It isn’t often that a video game jury admits to weeping during a session. Yet, that is exactly what happened during the Taipei Game Show 2026 Indie Game Award (IGA).
‘and Roger,’ a solo-developed project from Japan’s TearyHand Studio, has claimed the Grand Prix and Best Audio awards, marking a historic return to form for Japanese indies on the Asian stage. Out of 515 entries from 51 countries, this quiet, one-hour visual novel about dementia was selected as the absolute pinnacle of this year’s creative output.
When Gameplay Becomes the Narrative
‘and Roger’ is a “point-and-click” interactive visual novel that places players in the shoes of Sophia, an elderly woman struggling with dementia. While the premise may sound simple, the mechanical execution is hauntingly brilliant.
- The Confusion Mechanic: The game utilizes “unmarked buttons” for daily tasks. Simple chores like brushing teeth or taking medicine become frustrating puzzles where the player must struggle to remember which button performs which action.
- Tactile Empathy: This intentional “clumsy” control scheme isn’t a flaw; it is a direct portal into the frustration and disorientation of a dementia patient.
- The Emotional Twist: The story follows Sophia as she encounters a “stranger” in her home who insists she take her medicine. It is only through fragmented memories of a bakery and a young man named Roger that the player realizes the tragic truth: the “stranger” is her husband, whom she no longer recognizes.
The experience concludes with a poignant reference to 1 Corinthians 13:13: “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
Yona: The Visionary Behind the Tears
TearyHand Studio is the solo endeavor of a developer known as Yona. Following the 2023 puzzle-platformer In His Time, and Roger represents a deeper dive into “faith-based storytelling” through universal human experiences.
“I wanted the gameplay to speak for itself. When gameplay replaces words or begins ‘speaking’ on its own, that’s when you have the core of a game’s narrative.” — Yona, in an interview with Remap
Yona credits the 2018 hit Florence as a primary inspiration, aiming to capture that same sense of “tactile intimacy” through hand-drawn, minimalist artwork created in Adobe Illustrator.
A Global Trail of Accolades
The Taipei Game Show win is just the latest in a series of international recognitions for the title:
| Award | Event / Organization |
| Grand Prix & Best Audio | Taipei Game Show 2026 |
| Audience Award Grand Prix | Tokyo Game Show 2025 (SENSE OF WONDER NIGHT) |
| Emotional Impact Award | Six One Indie Awards 2025 |
| Game Beyond Entertainment (Longlist) | BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) |
| Best Simulation Game | ChinaJoy Indie Game Award 2025 |
The “Signature Dish” Strategy: Expert Analysis
Professor Jung Mu-sik of Gachon University’s Game & Media Department heralded ‘and Roger’ as the “definitive model” for solo indie developers.
“A solo developer must avoid the ‘full-course dining’ trap. When resources are limited, you shouldn’t try to offer a dozen different menus like a snack bar. Instead, you need a ‘Signature Dish’—like a single bowl of spicy(buldak ramen) noodel or a hot sweet potato in winter—that provides a clear, unmistakable flavor for the user.”
Professor Jung emphasized that for solo indies to survive against “majors,” they must double down on narrative depth and emotional immersion—areas where a single creator’s vision can often outshine a corporate committee.
How to Experience It
‘and Roger’ is currently available on Steam and Nintendo Switch. It supports a wide array of languages, including English, Korean, Japanese, French, and Spanish, allowing Sophia’s journey to resonate with a global audience.
Steam Store Page: and Roger on Steam
