In 2019, Julian Rice and his team at Rice Games were hard at work on Shujinkou, a platformer that aimed to teach Japanese through its gameplay. Yet over five transformative years, Shujinkou has evolved into a full-fledged dungeon-crawling RPG – complete with an 80-hour story, another 100 hours of side content, and a robust language-learning component baked in. With Shujinkou releasing on PS5, PS4, and PC on February 13th, Rice is ready to show how much can happen when passion, perseverance, and creative vision come together.
Learn To Jump Before You Crawl
Rice originally envisioned Shujinkou as a platformer with light RPG elements. But as he continued to refine the concept and thought of some of his favorite series like Etrian Odyssey, Demon Gaze, and Fire Emblem, he realized that the type of game he truly loved (and wanted to create) had much more in common with dungeon crawlers. “It became clear that Shujinkou needed to reflect the kinds of games I truly loved playing,” says Rice. “A dungeon-crawling RPG with deep storytelling, engaging mechanics, and an immersive world,” Rice says that the shift in direction changed everything.
Switching genres, however, demanded a major overhaul. Moving characters tile-by-tile may sound simple on the surface, but Shujinkou’s dungeon-crawling ambitions required unique labyrinths, complex event triggers, and real-time threats stalking the halls. “Don’t even make me reflect on the Ihan Yajuu, giant creatures that move in real-time in the labyrinth regardless of the player’s inputs,” says Rice. “Managing and continuously building upon these interactions without regressions seamlessly was no small feat.”
Even synchronizing enemy attacks wasn’t easy The final challenge was ensuring the game’s balance remained consistent and engaging across the massive 80-hour storyline.
Despite Shujinkou’s transformation from platformer to dungeon crawler, its core narrative and character arcs remained remarkably intact. “From the very beginning, I had a clear vision of the narrative I wanted to tell,” Rice says. “That foundation stayed rock solid over the six-year journey.”
What did evolve were the supporting systems that enhanced Shujinkou’s world-building. The quest (Youkyuu) system underwent several refinements, and the Kizuna bonding system took on a bigger role, offering extended character-driven side content. Players can spend up to 50 hours forging deeper relationships with six different party members while exploring minigames and social areas of the game.
Avoiding Repetition
Rice set out to avoid the dreaded RPG “filler” by ensuring that each new labyrinth introduces fresh mechanics, visuals, and music. The game boasts a massive 158-track OST that spans multiple genres to make the world feel more dynamic. Even towns have distinct day and night themes to prevent repetition.
Meanwhile, the gameplay behind the scenes has been carefully optimized to keep downtime to a minimum. Rice focused on making in-game menus intuitive so that even routine tasks – like checking gear or preparing for battle – feel snappy and purposeful. “By focusing on player immersion and making even routine actions smooth and engaging, we worked hard to ensure Shujinkou’s long journey doesn’t feel like a grind,” Rice says.
For all of its depth, Shujinkou is also designed to be friendly to RPG newcomers. Five difficulty levels – adjustable at any time – allow players to tailor the challenge to their comfort. Streamlined menus, easy-to-read item descriptions, and user-friendly UI design help onboard those who may be tackling a dungeon crawler for the first time.
A Personal Journey
Bringing Shujinkou from concept to completion wasn’t just a test of game design – it was a personal and emotional journey for Rice. In addition to moving multiple times, juggling full-time work, and graduating from UCLA with a double major, Rice also shouldered the heartbreaking responsibility of caring for his mother during her battle with cancer. “Losing my mother at 23 was the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through,” Rice says. “But I never wavered in my vision. I would direct and code my dream game myself without being paid a dollar and without external investors, and create something that could inspire and change the lives of thousands of players worldwide.”
Rice persevered by pouring himself into the project daily. “No matter how exhausting life got – whether it was studying for exams, balancing full stack work, caring for my mother, or even recovering from intense nomikai nights (Japanese drinking culture / 飲み会) at my full-time job – I made sure to work on Shujinkou every single day. There was always something to do, even if I was intoxicated,” Rice says with a laugh.
Though Rice stands as the solo director and coder, he’s quick to credit the “dozen talented teammates from around the world” who helped craft the game’s artwork, music, and writing. Their collective work led to a game they believe justifies its full-length JRPG price tag – something rarely seen in solo-led indie projects.
Looking To The Future
Post-launch, Rice plans to release quality-of-life patches and address any bugs as swiftly as possible. DLC or expansions could be on the horizon too, depending on the community’s desires – whether that’s more lore, additional language-learning features, or deeper gameplay content. Beyond Shujinkou, Rice envisions an entire trilogy to continue exploring this world and cast.
Shujinkou will be available on PS5, PS4, and PC (Steam) on February 13th, with a Nintendo Switch release planned for later this year. For more information, check out Rice Games’ official website or the game’s PlayStation Store page.
