Established in 2000, the Ateneo de Naga University BS in Digital Illustration & Animation (DIA) pioneered 3D animation education in the Philippines. BS DIA curriculum offers 3 tracks — Animation Production, Game Development, and Graphic Design.
Games developed by students of the Ateneo de Naga University, College of Computer Studies are officially part of the Games Around the World indie game showcase and featured in the Osaka World Expo’s “Learning & Playing Week” in Japan on July 22 to 28, 2025.
Over 12 countries will showcase their best games, and ADNU’s own Digital Arts and Computer Animation Department shall represent the Philippines alongside other talented Filipino studios. ADNU is truly honored and excited to bring the creativity of the Bicol region to the global spotlight!
Expo Osaka
Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan is a World Expo scheduled to take place in Osaka from April 13 to October 13, 2025. It will be the third time Osaka hosts a World Expo, and the sixth time Japan hosts one. The theme is “Designing Future Society for Our Lives,” with subthemes focused on “Saving Lives,” “Empowering Lives,” and “Connecting Lives”. The event aims to be a “People’s Living Lab,” a place where people from around the world can co-create a better future society. The event is being held on Yumeshima, an artificial island in Osaka Bay.
Games Around the World
Games Around the World has created for the Osaka World Expo and will feature a ‘Learning & Playing Week’ on July 22-28, 2025. The platform will showcase independent video games and their creators to gamers around the world thanks to online content creators.
GDAP
The Game Developers Association of the Philippines (GDAP) is a trade association in the Philippines, established in 2007 to represent and promote the country’s game development industry. It is composed of Digital Game development, service and technology studios in the country, both foreign and local, and has strong ties to the government, technology suppliers, education sector and the international community of game developers via the International Game Developers Association.
Games from the Philippines
- Banyuhay
- Eat the Rich
- Fallen Tear: The Ascension
- Hablon Dawani
- Haphazard Angel
- Insureksyon
- Lost
The games developed and associated with ADNU are Banyuhay, Hablon Dawani, Insureksyon, and Lost. Banyuhay and Hablon Dawani showcase Bicolano legends, myths, and folklore. Insureksyon draws inspiration from the Katipunan. Lost is based on the comics of Rob Cham.
BANYUHAY
Game Description
Developers – Rae Willies Maesa and Jonah Arnel Mendoza
Genre – Exploration, Narrative-driven, Open World; Release – TBD; Developer – Metamorph Games; Publisher – Ateneo de Naga University; Platform – PC; Player – Solo; Language – English.
Banyuhay is an immersive narrative-driven adventure game that intertwines dynamic storytelling with rich visual artistry. The game aims to showcase a world steeped in the rich mysticism of Bicolano lore.
About this game
After a climactic battle with the fearsome Bakunawa, the warrior goddess of moonlight, Haliya, falls from the heavens powerless and forgotten. As the world plunges into an age of unending darkness, Haliya awakens centuries later with no memory of her past. Embark on a journey of rediscovery, where myth and memory intertwine. Explore a hauntingly beautiful world, uncover lost truths, and help Haliya reclaim her destiny.
BANYUHAY is a 2.5D Open World game with an isometric camera perspective. It utilizes 2D sprite object for characters, NPCs and game assets while its world is set in a 3D environment. This allows players to explore diverse environments with a new perspective. Each area of the game is expansive, containing unique collectables, puzzles, and NPCs that contribute to the game’s narrative.
HABLON DAWANI
Game Description
Developer - Patrick Molaer, DACA Faculty
Story and Script – Dennis Bascuña Gonzaga
Digital Paintings - Paulo Arnante
Concept Arts and Terrain Textures - Genna Obillo
Opening Narration - Wina Jerussa Occiano
Genre – Exploration, Narrative-driven, Platformer; Release – June 2022; Developer – Ateneo de Naga University; Publisher – Ateneo de Naga University; Platform – PC; Player- Solo; Language – English.
