Blue Manchu

Blue Manchu is an Australian independent development studio founded in 2011 in Canberra. The studio was founded by Jonathan Chey, one of the lead creators of the legendary shooter System Shock 2 and a former member of Irrational Games. Blue Manchu focuses on original games combining strategy, action and roguelike elements.

The studio’s first successful project was the tactical card RPG Card Hunter, which combines collectible cards, turn-based combat and tabletop RPGs into a unique gaming experience. The game gained popularity thanks to its original mechanics, humour and regular updates.

However, it was the sci-fi shooter Void Bastards that brought the studio worldwide success. In it, players take on the role of prisoners drifting through space, who must explore abandoned spaceships, gather resources, craft equipment and fight for survival. The game stands out for its distinctive comic-book style graphics, procedurally generated missions and a combination of first-person shooter action, strategy and roguelike elements.

The studio followed this title up with Wild Bastards, which transposes similar gameplay principles into a sci-fi western setting. It offers tactical combat, management of a band of outlaws, a procedurally generated galaxy and unique abilities for individual characters.

Blue Manchu is known for its innovative game design, distinctive stylisation and emphasis on high replayability. Their games often combine several genres and introduce original mechanics that set them apart from mainstream titles.

Thanks to titles such as Card Hunter, Void Bastards and Wild Bastards, Blue Manchu ranks among Australia’s leading independent game studios. Their games are available on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch and PC.