TURNING TIDES INTO SYSTEMS: LIFE BELOW EXPLAINS ITS SCIENCE-INSPIRED GAME DESIGN IN NEW DEV VIDEO
Leicester UK - 23nd January 2026
Megapop, the studio behind the upcoming underwater city builder Life Below, has released a new developer video digging into one of its core questions: how do you turn real marine science into something that's actually fun to play?
The video offers a behind-the-scenes look at how the team translated real-world marine biology into the core foundation of the game, how its difficulty responds to different playstyles, and why realism alone was never the goal.
Set in a fragile underwater ecosystem, Life Below challenges players to design and manage thriving sub-aquatic settlements while balancing growth, resource management, and the health of the surrounding reef.
"We brought in marine biologists who helped us out with some workshops where we got to ask a lot of stupid questions," explains Lise Hagen Lie, Game Director with Megapop.
Those lessons shaped Life Below's core systems, from reef construction to water parameters. But Megapop admit that in-game behaviour isn't all true to science and that there needed to be a balance for entertainment sake. Hagen Lie explains, "For example, PH doesn't work in reality, the way that we have it in our game. We had to gamify it a little bit".
The development team goes on to discuss how fish were simulated, how they interact with each other and also how Life Below challenges different types of players.
"We designed the game in a way that can be played in different ways depending on your playstyle. If you're a player that likes to take their time and sit back and relax, the experience in turn will be a little easier. But if you're a player looking for more of a challenge, then you'd be developing your reef quicker and running into various difficulties and challenges much faster," said Thor Palsson, Senior Game Designer.
Life Below is currently in development for PC. Players can watch the full developer video now and follow the project for future updates as development continues.
Life Below is coming next year for Windows PC and is available to wishlist now on Steam.
GAME INFORMATION:
Title: Life Below
Platform(s): Windows PC
Price: TBA
Genre: City Builder (Reef Builder)
Release: 2026
Publisher: Kasedo Games (@KasedoGames)
Developer: Megapop (@MegapopGames)
ABOUT KASEDO GAMES
Kasedo Games work closely together with enthusiastic & talented indie developers from around the world to publish 'Triple I' titles that players will love.
Through our vast knowledge of producing, PR, marketing and distribution, we always strive for quality games made by quality indie teams and we understand that every game and every studio has different requirements. The support, creative freedom and platform we provide means we can make great games happen without forgetting their roots.
Titles under the Kasedo label include: 'IXION, 'Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus I & II', 'City of Gangsters', 'Filament', 'Rise of Industry 1 & 2', 'Project Highrise' and 'Crowntakers'. www.kasedogames.com
ABOUT MEGAPOP
Megapop is an independent game studio based in Oslo, Norway, and a proud member of Oslo Game Hub. We create premium strategy games for PC and console, built on originality, depth, and the science of fun. With a legacy of globally featured and top-ranking games, we bring a deep current of experience into every new project. We're currently developing Life Below, a genre-bending city-builder where you shape the fate of a coral reef from nature's point of view—a true reef builder.
