The local studio using uniquely South African experiences to develop new games

With the number of game studios shuttering in recent years being on the up, entering the game development space is a daunting prospect.

As such, those in the space need to have something unique in order to stand out, outside of skill and determination. In the case of local outfit, Vetkoek Studios, the South African experience is what inspires a lot of its game creation.

In a profile shared with Hypertext, the two-person team at Vetkoek Studios shared what inspired some of their most popular titles to date, as well as what is on the horizon in terms of upcoming projects and games.

First and foremost, Vetkoek Studios was founded in 2022 by Eric Gardiner (pictured above, right) and Mamello Raboroko (pictured above, left), with both noting that accessibility is a key part of the games that they create.

“Its mission is to make games that South Africans can afford to play and in which they can recognise themselves. By creating free-to-play experiences rooted in local settings, characters and humour, Vetkoek Studios aims to make gaming more accessible while bringing distinctive African perspectives to global audiences,” the profile outlined.

It is this uniquely South African inspiration that has seen Taxi Ranked become its most popular release to date. On that front, the mobile game available on Android, has garnered more than 500 000 downloads and has a solid four star rating on the Play Store.

Part of its success is down to the local references. The taxi in question, for example, is very clearly a Toyota Quantum with the South African flag on the side, although the precise make and model of the vehicle is never mentioned in game. Other uniquely South African aspects include the ability to win new skins for the vehicle, with SAPS and JMPD options present, along with what looks like a BMW-inspired skin too.

There is also the need to evade police in the game, which is also a very local reference for anyone who has driven on our roads.

While many successful mobile games use formulas in larger foreign gaming markets to make an impact, Vetkoek Studios appears to be subverting things by putting an Mzansi spin on things. In fact, one of its other titles, Spinners The Game, also takes inspiration from a purely South African motoring experience.

“Vetkoek Studios is also exploring how games can entertain while delivering a broader message. Its title Aquabots, available on Roblox, combines multiplayer action with marine conservation themes, challenging players to restore damaged coral reefs through teamwork. The studio is also developing Spinners: The Game, an official spin-off of the South African television series, bringing the country’s distinctive spinning motorsport culture to interactive entertainment,” the profile continued.

As for the future, Vetkoek Studios plans to use the momentum from a recent incubator programme in order to start 2027 strong.

Here, it was one of the top 15 creative businesses selected from more than 340 applicants for Création Africa 2, which is a seven-month incubation programme supporting entrepreneurs across South Africa’s cultural and creative industries.

“For Vetkoek Studios, the programme represents an opportunity to expand its operations, strengthen its business model and invest in the next generation of South African game developers. The studio is using this momentum to build its portfolio, grow its revenue-generating capabilities and create more opportunities for young people to enter the gaming industry,” the profile highlighted.

Outside of its own success, the pair of game developers wants to foster growth for the larger South African gaming community, which we must admit, is no easy task. It will therefore be interesting to see how those efforts pan out, but for now, Vetkoek Studios looks to be finding success by embracing uniquely local experiences.

“As Vetkoek Studios expands its catalogue and partnerships, its ambition extends beyond creating successful games. It wants to build an industry in which South African creativity is visible on the world stage and young developers have the tools and opportunities to contribute to its growth,” the profile concluded.

[Image – Provided]

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