Behind the Development of Hand-Drawn Strategy Game Don't Kill Them All

July 21, 2026 - 19:54

Vincent Rochette, the Creative Director at Fika Productions, recently opened up about the development of the studio's upcoming strategy title, Don't Kill Them All. Built using the Unity engine, the game draws clear inspiration from hits like Cult of the Lamb and Into the Breach, but Rochette was careful to explain how the team twisted those influences into something unique.

The core idea, he said, was to create a strategy game where violence is not the only answer. Instead of wiping out enemies, players are encouraged to find clever, non-lethal solutions. This design philosophy forced the team to rethink typical combat mechanics. Rochette detailed the technical work behind the game's hand-drawn 2.5D art style, which required a blend of traditional animation techniques and modern rendering pipelines. The goal was to make the characters feel alive and expressive, even during tense tactical moments.

Rochette also touched on the challenges of balancing the game's systems. With multiple ways to approach each encounter, the developers had to ensure that no single strategy felt overpowered. The result, he hopes, is a game that rewards creativity as much as careful planning. Don't Kill Them All is shaping up to be a thoughtful addition to the strategy genre, one that asks players to think before they strike.