Brazilian Games You Need to Play!

When I was a kid, back in the old 90s, I could only imagine what video games made in Brazil would be like. I wanted games based on the cartoons I watched or on things from our own culture, like street games, and with Portuguese subtitles so I could understand what was happening on the screen. Over time, Tec Toy, the company responsible for distributing SEGA games and consoles here in Brazil, gave me some games with that national flavor.

Games like Chapolin Versus Count Dracula: A Terrifying Duel and the various games based on the character Sapo Xulé, and especially the Turma da Mônica games, showed that Brazilians did know how to make games. It was difficult, they were limited, they were just changes to the sprites that swapped Wonder Boy for Monica, but still, they added that Brazilian flavor to my console, created and developed in Japan, produced in the Manaus Free Trade Zone.

Nowadays, it's much easier to make games (not necessarily release or publish them) and we've already created games that have been successful worldwide. And that's what we're going to talk about here: Brazilian games that were successful abroad and that, if you haven't played them yet, you have to take advantage of and play. Here's a list of 10 national games that you need to know and play today. And if you have any questions or suggestions, leave a comment.

One of the best-known and most beloved titles in the Metroidvania genre, Dandara is the kind of game that takes a classic platforming concept, turns it upside down, and delivers something quite different from the standard. Furthermore, it boasts a striking pixel art visual identity and delves into references to Brazilian culture.

The protagonist isn't created out of thin air: Dandara existed in real life, was a fundamental anti-slavery leader in the history of the quilombos (slave settlements) and companion of Zumbi dos Palmares. The game character is entirely inspired by her, and this gives even greater weight to the adventure in the world of Salt, both in the base game and in the DLC Salt: Provas do Medo (Trials of Fear).

The story unfolds gradually, in small on-screen texts and quick conversations with NPCs, almost always leaving everything up in the air. But what really stands out is the gameplay. The mechanics prevent the character from simply walking. She jumps between specific points in the scenarios, and you need to aim each jump well to advance through the map.

This "acrobatic" style makes the game punishing and challenging, and may even be a little frustrating at first, but once you get the hang of it, the feeling of mastery is very good. In combat, Dandara fires lightning bolts and tries to dodge as best as she can, always improvising. Developed by the Minas Gerais-based studio Long Hat House, the game was released for PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices, both iOS and Android.

Horizon Chase Turbo is a 100% arcade racing game developed by the Rio Grande do Sul-based studio Aquiris. It originated on mobile under the name Horizon Chase – World Tour, but garnered so much attention that Sony invited the studio to create a PS4 version—making it the first Brazilian title sold on physical media for a Sony console.

The inspiration from Top Gear (the SNES classic) is anything but subtle. It's in the gameplay, the visuals, the speech bubbles that appear on screen taunting other racers, the structure of the races, and even the sensation of speed. But best of all is the soundtrack, composed by Barry Leitch himself, the same composer who worked on Top Gear. He enjoyed participating so much that he even left a hidden marriage proposal as an easter egg.

In addition, the game features several race tracks in Brazil and a lot of references to the country. The drivers make comments with those regional accents, some cars are clearly inspired by typical Brazilian models like the Kombi, the Beetle, and even the famous Fiat Uno with a ladder on the roof, nicknamed the "Company Car". It's that kind of humor that only we understand, without neglecting fun and challenging races. The game is available for PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and is also still active on Android and iOS.

Released in 2021, Kaze and the Wild Masks embraces nostalgia in a very direct way. It's heavily inspired by classics like Donkey Kong Country, Sonic, and even some elements of Super Mario. Developed by the Rio Grande do Sul-based studio PixelHive and published by Soedesco, the game mixes simple controls with variations of abilities that come from the wild masks, which are special items that allow the rabbit Kaze to use powers inspired by other animals.

The adventure follows Kaze as he tries to save the Crystal Islands and free his friend Hogo from a curse that transforms creatures into monsters. The game is challenging, especially for those who enjoy collecting everything, grabbing crystals, unlocking bonus stages, and clearing each world 100%. The pixel art is meticulous, charming, and full of details that bring everything to life, with fast-paced dialogue-less animated cutscenes that add personality to the world and easter eggs in boss names.

