14 Games by Black Developers

In the wake of Black Lives Matter protests – which have crossed state and national borders – social media has helped inform users about a wide range of topics, including institutional racism, inequality, and disproportionate representation in the media. Similarly, users are promoting platforms where people can support African American businesses and foundations. It is our duty as students, allies, and overall as members of the same diverse family, to inform ourselves, recognize, and address the ongoing problem.

A minor start is looking at the video game industry. Despite making up 13% of the US population and roughly 11% of American gamers, the number of developers that identify as “Black/African-American/African/Afro-Caribbean” is only 3%. For the sake of perspective, the percentage of survey participants who identified as “white/Caucasian/European” is a whopping 81%. The International Game Developers Association (IGDA) recognizes this stark underrepresentation and addresses it in the 2019 Developer Satisfaction Survey (DSS), which is the source of these statistics.

In order to take a small step in the right direction, we should support Black game developers and learn more about their projects. Listed below are fourteen games promoted by Afro Tech and IGN:

• Hair Nah: This free, online game became viral in 2018. It was developed by Momo Pixel and follows a Black woman as she travels between Osaka, Havana, and Santa Monica Pier. The catch is that you have to swat white hands away so that they don’t touch her hair.

• Sasha Says: Developers Tremayne Toorie and Adrian McDaniel combined Bop-It and Simon Says to make a kid-friendly interactive game. This one is available on the App Store for free.

• Matatu: Not to be confused with Kenyan minibuses. This is a mobile version of a Ugandan card game. The developers recently added a multiplayer mode so you can learn and play with friends. This is a great alternative to Solitaire or Uno.

• Treachery in Beatdown City: Have you ever wanted to save President Blake Orama from ninjas? This is your chance! Treachery is a street fighting game developed by Nuchallenger.

• B’Bop and Friends: Mother-daughter duo Grefonda and Noelle Hardy created this educational game meant to strengthen children’s reading and writing skills. There is a good amount of variety in this game including multiplayer mini-games that simulate tennis and basketball.

• SwimSanity!: Indie studio Decoy Games released this multiplayer shooter in 2019. As the name suggests, the action takes place underwater. It’s available on Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, and Xbox. The game features both co-op and versus modes.

• SweetXHeart: Pronounced “sweetheart,” this game challenges players to survive one week as a teenage girl from the Bronx. Developer Catt Small describes it as “a slice-of-life game about microaggressions, race, and gender.” Available for free on Itch.io.

• BLeBRiTY: Fans of Grey’s Anatomy will love to know that Jesse Williams (Dr. Jackson Avery) is the mastermind behind this free mobile game. It’s similar to Heads Up! but focused on Black culture.

• Black Inventors Match Game: This game is meant for kids but contains a lot of interesting facts about Black history. Characters Myles and Ayesha guide players through a matching game to learn who patented various inventions.

• For The Culture: Similar to BLeBRiTY, For The Culture is another version of charades that celebrates Black culture in an engaging way. Free on the App Store.

• Combat Core: Developed by MABManZ, this fighting game features both online and offline multiplayer. Available on Nintendo Switch and Steam, with cross-play support.

• Tiny Bird Garden: IGN claims this game is perfect for families—but fat birds are perfect for anyone. This adorable virtual pet simulator lets players collect birds, customize a garden, and raise baby birds. The Steam version includes story mode.

• Chrono Ghost: Developed by NiteTime Studios, this puzzle-based platformer has stunning visuals and music. IGN compares the art style to Ori and the Blind Forest.

• Aurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan: This action RPG was the first game developed by Cameroonian studio Kiro’o Games. Released in 2016 and available on Steam, the story is inspired by Central African mythology.

It’s infuriating that none of these titles are AAA games. Very few – if any – are widely recognized, and that is just a symptom of a greater problem. Try out some of these titles – several are free – and consider introducing the children’s games to younger relatives. It is important to support these developers so that in the future we may see more representation of the Black community in the gaming industry.

Bonus:

Until recently, Itch.io compiled over 1,000 indie games – about $5,700 worth of content – into a bundle made available for “Pay-what-you-want with a minimum of $5.” All proceeds were split between the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the Community Bail Fund. Though the bundle ended in mid-June, the fundraiser surpassed its $5 million goal by 163%. Congratulations to the team at Itch.io and to all who contributed!