Finding Polka is an adventure game with a simple premise: finding a lost dog. Its uniqueness lies in the art: everything is hand-drawn with a ballpoint pen, without digital filters. Its creator used 13 pens and two years to complete 400 drawings. This handcrafted technique offers a visual experience that moves away from computer-generated imagery, giving the game world a cozy and realistic tone.
The process behind the strokes: 13 pens and zero pixels 🖊️
The development of Finding Polka involved no graphics tablet or drawing software. Every scene and character was traced with a ballpoint pen on paper, then scanned and integrated into the game engine. The creator used 13 complete pens, giving an idea of the physical wear and tear of the process. This manual method means there is no possibility of undoing mistakes with Ctrl+Z; each line is final. The result is an aesthetic reminiscent of a sketchbook, with imperfections that add character.
When looking for the dog is more real than your digital life 🐕
While the video game industry obsesses over photorealistic graphics and ray tracing, someone spends two years drawing with a pen so you can look for a dog. The irony is that this world of shaky strokes feels cozier than many open-world cities. If the dog gets lost, at least you know its creator spent half a pen drawing it. Perhaps the future of gaming isn't 8K, but going back to the stationery store.