DrakkenRidge is a thrilling single-player fantasy adventure RPG that transports players to a vibrant world filled with magic, monsters, and epic quests. Developed by Garage Collective, known for titles like Stones of Harlath and Shock Troops, this game combines a retro-inspired low-poly pixel art style with immersive VR gameplay.
If you’ve ever dreamed of swapping your daily routine for a life of wielding battle axes and casting fireballs, DrakkenRidge is the adventure for you. In this blog post, we dive deep into the game’s origins, mechanics, and world, with insights from the creative team at Garage Collective, including Artist and Designer Cyril Guichard, Programmer and Designer Simeon Acker, and SFX and Voice Supervisor Logan Zimmermann.
What Is DrakkenRidge?
DrakkenRidge is a semi-open-world VR RPG set in the titular DrakkenRidge archipelago, a collection of five uniquely themed islands brimming with adventure. You play as a Hunter, a Novice of the Mage Order, tasked with policing magic use in a land now enjoying a time of peace. As part of a private militia under the Duchy of Eaglemoore, you maintain law and order across the archipelago. The game features a sweeping main questline, numerous side quests, nine dungeons, and over 20 weapons, ranging from swords and axes to magical spells cast using ancient runes. With its retro aesthetic and dynamic combat system, DrakkenRidge offers a nostalgic yet fresh experience for VR gamers.
Available on the Meta Horizon Store for Quest 3 and 3S, DrakkenRidge launched on September 4, 2025, and has already garnered attention for its ambitious scope and charming visuals. Whether you’re exploring vast biomes, solving puzzles, or battling fearsome creatures, this game promises hours of immersive gameplay.
The Origins and Inspiration Behind DrakkenRidge
A New Adventure Born from Stones of Harlath
The seeds of DrakkenRidge were planted during discussions for an expansion to Garage Collective’s earlier VR title, Stones of Harlath. Cyril Guichard explains, “Discussions around what would ultimately become DrakkenRidge started when we were exploring concepts for a Stones of Harlath expansion. There was so much more we wanted to do, and we quickly realized that the systems in place in SoH couldn’t support that new gameplay: It would make more sense to start from scratch.”
Initially, the team considered a pirate-themed expansion, which led to the creation of Skull Island, the game’s tutorial area. However, as the project evolved, the team shifted toward classic fantasy themes to create a broader, more cohesive world. Guichard notes, “We decided that we wanted to widen the game themes, so we started departing more and more from the visual codes of piracy and leaned more on classic fantasy themes and environments — although all our locations are coherent with one another (and share an ongoing storyline).” This shift allowed DrakkenRidge to become a grand, world-sweeping adventure with diverse biomes and a rich narrative.
Building a World for Exploration
Rather than starting with a fully fleshed-out world, the team at Garage Collective focused on crafting an experience. Guichard emphasizes, “Not as much of a ‘world,’ but an experience. From the visual standpoint, I want our players to experience varied locales: I want them to feel like they’re on a grand, worlds-sweeping adventure.” To achieve this, the team designed five distinct islands, each with its own unique vibe, from the coastal Skull Island to the fortified keep of Eaglemore. These varied environments encourage exploration, with mechanics like rock-climbing, ziplining, and minecart riding rewarding players for venturing off the beaten path.
Simeon Acker adds, “Our world and our game mechanics are built to complement each other. To deliver the experience of grand adventure, we expanded the scope of our exterior spaces and biomes, building the large-scale environments that we have now in DrakkenRidge.” The team’s focus on exploration led to innovative gameplay features, such as climbing cliffs hundreds of feet above the sea or soaring above islands with the help of majestic eagles. These mechanics ensure that every journey feels dynamic and rewarding.
Bringing the World of DrakkenRidge to Life
A Labor of Love for a Small Team
Creating a game as ambitious as DrakkenRidge was no small feat for Garage Collective’s tight-knit team. Guichard describes the process as “scary as hell,” noting the immense effort required to build a game of this scale. “Making a game that size was a lot of work for our small team: Now, we hope our game connects with players and provides that sense of ‘sweeping adventure’ that was at the heart of our idea,” he says. The team’s passion for the project shines through, with Guichard adding, “We had immense fun creating this experience — now we wait to see if players share our passion for the world of DrakkenRidge.”
For Logan Zimmermann, seeing the game come to life was a career-defining moment. “The idea of creating a world for others to experience is what got me interested in video game development in the first place,” he shares. “Getting to hear my work in the context of a vast, fantastic world cemented for me in that moment that I picked the right career.” Zimmermann is particularly excited to share the game with the voice actors who brought the world to life, highlighting the collaborative effort that made DrakkenRidge possible.
Challenges of Development
The game’s scope presented significant challenges, particularly for a small team. Guichard explains, “The sheer scope of content — many islands mean many more dungeons, NPCs, quests and side-quests, various rewards, and enemies to fight, and all those need to be animated, sounded, etc.” For most of the development, the team consisted of just two people, with Zimmermann and music collaborator Retrovex joining later. Toward the end, Meta’s support and a partnership with QA firm GlobalStep helped polish the final product.
Zimmermann faced his own challenges, particularly with the game’s audio. “The biggest challenge for me was casting, recording, and editing 56 characters with a total of 180+ lines of dialogue, all in the span of a few months,” he says. To manage this, some actors voiced multiple NPCs, maximizing efficiency. Another hurdle was perfecting the sound of the shoreline, which required blending recordings from Puget Sound with the sound of water gently pushed across a shower basin. The result is a serene, stylized sound that enhances the game’s atmosphere.
