'Where is the Red Ball?' was one of those rare titles that truly caught the eye at the 2025 Busan Indie Connect Festival (BIC). It’s a point-and-click adventure tasked with finding a red ball for a charming protagonist, and its minimalist, sharp art style paired with a unique gameplay loop is nothing short of striking.

With the demo having launched on September 6th, I took the opportunity to revisit it away from the chaotic din of the BIC show floor, where the finer audio cues and subtle character animations had previously eluded me. I reached out to Studio Peppermill to peel back the layers of the game's development and uncover the significance of that elusive red ball.

'Where is the Red Ball?' is the brainchild of Peppermill, who handles planning and art, and Cargold, the programmer. While Cargold is a veteran indie developer who cut his teeth in planning, Peppermill only entered the scene two years ago. The duo met during a game jam and have since collaborated on projects like the mobile title 'Go! Kid'. Cargold recalls, "Peppermill approached me about a game idea years ago, but it felt a bit too grandiose at the time, so I had to pass."

Before diving into game design, Peppermill was a high school art teacher. Driven by a desire to create, he transitioned into the industry, only to find that working on commercial projects stifled his creative itch. He eventually left to pursue his own vision, teaming up with Cargold for mobile projects, though this marks his first venture onto Steam.

'Where is the Red Ball?' is the first title where Peppermill has taken full control of the design. "It was tougher than I imagined," he admits. "Juggling the planning side of things while simultaneously handling all the illustrations was a real baptism by fire."

Cargold notes, "I was brainstorming for a new BIC project when Peppermill brought me this idea. One look at the initial screen with the protagonist and that red ball, and I knew—it had that distinct, inimitable Peppermill charm. I was sold instantly."

'Where is the Red Ball?' features a protagonist who is an adorable cat with, quite frankly, remarkably plump lips. The goal is simple: find the red ball hidden somewhere in the stage to soothe the cat’s loneliness. While the ball is obvious early on, the puzzles evolve as you progress. And be warned: the cat is a perfectionist. If the ball is dented, the wrong shade, or striped, he will pout and express his clear dissatisfaction.

In the demo's second stage, you’re presented with three boxes—a simple shell game. Later, you encounter a painter cat and a sculptor cat; you’ll need to manipulate the environment to procure the ball. Peppermill explains, "Each stage draws inspiration from the Flash games of my youth, though some were just spur-of-the-moment improvisations."

Unlike typical puzzlers that rely on an escalating difficulty curve through complex mechanics, this game treats each stage as a self-contained, realistic interaction. "Whether it's dunking a ball in a bathtub or digging something out of the dirt, the puzzles feel grounded," says Cargold. "It’s resource-intensive, which puts a lot of pressure on Peppermill’s graphic work."

The cat's design is the hallmark of Peppermill’s aesthetic. He wanted something simple, cute, and just a bit silly. "I figured if I gave him these thick, ridiculous lips, people would remember him," Peppermill laughs. "It’s that unique, slightly weird charm that defines the character."

For Peppermill, 'Where is the Red Ball?' was born out of a need for healing. "I was going through a rough patch, and focusing on complex, high-stress puzzles just wasn't happening," he explains. He turned to low-pressure, comforting puzzle games on Steam, which changed his entire outlook on development.

Games like 'A Little To The Left' and 'Assemble With Care' provided the blueprint. "I realised games could be a form of therapy—providing that genre satisfaction without the stress," he says. "I wanted to make something that anyone, regardless of skill, could enjoy."

This ethos permeates the design. The satisfaction doesn't come from hoarding the ball, but from gifting it to the cat. "There's a special joy in seeing someone enjoy a meal you've cooked," Peppermill notes. "Watching the cat’s reaction when he finally receives the ball is intended to evoke that same feeling of pure, simple happiness."

The developers went to great lengths to build this rapport. Cargold adds, "You can just hand the ball over, but we made sure the cat has cute, unique reactions if you decide to toss it or poke him around. It’s all about those tiny, humorous details."

The sound design is equally meticulous. The 15 stages in the demo alone feature over 70 distinct sound effects, categorized by material—ceramic, plastic, metal—to create an almost ASMR-like sense of immersion.

The feedback at BIC confirmed they were onto something. "It resonated with everyone—men, women, and families alike," Peppermill says. "One elementary school teacher even mentioned that the gentle difficulty and the character's responsiveness could be quite beneficial for children with autism. It was humbling, and we're looking into platform expansions beyond Steam based on such feedback."

If you pay attention during the demo, the cat will occasionally drop poignant lines like, "I feel like I've forgotten something important," or "Should I try to remember?" While the game feels light on narrative, there’s more than meets the eye.

By collecting star-shaped 'Memory Fragments' in certain stages, you can unlock secret levels that explore why the cat feels so lonely and what the red ball truly represents. "The story is locked behind these secret stages," Peppermill confirms. "I want the full release to be a deeply heart-warming experience."

Currently, the team is juggling other commitments, with plans to finalize their mobile project before fully pivoting to 'Where is the Red Ball?' for a 2027 release. Peppermill is aiming high, with a target of 100 distinct stages.

Peppermill hopes the game will help players find joy in the act of giving. Meanwhile, Cargold continues to run 'Cargold's Living Room,' a private community for indie devs. "There are so many solo developers suffering in silence," Cargold notes. "We just want a space where we can share the burden and find some strength in numbers."