The world and stage structure is quite reminiscent of Nintendo classics, and the feeling of progression is enjoyable. You get into the rhythm, grab a mask, gain a power, and start crushing possessed vegetables with a surprisingly satisfying zeal. The game was released for PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

Following the tradition of meta-language, Knights of Pen and Paper is another Brazilian representative that embraces an original and fun idea. Developed by Behold Studios and first released for mobile phones, the game works like a turn-based RPG, but with a twist: you and your friends are playing a tabletop RPG, and you control both the group of adventurers and the game master (or DM). In practice, you choose where the "table" goes, which enemies appear, and how many of them show up. Then, you control the group to face what you yourself put in their path.

This format allows for playful exploration of absurd situations, since everything happening "outside" the table is pure imagination. The game allows for player customization, choosing classes and abilities, swapping skins, and assembling groups full of personality. The humor is constant, full of references, jokes, and improbable encounters. Its success led to Knights of Pen and Paper II and also a space-themed spin-off, Galaxy of Pen and Paper, which takes the group on sci-fi adventures.

All are available on Android, iOS, PC (Windows, macOS, and Linux), PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

Still on the topic of creative Brazilian productions, Chroma Squad, also from Behold Studios, bets on an excellent idea: managing an independent TV studio created by a group of actors who got tired of their annoying boss and decided to produce their own tokusatsu in the style of Power Rangers. The plot oscillates between the absurd and parody, always with plenty of humor.

The battles take place in a tactical RPG format, but everything is part of a film simulation. You hire actors, improve equipment (which starts with cardboard and duct tape), assemble costumes, buy upgrades, and do marketing to try to turn your series into a national success. As the studio grows, the actors start to get cocky, and you need to balance ego, budget, and increasingly exaggerated scenes.

The game attracted so much attention that the producer Saban threatened to sue the studio alleging plagiarism of Power Rangers (as if they owned Super Sentai) and, to avoid the lawsuit and cancellation, they agreed to put the subtitle "Based on/Inspired by Saban's Power Rangers" in the title.

The 16-bit aesthetic perfectly matches the tone of the narrative, and the game entertains both those who grew up watching tokusatsu and those who are just getting into it. It is available for PC (Windows, Linux and macOS), PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Android, iOS and Nintendo Switch.

Considered one of the great surprises of 2024, Mullet Madjack takes everything a 90s gamer uncle loved—VHS, neon, anime, shooting, exaggeration—and mixes it with modern roguelike mechanics. It's a frantic FPS where you need to kill enemies not only to advance, but to gain dopamine and extra seconds on the clock. Each kill gives you 10 seconds of life, turning the experience into almost a race against time.

The scenarios change constantly, obstacles appear mercilessly, and the list of power-ups exceeds 50, opening up various build combinations. All of this is wrapped in a brutal and exaggerated aesthetic inspired by 80s/90s pop culture.

But that's nothing special, right? It's just an FPS full of 80s/90s references? Maybe for people from other countries, yes, but for Brazilians, this game has an even more special touch: the voice acting. Mulletjack is voiced by Luiz Feier Motta, the assistant who brings all the lively vibes during the missions is Isabel de Sá, the villain is voiced by Gilberto Baroli, and the damsel in distress is voiced by Leticia Quinto. Respectively, the Brazilian voices of Sylvester Stallone in films like Rambo and Cobra, Jessie from Pokémon, Saga of Gemini, and Saori Kido from Saint Seiya.

Imagine being Cobra, mowing everyone down to save Athena while Jessie from Team Rocket cheers you on and Saga of Gemini laughs at you? It's enough to make any old-timer from the 80s/90s' hair stand on end (if they have any left)!

Punhos de Repúdio (“Fists of Revolt”) is almost a cathartic outburst in the form of a beat 'em up. The game was a relief for many people who were stuck at home during the pandemic, watching absurdities and barbarities happening on the streets and online. Here, you control four girls who decide to go around slapping, punching, and kicking dumb negationists, maskless idiots, fake news spreaders, far-right bloggers, charlatan televangelists, flat-earthers, and even people who overdosed on hydroxychloroquine.

There are four characters: Laura, Nina, Olga, and Lola. They all have significant differences: some are faster, others stronger, others more technical. Each has a different special ability, which can only be used after charging up the gauge. And, when unleashed, it practically clears the entire screen. Which is quite useful in the midst of chaos.

