Undercoders

Undercoders is a Spanish independent games studio based in Barcelona, which specialises in developing original games for PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PC and other platforms. The studio creates titles across a range of genres, from action platformers and Metroidvania games through to arcade games and exploration-based adventure games.

One of the studio’s best-known titles is SuperEpic: The Entertainment War, a 2D action Metroidvania featuring pixel art graphics and a satirical story centred on the practices of the games industry. The main characters are a raccoon and a llama who set out to take on RegnantCorp, a corporation that dominates the games market through addictive and aggressively monetised mobile games.

In SuperEpic, players explore a vast interconnected environment, battle enemies and bosses, acquire new abilities and gradually unlock previously inaccessible parts of the map. Another interesting feature is the puzzles utilising QR codes, which link the game itself to content displayed outside it.

Another notable project is Treasures of the Aegean, an action-adventure game set in the Aegean Sea region. Players explore a mysterious island linked to the Minoan civilisation and attempt to uncover its past before a recurring catastrophe strikes. The game utilises a time loop, thanks to which the player retains the knowledge gained with each new attempt.

Treasures of the Aegean places great emphasis on exploration and parkour. The heroine runs, jumps and climbs, gradually discovering new parts of the vast environment. The distinctive comic-book art style complements a story inspired by archaeology and ancient civilisations.

Undercoders’ portfolio also includes Conga Master, a zany arcade game based on creating an ever-lengthening dance chain. The studio has also worked on other smaller and licensed projects, as well as ports for console platforms.

Thanks to games such as SuperEpic: The Entertainment War, Treasures of the Aegean and Conga Master, Undercoders ranks among the most interesting Spanish independent studios focusing on original game concepts and distinctive visual styles.