Meet the solo Filipino dev who made Agnostiko ORIGINS

The metroidvania genre has produced some of gaming’s most beloved classics, from Castlevania: Symphony of the Night to modern indie hits that continue to build on its formula of exploration, progression, and discovery. Now, a Filipino developer is putting his own spin on the genre with Agnostiko ORIGINS.

A dark fantasy side-scrolling adventure, Agnostiko ORIGINS blends classic metroidvania exploration with fast-paced combat, gothic atmosphere, and retro-inspired pixel art aesthetics. The game has earned the nickname “Pinoyvania” among local players and supporters, combining Filipino identity with the genre that inspired it.

The project draws heavily from classic action-exploration titles such as Castlevania: Symphony of the Night while introducing its own identity through interconnected world design, atmospheric storytelling, challenging boss encounters, and a setting infused with Filipino influences. Among its key features are exploration-driven progression, responsive combat, retro pixel visuals, dark fantasy environments, and a classic-inspired soundtrack.

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What makes the project particularly notable is that it is an independently developed Filipino console title, something still relatively uncommon within the local game development scene. Behind it is Filipino developer Leoned Andrew Tumbaga, who balanced game development alongside his work as a college instructor while pursuing a childhood dream that began decades ago.

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For Tumbaga, video games have been part of his life for as long as he can remember.

“My passion for video games started early, particularly with 2D titles from the Famicom era such as Super Mario Bros. 1 and Super Mario Bros. 3,” he told INQUIRER.net. “Even at a young age, I already dreamed of creating a game for Nintendo someday.”

That fascination extended beyond simply playing games. As a child, he even built a cardboard version of a Game Boy to simulate owning Nintendo’s iconic handheld. Years later, while studying Multimedia Arts and Information Technology, that childhood interest evolved into a serious pursuit of game development.

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Although opportunities to learn game development were limited when he first entered college, Tumbaga said he immersed himself in every related subject he could find. Eventually, that led him deeper into programming and the technical skills necessary to create games of his own.

The seed for Agnostiko was planted when he discovered Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, a game that would become one of his most significant influences.

While many players were drawn to the game’s protagonist Alucard, Tumbaga found himself gravitating toward Richter Belmont and his more straightforward combat and exploration-focused gameplay. The experience left a lasting impression and inspired him to imagine what a similar adventure might look like through a Filipino lens.

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Rather than simply recreating a classic metroidvania, he wanted to build something that reflected local culture and mythology.

A realistic depiction of the Philippines in the 1890s was initially considered, but Tumbaga felt the setting needed something more distinctive. The concept eventually evolved into a steampunk-inspired version of the Philippines layered with mythology, fantasy, and gothic themes.

The result is a world that feels familiar yet fantastical, combining retro gaming influences with elements drawn from Filipino storytelling traditions.

Those storytelling influences stretch even further back than video games. Tumbaga credits many of the horror-themed Filipino komiks of the 1990s as helping shape his appreciation for atmosphere, suspense, and mythology.

The development process itself was a challenge. As a solo developer, Tumbaga spent roughly two years building Agnostiko ORIGINS while balancing other responsibilities, including his work as a college teacher at Our Lady of Fatima University in Quezon City.

For many aspiring developers, getting a game onto a platform like Nintendo Switch can seem even more daunting than creating the game itself. Tumbaga knows that firsthand.

Operating under Singles Alliance, which also serves as his publishing label, he handled the publishing process largely on his own. According to him, Nintendo’s ecosystem remains far more selective than many other digital storefronts.

“Developers need to pass a screening stage and present a strong proof of concept before approval,” he explained.

That additional scrutiny, he believes, helps maintain quality standards on the platform compared to more open storefronts where virtually anyone can publish a title after paying developer fees.

Despite the challenges, seeing Agnostiko ORIGINS arrive on Nintendo Switch represents the fulfillment of a dream that began with those early days playing Famicom games.

The project is also not the only game in Tumbaga’s portfolio. Before Agnostiko ORIGINS, he developed The Great Adventures of Nedmapagmahal, a rage-quit-style game, and later expanded the Agnostiko universe with Agnostiko VS, a fighting game spin-off featuring characters from the original title.

As for what comes next, Tumbaga is already working on another Nintendo Switch project, a puzzle game called Beybi & Bibeco.

His interests as a player have also evolved over the years. While Super Mario Bros. defined his childhood and PlayStation 1 games shaped his teenage years, he now finds himself drawn toward open-world and exploration-focused experiences, a preference that perhaps explains his enduring love for metroidvania design.

For aspiring Filipino developers hoping to follow a similar path, Tumbaga’s advice is straight to the point.

“It is better to dedicate time and effort to creating something meaningful than to rush out a low-quality product purely for financial gain,” he said.

For a developer who went from building a cardboard Game Boy as a child to releasing a game on Nintendo Switch, it is advice backed by experience.

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Agnostiko ORIGINS is available on the Nintendo eShop for USD $24.99