experiences for players.
3. Children's Entertainment - The trend towards more family-friendly video games, such as Rainbow Billy, suggests that the children's entertainment industry could benefit from expanding into the video game space by providing engaging and age-appropriate content for young audiences.