RexLabo, a small indie game studio based in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward, has grown into a prominent developer in the Japanese indie game scene since its founding in 2022. The small team was united by a shared passion for creating compelling, story-driven games, and the result is “Nova Antarctica,” which is slated for release on January 28, 2026.
Beneficiary of Japan’s first indie incubator program
Rexlabo’s breakthrough dates back to 2021, when it was selected as one of five teams for the first batch of “iGi (Indie Game Incubator),” the first indie game incubator program launched by Marvelous in Japan. This program, run in collaboration with Marvelous and GameBCN in Barcelona, Spain, is designed to support the growth of Japanese indie game developers.
During the six-month program, which ran from June to November 2021, RexLabo received over 400 hours of mentoring and training from domestic and international mentors. Successful Japanese indie developers, including Edelweiss, the developer of “Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin,” served as mentors. RexLabo received support across a wide range of areas, including not only game development but also public relations, media strategy, multilingual support, legal and contract coordination, and investor pitching.
The project was called “Antarctic Base” at the time. It was a survival exploration action game set in Antarctica hundreds of years in the future. The protagonist, a young child, had to craft items and achieve objectives within a given time limit on each map. The game consisted of 12 maps, with the ultimate goal being to reach the South Pole.
On November 26, 2021, Rexlabo presented its latest build, which had been refined over six months, at iGi’s online demo day. This event, where the five selected teams pitched in English to investors and publishers, marked a career turning point for Rexlabo.
First partnership with Marvelous Europe
The success of the iGi program was immediate. In August 2022, to mark Marvelous Europe’s 10th anniversary, Rexlabo signed a publishing agreement with the company. The game’s name was changed from “Antarctic Base” to “Nova Antarctica,” and a global release was scheduled for 2023.
Marc Melton, Marketing Director at Marvelous Europe, described the deal as reflecting a decade of work establishing a unique publishing identity and work culture. Senior Producer Sarah Burns noted how incredible it is to see small teams and solo developers create amazing titles, and expressed her excitement to help Rexlabo realize their vision.
A new beginning with the traditional powerhouse PARCO GAMES.
Since its official founding in 2022, Rexlabo has been dedicated to game development. However, the release date was delayed from the original plan. In September 2025, the developer reached a turning point: it signed a publishing contract with Parco Games, a newly launched game subsidiary of Japanese cultural giant Parco.
Founded in 1969, Parco has long been at the heart of Japanese culture and creative industries. Combining fashion, art, and retail through its iconic Tokyo shopping malls, Parco also operates Tokyo stores for gaming companies such as Nintendo, Sega, and Capcom. Parco Games aims to extend this cultural heritage into the gaming industry, supporting titles that combine artistry, culture, and innovation.
“NOVA Atlantica is a game that combines impressive artistry with a touching story of survival and hope, and it reflects our values,” said Yuichi Nishizawa, General Manager of Parco Games, expressing their support. On September 26, 2025, Rexlabo showcased an updated demo of “NOVA Atlantica” at the Parco Games booth at Tokyo Game Show 2025, and simultaneously released the demo on Steam.
Hybrid Development Philosophy: Combining Unity and Automation
Rexlabo’s development philosophy is clear: as an independent studio creating story-driven games, we adopt a hybrid approach combining Unity and automation to quickly deliver high-quality experiences even with a small team.
They may be a small team, but their ambitions are grand. Under the motto “From Tokyo to the world,” RexLabo aims to create story-driven games that resonate emotionally with gamers. Nova Atlantica is the first product embodying this philosophy.
Rexlabo’s journey doesn’t end here. At INDIE Live Expo 2025 on November 29, 2025, Parco Games and Rexlabo unveiled a teaser trailer for an unannounced game slated for release in 2026. The fact that they’re working on their next project even before Nova Atlantica’s release demonstrates the ever-evolving ambition and creativity of this small studio.
New possibilities for the Japanese indie scene
Rexlabo’s success story holds significant implications for the Japanese indie game scene. As Marvelous’s iGi program demonstrates, with systematic support and mentoring, even small teams can create games that can compete in the global market. Furthermore, with traditional cultural companies like Parco entering the game publishing market, more opportunities are opening up for Japanese indie developers.
RexLabo is set to release Nova Atlantica on January 28, 2026. It remains to be seen how this survival adventure set in the frozen wastes of Antarctica will fare, but one thing is certain: this team, which started out in a small office in Tokyo, is taking significant steps toward becoming a key success story that exemplifies the future of Japanese indie games.
| division | Key Contents |
| Studio name | RexLabo LLC |
| Representative and Developer | Masamichi Hayashi (m.Hayashi) – Director and Creator |
| Date of establishment | March 29, 2022 |
| Key milestones | • June 2020: Project unveiled at INDIE Live Expo • June 2021: Selected for the first batch of Japan’s iGi (Indie Game Incubator) • March 2022: Official incorporation • August 2022: Steam store page opens • August 2025: Publisher changed (PARCO GAMES) |
| Representative works | Nova Antarctica (scheduled for release on January 29, 2026) |
| Official website | rexlabo.com |
| Steam Store Page | Nova Antarctica Steam Page |
| Official Trailer | YouTube gameplay trailer |
| SNS channels | X (Twitter) / Instagram |
