Lucas Pope, the mind behind acclaimed games like Papers, Please and Return of the Obra Dinn, was honored with the Pioneer Award at this year’s Game Developers Choice Awards. This award places him among gaming luminaries like Gabe Newell, Yu Suzuki, and Roberta Williams.
During his brief acceptance speech, Pope humorously requested “world peace, obviously,” before urging fellow developers to continue creating unique and personal games that push boundaries in creativity and experimentation—characteristics he deeply values.
In a conversation earlier, Pope emphasized the importance of personal projects for budding developers. He advised, “Create something personal, keep it small, and release it on platforms like Itch.io. Connect with communities that share your passions and focus on the things you enjoy.”
Reflecting on his process, Pope expressed that his game-making philosophy revolves around crafting experiences he personally desires, like with Papers, Please, a game centered around border inspection in a fictional setting. Initially unsure of its appeal, he found many players shared his interest in such unique gameplay.
Encouraged by this success, Pope continued with the same mindset for subsequent projects, hopeful that others would share his enthusiasm. His next creation, Return of the Obra Dinn, allowed players to unravel mysteries as an insurance investigator on an enigmatic ship. His most recent work, Mars After Midnight, designed for the Playdate console, involves screening aliens on Mars with narratives playful enough to engage a younger audience.
Pope wanted to create a game that his children could enjoy, considering his earlier games’ mature rating. He revealed that his kids played Mars extensively, contributing ideas that, despite some quirky suggestions, inspired innovative elements in the game. This experience highlighted for him the value of a child’s uninhibited perspective on gaming.
Looking to the future, Pope expressed an interest in returning to roots with 2D game design, noting it’s a rewarding approach both creatively and in terms of production. While he’s currently exploring new concepts, nothing is ready to be announced yet.
