The games of tomorrow come from the developers of today but before they became developers, they were students. 

The College of Saint Benilde shortened to CSB is known for having pioneered game development education in the Philippines, held Incendium recently and the future of gaming in the country looks great. 

Incendium, for the uninitiated is Benilde’s term-end exhibit wherein various capstones (culminating project) are presented to the public. Following a discussion with this Incendium’s Capstone Coordinator, Felix Palabrica, the games presented are made throughout the term’s 14-week design period with purpose driven game development and an emphasis on research in mind.

While this semester’s games show potential, there was definitely room for improvement but considering that students made the games presented just make demos ahead more impressive. 

Charybdis & Co. 

The first game that caught my attention was nautically themed game Charybdis & Co. off in the corner of the venue. Between its fallout esque aesthetic and the horror it could entail,  the gameplay experience was a mix between an extraction game and resource management simulator. What made it more unique was even if it could be played alone, having it be a two player experience showed promise especially with communication being key as to not being swallowed by the tides or something else entirely. 

A fun game that aims to shine a light on the exploitation of workers, you could check out the game yourself over at its itch.io page: https://senshilabs.itch.io/charybdisco

Sylvie’s Sitting Services

Pet simulator games aren’t necessarily a new concept with various franchises like Pokemon, Neopets, Digimon and Tamagotchi doing them for years. For the genre however though, the approach and execution is what gives each gameplay experience its own identity. In the case of Sylvie’s Sitting Services you play as Sylvie subbing in for their friend as a pet sitter after they broke their arm. Through this game, players learn about how to take care of various dog breeds and how to care for dogs in general.

Between the charming aesthetic reminiscent of sylvanian families, and gameplay inspired by simulators like Nintendogs and Animal Shelter, it’s a fun experience that I foresee parents letting their kids play before deciding they get an actual pet.

Try out the game here and who knows, a new friend might get adopted because of it right? https://dahyyunie.itch.io/sylvies-sitting-services

Orasyon

Filipino culture is filled with rich lore and history and with the reintroduction of this culture through various outlets like comics and television, video games are another great vehicle for it. Orasyon takes heavy inspiration from Philippine mythology through its use of the gods, monsters and setting found within. You play as Mayari, a demi-human goddess born through a union between her father Bathala and a human mother and as Mayari, you’re tasked to save the spirit and mortal world by purifying corrupted spirits.

This adventure game had a lot going for it with its usage of alibata for spell casting and its fair share of challenging fights but I’m sure with more time and love poured into it, it’ll soar even higher (just like the mananaggals).

Check out the game and its developments here: https://itselixirs.itch.io/orasyon

Folk’s Lore

Another game with clear inspiration from Filipino folklore, Folk’s Lore, is a roguelike turn-based game that has you controlling your party in your quest to save your country from an evil Governor. What I enjoyed about this game seeing it from afar was how its art style was reminiscent of the Octopath Traveller games with a living background and nostalgic spritework. As I went deeper though, it’s this sort of gameplay that shows promise rewarding players that take the time to go through multiple runs similar to what would happen playing games like Slay the Spire.

Personally, roguelikes and turn-based games will always be a preferential game genre but if you like those sorts of games, Folk’s Lore is a refreshing game to try and with more developments to come, who knows, you might get hooked. 

Check it out on their page here: https://bowsss.itch.io/the-folks-lore

Flood

Flood was a very unassuming game if you were to base it off of its first level. You’d initially think it was a callback to the flash games of yesteryear but it’s one of those experiences that get better the more you play it. With how often and how destructive floods are in the Philippines, this game was developed as a means of educating their users on flood preparedness. With the content being converted from PAGASA pamphlets, it’s a short fun game that has its objective and nails it pretty well.

The first level could definitely use some upgrades here and there but for what it’s worth, it gets the job done and delivers its message on floods.

Try it out over on the developer’s itch.io and maybe even get prepared for what’s to come:  https://junmatthewbrecio.itch.io/flood

Tomorrow’s Games, Today

Benilde’s Incendium 2025 was a fun mini expo showing a preview of games developed by its students and it has me hopeful for what’s in store. With great mentors by their side and a supportive organization behind it, the students and their work are in good hands and with all the games being developed so far, under the Benilde Game Dev banner, I’m sure this isn’t the last we’ve seen of them.

Check out all the games featured and more on the Benilde Game Dev itch.io page here: https://benildegamedev.itch.io

For updates on when the next Incendium would take place, check out the GUILD – Gamers Union for Innovation and Leadership Development page here on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IGDAGUILDBenilde