BUV students bring Vietnamese folklore to global audiences with new game

Developed over the summer by five Computer Games Design & Programming students and one Contemporary Creative Practice student, “Curse of the Lineage” presents a storyline and production quality comparable to work from established indie studios. Notably, 70% of its wishlist saves on Steam came from international users.

According to Hoang Bao Long, Senior Teaching Fellow at BUV’s School of Computing & Innovative Technologies and advisor to the team, although Steam already hosts many horror puzzle titles, the game has managed to stand out and gain interest from both domestic and overseas players.

Long noted that the team’s effective use of descriptions and hashtags aligned well with current market expectations, contributing to the game’s visibility and demonstrating the students’ understanding of industry practices.

The project began as a short game created within 48 hours during the BUV Game Jam 2025. Although it placed second, judges identified strong potential for further development. The initial demo attracted attention for its straightforward but distinctive puzzle mechanics, challenging gameplay, and polished 2D pixel-art graphics. Long later encouraged the team to expand the storyline for a more complete experience.

“The most memorable time for me was those first weeks, when we discussed everything together, figured out roles, and started bonding as a team,” said project manager Nhat Minh. “We had to adjust our direction several times, but once we found common ground, the process became smoother.”

Throughout development, the team received support from BUV lecturers, covering technical matters, story structure, teamwork methodologies, and communication planning.

BUV lecturers provided the students continuous support throughout the development process. Photo courtesy of BUV

With continued guidance, “Curse of the Lineage” gradually evolved from a passion project into a title with commercial potential, receiving investment and a release plan similar to that of a professional indie game.

The team committed early on to centering the game around Vietnamese culture, conducting research to ensure accuracy in both visuals and narrative elements.

“We didn’t want to include elements that only appeared Vietnamese on the surface,” the team shared. “Our first demo felt generic, and that made us realize how much deeper our cultural research needed to be.”

“I visited Duyen Thai craft village to study votive paper offerings,” Minh said. “I looked at colors, materials, shapes, and how surfaces respond to different lighting. Objects such as paper dolls and ceremonial statues later influenced the game’s designs.”

Lead artist Minh Duc emphasized that cultural accuracy was a priority. Without many similar games to reference, the team created motifs, color palettes, and backgrounds from scratch. “I relied heavily on online archives and research into the history of architecture and symbolism,” he said.

Game designer Nguyen Vu also conducted extensive research to establish a story and playstyle reflecting Vietnamese horror traditions. “To understand how fear is constructed in a Vietnamese context, Lecturer Long suggested I read Vietnamese horror literature. That helped shape the tone and narrative direction.”

Every detail in the game draws inspiration from Vietnamese cultural elements. Photo courtesy of BUV

Opportunities for students to develop a full game for public release are limited. At BUV, however, practical projects are encouraged, and students receive support to experiment and refine their skills.

“My background is visual arts, but this project helped me understand how sound and visuals work together in storytelling,” said Quang Minh, the team’s sound designer.

Team members reported improvements across multiple areas, including cultural research, narrative development, design, programming, and playtesting. The process provided insight into how different functions of game development fit together.

Duc Kien, responsible for design and programming, said: “This project is a milestone for me. It’s something I can show my family to prove that this is a path I can pursue.”

Assoc. Prof. Ali Al-Dulaimi, Head of BUV’s School of Computing & Innovative Technologies noted that “Curse of the Lineage” reflects the university’s strengths in game-development training, which include practical coursework, industry-oriented teaching, and consistent support from lecturers. He added that the project showcases a new generation of Vietnamese game developers who incorporate local culture while meeting international product standards.

Learn more about BUV’s School of Computing & Innovative Technologies here.