“This has the potential to win The Boar’s ‘Game Of The Year’ Award!” says the Editor-in-Chief after the release of the first pig-physics shooter game: Pih

In the competitive market of game development, success is often measured by the size of a studio’s staff, or the complexity of the game’s cinematic universe. Yet, every so often, a project emerges that reminds the industry of a simpler truth: a great mechanic and a bit of humour can go a long way. This is the story of Pih, a physics-based shooter.

The beginning of this game was remarkably accidental

The game, developed by the solo creator known online as BecomeANobody, is as straightforward as it is surreal. Players navigate a world where shooting orbs at pigs causes them to tumble and react with unpredictable physics.

While the premise might seem like a joke, the “Overwhelmingly Positive” reviews on Steam suggest that players have found something genuinely addictive in its gameplay.  In a recent interview with The Boar, the developer opened up about the accidental development of this indie hit.

The beginning of this game was remarkably accidental. Unlike many indie titles that spend years in pre-production, with carefully drafted design documents, this project was born from a moment of pure curiosity.

“I was just playing around in the game engine,” BecomeANobody told The Boar. “When I randomly created the mechanic of the pig physics, I knew I had something that could be a game.”

The game’s primary objective is to defeat all enemy pigs and to collect food. Players are provided with a wide variety of weapons, from an orb-gun to a boxing-glove spring gun. This gives the game a diverse playstyle, avoiding stale repetition.

The developer told The Boar that there was no grand vision or spark of inspiration from other media. He was simply playing around with the game engine when he discovered that the way a sphere interacted with a pig model was inherently entertaining. He knew immediately that he had stumbled upon a mechanic that could sustain an entire experience.

This “organic” approach to development defined the early days of the project. Ideas weren’t planned over weeks – they were added in the moment.

“I thought it looked cool when a sphere hit the pig and it turned into a ragdoll. And then I added more ideas,” the developer explained.

Catering relatable humour to potential customers makes them resonate with the developer

This philosophy of prioritising personal amusement over market trends resulted in a game that feels refreshingly honest and blunt. However, Pih’s success was not an overnight phenomenon.

Originally, the project was known as “Big Pig”, and didn’t perform well due to a lack of exposure. BecomeANobody totally reformed the game’s marketing to target Gen Z slang, rebranding the name to Pih. They began posting memes about the game, such as: “What my dad thinks I’m playing at 2am in my room”. Catering relatable humour to potential customers made them resonate with the developer.

This marketing transformation can be deemed as one of the primary catalysts for the game’s success. The Editor-In-Chief of The Boar, Martin Day, commented on the game’s viral success story, stating that “this has the potential to win The Boar’s ‘Game Of The Year’ Award!”.

Perhaps even more impressive than the game’s viral success is the lean nature of its production. In an era where even “small” indie games can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to produce, this solo developer proved that a global audience can be reached with a three-figure budget, estimated to be between $500 and $1000, mainly spent on assets. The real cost was the developer’s time.

It reminds aspiring developers that you don’t need a massive team or a revolutionary concept to make an impact

The solo development allowed for total creative freedom in balancing the shooting aspect with the platforming and parkour, which, interestingly, ended up being BecomeANobody’s favourite aspect of the final product.

The success of the game has naturally led to questions about where it might appear next. While fans have been vocal about a port, the developer has taken a disciplined approach to expanding to other platforms.

“I kept postponing those plans as I keep adding new content, so I want to apply once the game is fully done,” BecomeANobody told The Boar, noting that he is still “debating if I [will] add new stuff”.

For this solo creator, the priority isn’t a rapid-fire rollout across every available console, but rather ensuring the game is in its definitive form.

“Once that’s clear, I would have to go through an application process, and then it will be up to them if they accept the game on their platforms,” states BecomeANobody.

Today, with over 67 levels and a growing community, Pih stands as a testament to the power of a solo-developed, well-executed idea. It reminds aspiring developers that you don’t need a massive team or a revolutionary concept to make an impact. Sometimes, all you need is a small budget and the realisation that watching a pig ragdoll is, quite simply, hilarious.