Developed by the Turkish studio PixelPuffs, Pawsome Resort is a promising title in the cozy life sim genre that blends RPG, farming, and co-op gameplay into a pixel-art world where players manage an animal hotel. Set in the tranquil village of Pebble Town, the game invites players to grow crops, craft items, complete quests, and bond with both animals and villagers. With a release planned for the third quarter of 2025, Watermelo reached out to the studio to learn more about the development process behind this charming project.

According to Kadir Erkul, speaking on behalf of the PixelPuffs team, the initial concept was quite simple and wholesome: “The game started as a relaxing animal resort concept that welcomed every type of creature. As time went on, we began weaving in RPG elements and a branching story, which gave the project new life and excitement.”

Creating a peaceful atmosphere was the core design philosophy from the start. Balancing gameplay mechanics like farming, caretaking, and exploration was done with this tone in mind. “Our top priority was to create a calm and peaceful experience, a game where players never feel rushed. While working on mechanics like farming, care, and exploration, we constantly asked ourselves: ‘Does this feel cozy and relaxing?’”

The addition of narrative elements aims to make the experience more engaging and personal. “We've also integrated a narrative with two different endings based on player choices, making the experience more personal. And yes, co-op was a big goal for us! We've already implemented most of the core co-op functionality and enjoyed testing it together, side by side.”

Visually, the game embraces a nostalgic pixel art style, chosen not just for aesthetics but also for its emotional resonance. “Pixel art reminds many of us of simpler, nostalgic times, and that's exactly the emotion we wanted to evoke. Its charm and expressiveness help create the comforting, slow-paced atmosphere we envisioned for Pawsome Resort. We wanted players to feel like they were stepping into a gentle, storybook world.”

In contrast to many action-focused modern games, the team deliberately pursued a more serene approach. “Despite the other action-based game styles, we preferred a calm game to help both us and the players to clear their mind and provide a relaxed, sincere environment in such a busy, stressful world.”

With only three developers working in their spare time, the project reflects the strength and adaptability of small indie teams in today’s industry. “Working together as friends has been one of the best parts of this journey. Even though we have jobs and other responsibilities, we've always made time to sit down together, brainstorm ideas, and build on each other's thoughts.”

This organic, collaborative process has proven to be creatively fulfilling. “This process helps us to improve not only our techniques in making games but also our friendship. During this time we all became even more relaxed and happy people :)”

Their size has also been an asset when it comes to iteration and flexibility. “As a small team, we've been flexible and quick to respond to new ideas and player feedback. We believe small indie teams have the unique advantage of agility, and with enough passion and collaboration, they can absolutely craft meaningful, complete experiences.”

While AAA studios often face delays and structural constraints, smaller teams like PixelPuffs show that dedication and cohesion can result in polished experiences, even with limited resources. Their development model is proof that quality doesn't always require massive budgets.

Looking ahead to the upcoming release, the team has high hopes for how players will connect with the world they’ve created. “Our biggest dream is to welcome players into our world and make them feel truly at home.”

And the journey won’t end at launch. “If all goes well, we already have some ideas for post-release content, like introducing underwater or sky-themed regions with new animals and stories; even adding a prehistoric age edition with specific dinosaurs and ancient plantations.”