Hablon Dawani is a 3D exploration game based from the Bicol mythology where the player plays Dawani, a weaver from a village named Iraya. Before the supreme god, Gugurang turned Dawani into a goddess of rainbow, Dawani lived a simple life in the village of Iraya. Together with Huraw, her loving mother, Dawani would weave colorful and beautiful cloths which they barter with the people in their village. Dawani’s father died a week after her mother heard a raspy chirp from a cricket called “Korokoy” which in superstition, they believe brings death to a love one to anyone who hears it. Dawani heard the “Korokoy” just before a storm started. The storm ravaged their village for days. Determined to put an end to the devastating storm, Dawani decided to investigate by asking villagers about what they suspect is happening, that is where her adventure begins.
About this game
Hablon Dawani is a narrative-driven adventure game steeped in Bicolano mythology and Filipino cultural traditions. The game follows the origin story of Dawani, a mortal girl destined to become the goddess of the rainbow. Combining environmental storytelling, dialogue-based exploration, light puzzle-solving, and weaving-based mechanics, Hablon Dawani invites players to explore a mystical world where folklore and fate are tightly interwoven.
Story & Lore
Before she ascended as a goddess, Dawani was a gifted weaver living in the peaceful village of Iraya. Alongside her mother, Huraw, she created vibrant, handwoven cloths (hablon) that reflected their joy, heritage, and harmony with nature. But their peace is shattered when Dawani hears the chilling chirp of the Korokoy—a mythical cricket said to herald the death of a loved one. Days later, a powerful storm strikes the village, bringing loss, fear, and destruction.
INSUREKSYON
Game Description
Developers – Paolo Alegre, Jude Papina, and Ryan Madrideo
Genre – Real-Time Strategy; Release – TBD; Developer – Triple-K Studio; Publisher – Ateneo de Naga University; Platform – PC; Player – Solo; Language – English.
Insureksyon is a 3D steampunk real-time strategy game where players build their bases, capture resources to build up their army and destroy their enemies in a 3-part story campaign.
About this game
A Filipino-inspired, Warcraft-like 3D steampunk real-time strategy game where players build bases, gather resources, expand their armies, and defeat enemies across a three-part story campaign. While not directly based on Philippine history, the game draws inspiration from the revolutionary spirit of the Katipunan.
In Insureksyon, players assume the role of a Heneral fighting for the revolutionary government known as the Republika. They command their troops, construct strategic outposts, and harness vital resources to liberate the islands from the oppressive rule of the Iberian Empire, a powerful colonizing force.
LOST
Game Description
Project Manager - Lawrence Joseph T. Paculan
Game Developer - Peter Andrew R. Gayanilo
Level Designer - Edlaine Ann S. Mercado
Concept Artists - Paolo A. Alegre, Irish P. Ayson
3D Modellers - Patrick Aaron R. Molaer, Maria Angelica SA. Jacob, Lucky Mary Pahati. Eunice Cagas
Texture Artist - Patrick Aaron R. Molaer
Riggers - Baeron Jaus B. Vallar, John Christian P. Abonalla
Animators - Rafael Dominique B. Aure, Michael Ron Iris B. Mendez, Carl Kendrick B. Caballero, Noemie Angela V. Consuelo
Genre – Exploration, Narrative-driven, Puzzle Platformer, Story Rich; Release – 09/30/2021; Developer – Ateneo de Naga University; Publisher – Ateneo de Naga University; Platform – PC; Player – Solo; Language – English
The ADNU DACA Game Development Faculty together with Polysplit Games collaborated with Rob Cham, an illustrator, awards-winning comics creator, a coorganizer for Manila Comics Fair, in creating an adaptation of his comic book, “Lost”, to a 2D side scrolling game. It was originally presented during the Philippine International Comics Online Festival 2021.
About this game
The game follows the story of the friends Backpacker and Tear, who set out on a new adventure and unfortunately get lost along the way. Based on the comics of Rob Cham.
In the demo, play as the Backpacker and traverse through hand-crafted levels and use your puzzle-platforming skills to progress the story. Experience hybrid features like endless running and more unique ones in the future.
The header image features screenshots from the ADNU DIA games. Content and images primarily from the Ateneo Animation FB page and gamesaroundtheworld.com
About the author
PATRICK AARON R. MOLAER has been a college professor for 10 years at the Ateneo de Naga University, Digital Arts and Computer Animation Department. He is an Adobe Certified Professional in Visual Design in Adobe Photoshop, a Nuke Certified Lecturer, a Google for Education Certified Educator Level 1 and a Certified CG Creator in Japan.