Sol Mates is a callback to when friends crowded around the same screen. Daruma Games co-founder Loren Wang explains how the project began, why its humor comes from players, and what keeps him pushing for couch co-op in an online-first era.
From FTL to Couch Chaos
For Wang, Sol Mates started with a simple thought experiment: what if FTL were multiplayer?
“Harken back to the good old days of the 2010s,” he said. “My knowledge of indie games was through these one or two-person teams making amazing games, like Touhou, Cave Story, FTL. FTL in particular left me with a question: what if it was multiplayer?”
That idea stuck with him for years. “I pitched this game to Simon [my co-founder] about eight years ago with that FTL x Overcooked concept, but it took a pandemic for us to actually start working on it.”
When lockdown hit, Wang realized how much he missed playing games in person. “I came out of my quarantine cave thinking: ‘Where are all my couch co-op games at?’ I want to help people remember what it’s like to hang out together again.”
Naming with a Pun
Wang admits he has a “names-first approach” to indie projects. “Besides the marketing aspects, it helps you keep focus on what kind of game you’re making. You can, and should, ask yourself: Does the gameplay live up to the name?”
After rejecting options like Faster Than Overcooked and Spaced Out, he found inspiration scrolling through NASA’s website. “The name conjured itself into existence. It just works on so many levels, it’s a pun on soul mates, the ‘Sol’ tells you it’s space-themed, the ‘mates’ tells you it’s a co-op game.”
Letting Players Drive the Comedy
Wang said playtesting has reshaped how Sol Mates delivers humor. “Turns out, people are better at making their friends laugh than I am. Sometimes, the best thing is to provide the tools for people to create comedy themselves, rather than tell jokes at the audience.”
That approach led to unexpected features like leaving a friend behind at a space station. “Does it have any gameplay benefit? No. But it’s the kind of prank people love to pull on their friends, and so it’s in the game.”
Why Conventions Still Matter
Daruma Games has taken Sol Mates to numerous shows, and Wang says seeing players in person is irreplaceable. “There’s just something about watching someone having fun in front of you that’s different from seeing it online.”
He recalls families playing together: “Watching a kid teach their parents what to do, or dads intentionally jumping into a hull breach to make their kid laugh, reminds me who I’m making the game for.”
But he’s realistic about the costs. “If your only goal is to get wishlists, there are more cost-effective ways. It’s tiring AF. But getting to visit new places and remind myself why I’m doing this—it’s unforgettable.”
Keeping Couch Co-op Alive
While Sol Mates shares DNA with Overcooked, Wang believes its focus on shared-space play sets it apart. “I love the indie co-op boom right now, but they’re almost all online-only, first-person games with proximity chat. I love those too, but we gotta keep our local co-op traditions alive.”
Even online, the shared camera view keeps everyone involved. “You always see where people need help, and you don’t miss out on shenanigans because you weren’t there.”
He also highlights how teamwork evolves naturally. “As you get more skilled, there’s a catharsis in turning into a crack team of astronauts. You’re living in a group flow-state and don’t even have to speak to anticipate one another.”
“It’s You Who Shapes the Game”
Wang closes with a reminder that indie development thrives on community. “Being indie comes with a dizzying amount of freedom. At any moment, I can just say, I wanna do this, and start doing it! So how do I know what to do? It’s you!”
He invites players to keep sharing feedback: “Come try the game out, tell me what you like and don’t like, that’s how we make a game that’s perfect for you.”
