The inspiration for Raven

When I started making Raven, it was solely about creating one of my favorite card games in digital form. After I had the basics in, though, I realized that it could use some character (check out the evolution of Raven here). There were a few large sources of inspiration that I turned to for making Raven what it is today.

Hiking and Cabin Trips

Photo by Lili Kovac on Unsplash.

Some of my fondest memories of childhood and early adulthood are adventures with my friends and family. Often, we would take weekends to go hiking around Kentucky. For longer breaks from school, we would rent a cabin in the mountains.

These getaways were relaxing moments to take in nature and recharge from the stresses of everyday life. I wanted Raven to convey that same, relaxing feeling. The scenic backdrops and lo-fi music are what I chose for that.

Alto’s Odyssey

Gameplay of Alto’s Odyssey

Alto’s Odyssey is one of my favorite mobile games and has an incredible aesthetic. The artwork is simple, yet breathtaking. The game is very easy to pick up in between classes or on a flight. Overall, it’s very well-executed. The simplistic art style is something that I wanted to introduce into my own game.

Firewatch

Firewatch cover art by Campo Santo

Firewatch is an indie game known for many of the traits I’ve mentioned above. It’s a story game about hiking through the wilderness and uncovering a mystery. It surrounds you in nature in a simple yet eye-catching art style. Wherever you are in the world, when you play this game, you get transported to somewhere special. This is a big task for a card game, but something that I’ve done my best to do.