Frog Island has been in development for roughly two years now. This is DevFrog’s first game, and it has a healthy community of fans who have helped to support this game along its development journey. DevFrog has worked closely with fans to create a cute and cozy world that is packed with fun activities to do and unique places to explore.

In an interview with Game Rant, DevFrog discussed the development journey over the past two years. Devfrog also talked in detail about some of the biggest features in Frog Island, including beloved cozy activities like cooking, fishing, and exploration, all worked into an open-ended gameplay loop for players to enjoy.

Frog Island’s Biggest Gameplay Features

When it comes to the core pillars of Frog Island, DevFrog told us that there were four main gameplay approaches: attracting and caring for frogs, collecting gifts, exploring secrets, and having open-ended freedom. There’s a plethora of frogs who have their own desires, gifts can lead to new areas and more, exploring Frog Island encourages tons of activities, and there’s no time limit on players. As Devfrog described the cozy game,

• Attracting and Caring for Frogs: “As the island’s caretaker, you’ll be tasked with making the frogs feel at home. You’ll craft bug jars to lure them in and place cute and cozy toys to keep them relaxed. Each frog has its own toy and food preferences, so part of the fun is discovering the perfect combo to find out what makes them happiest!”
• Collecting Gifts: “Happy frogs will show their gratitude by leaving behind small tokens of appreciation. They’re key to unlocking new areas and toys, crafting recipes, and discovering more about the island’s secrets.”
• Exploration and Secrets: “Beyond your caretaker duties, Frog Island is brimming with areas to explore and secrets to uncover. You can try your hand at farming, discover new recipes in the kitchen, catch fish, or even catch rare bugs. And yes, you can even gamble.”
• Open-ended Freedom: “There is also no pressure to complete any real goals in any timeframe, as the game is very open-ended. You are stranded on this island after all! Whether you want to spend your days fishing by the pond, decorating your island, or simply checking up on your frogs, the choice is yours.”

Selecting The Right Art Style and Music

Selecting the right art style was very important to DevFrog as it helped make the world of Frog Island feel warm and welcoming. When it comes to video game development, setting the right style is crucial. A cute and cozy game requires a cute and cozy design, and its visuals go a long way in delivering on that design. DevFrog worked hard to produce a detailed hand-drawn world:

“One major breakthrough was nailing the art style. Early on, I struggled to balance the hand-drawn aesthetic with my own technical limitations of art and game development. When I finally found the right balance, it felt like the game truly came to life. Even today, I’m still improving my art skills and refining my art style with every sprite I draw. It’s incredibly rewarding to see your art evolve throughout the years and see how far you’ve come.”

The overall inspiration for the game came from Neko Atsume, Animal Crossing, and Tsuki Odyssey, and the developer’s love for these titles can clearly be seen in the game’s overall style and music selection. Choosing the right music was also something that DevFrog wanted to get right. As Devfrog explained,

“I think music is one of, if not the most important aspects of a game. It can really amplify feelings and emotions tenfold, which is something I wanted to convey through the music in Frog Island. I hope that using instruments like soft padded pianos and a natural ambiance will allow players to fully immerse themselves in the game.”

The combination of the hand-drawn art style and the calming music helps create an immersive gameplay experience that is relaxing and very cozy.

Casual

Adventure

Exploration

Systems