Gameplay Systems in DrakkenRidge
Exploration and Traversal
DrakkenRidge is designed to reward exploration, with a variety of gameplay systems that make navigating its world both exciting and rewarding. Beyond combat, players can engage in crafting to create essential items like healing draughts, shield ward potions, and blast grenades. Acker explains, “To find hidden treasures and crafting materials, players engage with our climbing and traversal systems, which will have them scaling cliffs hundreds of feet above the sea, ziplining across bottomless chasms, and riding minecarts down into the deepest abysses of the earth.”
The game also features unique side quests that enhance exploration. For example, completing the “Birds of a Feather” side quest allows players to soar above islands with the help of majestic eagles, offering breathtaking views and new ways to navigate the archipelago. Puzzles play a significant role as well, with environmental mechanisms that require careful activation to disable traps or unlock new areas.
The Magical Grimoire
At the heart of DrakkenRidge’s gameplay is the magical grimoire, an enchanted book that serves as a central hub for many of the game’s systems. Acker describes it as “the most valuable tool in the Hunter’s arsenal,” containing a live-updated minimap, quest and side quest objectives, and references for unlocked recipes and spells. This immersive menu system enhances the game’s VR experience, making it easy for players to track their progress and plan their next move.
The Magic System
The magic system in DrakkenRidge is both intuitive and dynamic, centered around the Runes of Power. As players progress through the story, they recover runes from powerful creatures and characters, each unlocking a new class of spells on the spell tree. Acker explains, “Spell classes contain several spells, each tied to different actions on the Touch controller, so a player can have four spells equipped and ready at once.” For example, players can freeze enemies with ice claws in one hand while summoning a thunderstorm with the other, creating a versatile and engaging combat experience. Spells are cast by physically drawing runes in the air, adding a layer of immersion to the VR gameplay.
Progression and Loot
Progression in DrakkenRidge is driven by earning Experience Points through defeating enemies, with tougher foes yielding greater rewards. Completing quests and finding hidden treasures also contribute to character growth, with some of the most powerful weapons and upgrades available through side quests. Acker notes, “As the player’s spell tree grows, so will their inventory of weapons, some of which are imbued with magical enchantments, bringing together the strength of the mage and the warrior.” This blend of melee and magical combat ensures that players have multiple ways to approach challenges.
The Retro Aesthetic of DrakkenRidge
A Nostalgic Visual Style
DrakkenRidge’s low-poly pixel art style is a hallmark of Garage Collective’s games, drawing inspiration from retro classics. Guichard explains, “Since Theta Legion on Oculus Go (and Stones of Harlath as well as in Shock Troops), the Garage Collective style has been anchored in that retro pixel art feel. It’s a style I’m very familiar with. I’m of the C64/Amstrad/Amiga generation.” This aesthetic allows for a light level of abstraction, enabling the team to focus on art direction while keeping development manageable for a small team.
Unlike their previous games, which used billboarded sprites, DrakkenRidge adopts fully animated 3D low-poly models to support its physics-based combat system. Guichard elaborates, “We needed our enemies to have arms and legs to attack, punch, and kick the player. So we went for the next closest thing: low-poly, which is also a style I’m quite comfortable with.” This shift allows for more dynamic interactions, such as parrying attacks or targeting enemy weak points, enhancing the game’s combat depth.
A Blend of Nostalgia and Innovation
The retro vibe of DrakkenRidge is a perfect blend of nostalgia and modern VR innovation. The low-poly models and pixel art textures evoke the charm of classic games, while the fully dynamic combat system and immersive VR mechanics bring the experience into the present. This aesthetic not only appeals to fans of retro gaming but also ensures that the game runs smoothly on Quest hardware, making it accessible to a wide audience.
Content and Playtime
DrakkenRidge offers a wealth of content, with five islands, nine dungeons, and a variety of weapons, spells, and enemies. Skull Island serves as the tutorial, while the remaining islands each feature approximately two dungeons, packed with puzzles, traps, and battles. Guichard estimates playtime at “anything between six to 10 hours — and a lot more for completionists.” Players who focus on the main quest can complete the game relatively quickly, while those who explore side quests and hunt for crafting materials will find plenty to keep them engaged.
Side quests add significant depth, with rewards like the “Birds of a Feather” eagle traversal or a pet dog named Pixie, inspired by one of Guichard’s late pets. These elements make DrakkenRidge a rewarding experience for players who take their time to soak in the world.
Tips for New Players
For those diving into DrakkenRidge for the first time, Guichard offers some advice: “Enjoy the world, take your time if that’s your thing, and just be aware that, in addition to the Eagles side quest mentioned by Simeon, there’s also a side quest that grants you a pet: a faithful dog named Pixie.” This companion adds a touch of charm to the adventure, following players and even fetching bones with enthusiasm. Acker recommends experimenting with the spell system to find combinations that suit your playstyle, while Zimmermann encourages players to listen closely to the game’s audio, particularly the serene shoreline sounds that enhance the atmosphere.
Why DrakkenRidge Stands Out
DrakkenRidge is a testament to the passion and creativity of Garage Collective’s small team. Despite the challenges of developing a game of this scope, the team has crafted a world that feels both nostalgic and innovative. The combination of retro aesthetics, dynamic VR combat, and expansive exploration makes DrakkenRidge a standout title for fans of fantasy RPGs. Whether you’re scaling cliffs, casting spells, or uncovering the secrets of the DrakkenRidge archipelago, this game offers an adventure that’s as thrilling as it is immersive.
If you’re ready to embark on a grand, world-sweeping journey, DrakkenRidge is available now on the Meta Horizon Store for Quest. Dive in, wield your magic, and discover the wonders of this retro-inspired fantasy world.