But the most striking point is that the game didn't shy away from thorny issues. It clearly positions itself within the political discussion that took over Brazil between 2018 and 2022 and which, let's face it, isn’t over yet. Many people hated the game simply because they didn't like seeing themselves on the wrong side of history, thinking they were the hero when in reality they were making a fool of themselves. This discomfort generated noise, criticism, and attacks, but none of that detracts from the merit of the work.

The game deserves a place on the list precisely for this reason: because it was bold, it put itself out there, and it even managed to come to fruition thanks to crowdfunding. It had every reason not to exist, but it does, and with personality.

If you enjoy a somewhat chaotic and fun cooperative experience, Out of Space is a great game. In the game, you and your friends start confined to a small spaceship infested with a crazy alien goo, and the objective? To survive. You have to wash the floor, fix the power system, throw the aliens into space, cook or grind up anyone who's not paying attention... and do all this while running, crawling, screaming, and laughing together.

What's great is that the game balances challenge and humor: every mistake turns into a mess, every group play becomes organized chaos, and you can have a lot of fun, whether in cooperative mode or trying to survive alone (although the difficulty increases there). It has the feel of a party game + light strategy, and shows how Brazil knows how to make indie co-op with a good dose of craziness. Out of Space is out for PC, Switch, PS4 and Xbox One.

For those who enjoy fast-paced action, vibrant colors, and that arcade feel of the 90s/2000s, Sky Racket is perfect. You control RacketGirl or RacketBoy (or both, if it's cooperative), jumping between planets, dodging lasers, shooting energy blasts, and deflecting projectiles in a mix of shooter and "block-breaker" that's super frantic and extra fun.

The graphic style and setting strongly resemble classic 16-bit era shmup games, but with a modern and fluid feel. The levels are full of strange bosses, bizarre enemies, power-ups, and that rhythm that hooks you from the first "start". If you're looking for something with that classic arcade flavor, Sky Racket doesn't disappoint and shows that the Brazilian indie scene excels when it decides to aim for retro with a bold twist. Available for PC, macOS, Linux, and promised for consoles.

Now, if you want something more introspective, poetic, and with a more "contemplative adventure" feel, Toren is definitely worth it. In it, you control the "Moonchild," a girl born inside a mysterious tower with a mission: to climb to the top.

With each step, she grows, changes, and the journey reveals visions about the tower, its past, and profound mysteries. The game mixes puzzles, exploration, and an atmosphere laden with symbolism, with visuals and setting reminiscent of contemplative adventure games.

It's not frantic, it's not about reflexes, it's about unraveling mysteries, living a slower, more philosophical experience. It was one of the first major Brazilian indie games to gain prominence, opening doors for those who wanted to make smaller games with soul and ambition. Toren runs on PC and PS4.

This one is here because it's a fun and daring project that we hope will succeed. Bagdex is perhaps the most ambitious national project in recent years. The idea originated from a fan art project featuring monsters based on Brazilian folklore, fauna, flora, and culture. Each creature, a "bagmon", carries references to accents, foods, legends, and even national memes. From there, the original artist set up a studio and, with the support of a publisher and a crowdfunding campaign, transformed the dream into a real production.

In the game, you'll explore the fictional territory called Brasilis, divided into 5 regions inspired by the biomes and landscapes of our real Brazil, to capture more than 150 (in the initial campaign) up to 163 different Bagmons, each with its own design and typically Brazilian personality. The system is a turn-based capture and battle RPG, with elements of exploration, collection, training, and strategy. In addition to the main adventure, you can build your Training Center, take care of the monsters, cultivate them, customize your space, and discover minigames and extra features, in a mix of "down-to-earth" action and charming fantasy.

Bagdex goes beyond simply copying the classic "catch monsters and battle" formula. The setting, the names, the cultural elements—everything tries to resonate with our reality, without being ashamed of being Brazilian. And this tends to give the game a strong identity, especially if you're someone who enjoys seeing brazilian culture represented creatively in games.

After a crowdfunding campaign that surpassed over $200,000 (with thousands of backers), the title is in production by a 100% Brazilian developer, with a planned PC release in 2025 and is already available for pre-order. We're hoping everything goes well.