Ever since Vampire Survivors took Steam by storm in late 2021, we've seen a deluge of titles trying to recapture that lightning in a bottle. While many were quickly relegated to the digital bargain bin, a few gems like 'Megabong', 'Brotato', and 'Rogue: Genesia' managed to keep players hooked. Despite sharing a genre, each brought a distinct flavour to the table.

Now, a new contender in this bullet-heaven space is emerging from South Korea. Meet 'Peng Pong', a project from Sandfloor—the studio behind the November 2024 action battle royale 'Great Toy Showdown'. Having made waves at various offline events with its recent demo, I sat down with Sandfloor CEO Lee Jong-chang to peel back the curtain on its development.

Founded in 2023, indie developer Sandfloor is currently running lean with a team of about 10 people. CEO Lee Jong-chang notes, "As a small studio, being selective and focused is paramount. Being small has its drawbacks, but it also brings unique advantages."

The name 'Sandfloor' stems from a sense of nostalgia. "It's linked to the joy of playing in a sandbox as a child," says Lee. "We wanted to craft a studio identity that acts as a vast sandbox where both creators and players can come together and play."

But let's be honest, managing a project with only ten people is no walk in the park. Peng Pong was conceived as a way for the studio to bounce back after the underwhelming performance of 'Great Toy Showdown'. "We needed to redefine our development scope with our new team members," Lee explains. "Someone suggested we hold an internal game jam, and we decided to run with it."

Lee used the game jam to lift team spirits and gauge the creative potential of his staff. Out of this process, 'Peng Pong'—originally titled 'Pinball Survival'—was born.

Peng Pong features a penguin who looks adorable but is entirely committed to violently saving the world. The aesthetic leans into a 1980s vintage cartoon style—think Cuphead vibes—with sound design that matches that cheeky, exaggerated humour. "The early prototype was basically 'Antarctic Adventure', but we wanted to twist it to avoid the obvious," Lee says. "We wanted to prove that Korean developers can deliver this kind of distinct visual style."

The combat is refreshingly tactile: you use a hockey stick to launch a puck at enemies. While early-game foes are pushovers, they quickly scale in health and complexity. Mastering the rhythm of dodging, positioning, and swinging your stick feels incredibly satisfying.

Pucks come in various flavours, from standard ones to spinning revolvers ('Recoil Johnson') or daggers, each with unique physics regarding wall bounces and damage. As you defeat enemies, you collect XP orbs and currency (chips). Levelling up lets you roll for random buffs like attack power or move speed. Then, at specific levels, you unlock 'Transcendence'—massive upgrades that fundamentally change how your puck behaves. For instance, the revolver puck can be upgraded to fire ammunition automatically.

The enemies in the demo are space-themed, fitting the narrative of a penguin cleaning up aliens. These space-menaces are designed as satellites, asteroids, and black holes. "It’s an intuitive way to tell a simple story," says Lee. "We took familiar space objects and turned them into enemies with attack patterns like spitting space rocks or charging at you."

Peng Pong elevates the action-roguelike formula by placing a heavy emphasis on manual skill. "We focus more on active control than the typical auto-attacking genre entries," Lee notes. "You have to aim and fire, forcing players to choose between dodging and attacking in the heat of the moment."

A key mechanic here is the 'Puck Pull'. Since your puck bounces off walls and enemies, chasing it down can feel tedious. A right-click command pulls the puck back to your cursor. "Initially, we didn't have this feature, and players complained it felt boring or too difficult," Lee admits. "Adding the pull mechanic was the turning point for the project; it solved the issue of losing momentum."

Beyond the mechanics, Peng Pong leans into the 'luck' factor that roguelikes thrive on. While upgrades are randomized, the real twist is the 'Gambling Room'.

Here, you can wager chips on a slot machine. You can bet up to 777 chips; hit the jackpot, and you're rolling in wealth, but lose, and you're left with nothing. Lee argues, "Luck is a crucial element. Sometimes, letting a player win through a stroke of fortune is a valid form of game design."

The casino aesthetic is woven into the level design, too. The floors look like card tables, and stage bumpers act like pinball flippers. "We started with ice, but the casino theme just clicked," Lee explains. "It makes the slot machine mechanic feel entirely at home."

Since development began in February, the team has been iterating based on feedback from events like PlayX4, G-STAR, and B-Rockers. "We never bring the same build twice," says Lee. "We analyze where players die or drop off and refine the balance accordingly."

A full version of the demo is slated for the February Steam Next Fest. It will introduce new, dense maps like an amusement park and a bar, along with new characters like a sea lion, and weapons like the 'Ear-pod'—which splits on impact.

The official launch is targeted for Q3. "We're aiming for Q3 and we don't intend to delay it further," Lee says with determination. "We’re finalizing the new backgrounds, weapons, and characters to ensure the demo we show in February is rock solid."

Lee concludes, "Sandfloor will keep delivering games that fit our brand identity. We want to be the studio that Steam players recognize as a 'must-play' label. We’ll be at more global exhibitions, so come say hello!"