Bayaya blends fairytale magic and sandbox charm in debut from ex-ARMA developer

by MaddOx
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After a decade of development, Bayaya has finally been unveiled, a whimsical sandbox adventure rooted in Czech folklore, crafted by Ondrej Spanel, the former lead programmer of ARMA, ARMA 2, and Operation Flashpoint. This deeply personal project is being brought to life by Orbis Fabula, a new studio aiming to deliver a game that resonates with both children and adults.

Based on a classic Czech fairytale, Bayaya follows the journey of a young prince who abandons court life and political games in favour of a simpler existence. Choosing to speak only the word “Bayaya,” he embarks on a quiet, anonymous adventure. But when a distant kingdom falls under threat, the opportunity to become a true hero presents itself.

Bayaya - Standing outside house

Unlike the high-octane action of Ondrej Spanel’s previous work, this game unfolds at a gentler pace. With sim-like mechanics, players can take part in daily tasks—working, exploring, and experiencing life in a stylised medieval world. Sword combat is still on the table, however, with gameplay influenced by the German school of fencing for added authenticity.

Visually, Bayaya sets itself apart with an art style that evokes painted wooden toys and early-era 3D graphics. Every in-game model is created using proprietary tools developed by the team, and those tools will be made available to players. Combined with the game’s simple engine and mod-friendly approach, Bayaya is designed to be endlessly expandable by a creative community.

Bayaya also promises strong replayability thanks to procedurally generated worlds and a story mode filled with kindness, adventure, and discovery. “Working on Bayaya makes me quite happy, and I hope those who will play it will feel the same way,” said Ondrej Spanel. “It’s something that I wanted to make and have spent years on developing and iterating.”

The game will launch in Early Access with sandbox mode, much of the story content, and the development tools ready to go. A release date will be announced in the near future.

Bayaya - Map

Bayaya woodcutting gameplay


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