Spilled! and its young developer Lente are sailing full speed ahead! Thanks to the success of the Kickstarter campaign, we now have access to a demo with a brand-new and beautifully crafted design.
The success of the Kickstarter campaign for Spilled!, the relaxing game where players clean up oil spills and waste, developed by Lente, has allowed her to enlist external help to improve the graphics of her debut video game. During the Wholesome Direct, in the midst of the Summer Game Fest, she introduced a new demo available on Steam, which we tried out and are excited to discuss.
Who is Lente?
Before diving into the specifics of Spilled!, let me say a few words about the young developer who, in February of this year – 2024 – granted us an interview, sharing insights about herself and her passions.
Lente is 23 years old and grew up on a boat in the Netherlands. Every summer, her family embarked on journeys in a smaller boat for up to six weeks, immersing themselves in the wild marine life.
From these experiences, she developed a love for nature and a deep respect for it, so much so that her goal is to be 100% self-sufficient, both in terms of electricity, through the use of solar panels, and nutrition, by growing plants and raising animals. She does all of this while living on a boat, as she always has and continues to do, pursuing a dream of total independence, which she feels is increasingly within reach when, for example, she takes her “home” out to sea and anchors in the middle of nowhere, as if on her own little island.
Her passion for video games was born during a time when her family lived without wired electricity and had to use a land generator when needed. During this period, she and her brother spent time playing flash games on their parents’ laptop. From there, her interest in video games began, even though she didn’t immediately think she could develop one.
Her love for life on a boat has influenced both her lifestyle and her work. While weighing both the pros and cons of this lifestyle, such as maintenance issues, heating problems, or running out of water, Lente is determined to lead this life of freedom, but above all, in sustainability.
Like many in her generation — fortunately — Lente feels the urgency to address environmental concerns and instill, in one way or another, this urgency in those who have yet to grasp the importance of stopping pollution and resource waste. However, she doesn’t take a “preachy” approach like some others do. She doesn’t want to be didactic or heavy-handed. The beautiful and interesting thing is that simply by playing Spilled!, in a carefree pastime, the desire to see a cleaner and more vibrant world arises spontaneously.
But let’s see why.
The Dream of a Better World
I think we all have the dream of an ideal world to some extent. But what exactly is this ideal world? When it comes to the environment, I believe it’s quite simple: we all feel positive emotions when we see a clean landscape where nature is alive and thriving.
A more beautiful world, essentially, starting with its appearance.
This is an aspect that Spilled! has been able to improve, as previously mentioned, thanks to the success of its Kickstarter campaign, which began on January 30, 2024. The goal was to reach €10,000. Lente exceeded this target by 316%, raising €31,600, and hiring a graphic designer who made Spilled! even more delightful and engaging.
The initial graphic design has not been radically changed, but it has gained depth, detail, and vividness, which still make a difference.
For those who may not know, in Spilled!, the objective is to clean the environment using a solar-powered boat, eliminating oil spills and collecting waste.
After cleaning the area, the water gradually changes from brown to a transparent blue, revealing an aquatic ecosystem free to swim and thrive.
This aesthetic change is what inspires players to genuinely desire such improvements. While it remains a video game, a product of imagination, without a particular focus on realism, it does provoke thoughts about the kind of environment we would like to have around us.
How Do We Improve This World?
Our little boat, which you control using the keyboard’s arrow keys, navigates through increasingly larger inlets, collects oil spills, picks up floating debris, and rescues trapped animals.
As the boat fills with waste, it needs to stop by a recycling station, which rewards us with coins. You can use these coins to expand the size of the collector, increase the tank capacity, and enhance the boat’s speed by purchasing improved solar panels.
In addition to removing oil slicks from the water, the boat’s system cleans stains on rocky walls and extinguishes fires.
When it comes to waste, besides the floating debris—presumably plastic—the boat can also collect barrels from the bottom and retrieve various items, such as a ball or a small wooden boat, earning extra rewards.
Once we sufficiently clean the area, we can move on to a larger area with bigger spills and many more tasks to complete.
The demo is quite short, but it has all the elements of a great relaxing pastime. A relaxing pastime that also makes you think.
Why Try Spilled!?
When we start the demo, Lente welcomes us and thanks us with a brief introduction about herself and her goals, which I find is an excellent way to immediately create empathy with the player.
Beyond the theme at the core of Spilled!, which I find important and motivating in itself, the game remains an excellent form of entertainment, allowing us to relax at our own pace and in the manner we prefer.
Since the gameplay is designed for computers, players need to play it on a computer. However, I believe that creating a version for smartphones or tablets might make it even more suitable.
I am truly delighted to see this small title succeed and to know that Lente fully intends to complete it. I also hope she decides to continue creating other games of this type, both in terms of gameplay and themes.
