Dosa Divas: Fight Capitalism With a Spicy Food Adventure
▼ Summary
– Outerloop Games, a studio led by brown and Black developers, took extra precautions at Summer Game Fest to stay together in case of an ICE raid.
– The studio showcased Dosa Divas, a narrative turn-based RPG centered on food and culture, set for release in early 2026.
– Outerloop’s games use food to connect people to different cultures, with Dosa Divas featuring combat based on flavor profiles like sweet or spicy.
– The game’s story focuses on reconciliation through food, with players collecting ingredients and cooking to repair communities.
– Critics praised Dosa Divas for its humor, vibrant art style, and unique flavor-themed battles, standing out among darker-themed games at the event.
Exploring culture through food and fantasy, Dosa Divas offers a vibrant escape from grim realities while tackling serious themes. The upcoming turn-based RPG from Outerloop Games blends South Asian flavors with rebellious storytelling, following three sisters battling corporate greed, and each other, through the power of cooking. Set for release in 2026, the game turns meals into weapons and family tensions into gripping gameplay.
Developed by a team with deep immigrant experiences, Dosa Divas reflects real-world struggles beneath its colorful surface. During Summer Game Fest, the studio stayed alert amid nearby ICE protests, a reminder of how politics shape creative work. “Food is often the first bridge between cultures,” says game director Chandana Ekanayake. “People might hesitate to embrace unfamiliar traditions, but they’ll always try a new dish.”
The game’s combat system revolves around “flavor profiles,” requiring players to exploit enemies’ cravings, spicy, sweet, or sour, to land critical hits. Players control Samara and Amani, estranged from their sister Lina after she transforms their family’s recipes into mass-produced fast food. As processed meals replace home cooking, the sisters fight to revive their culinary heritage, using everything from traditional dosas to a towering mech that crushes corporate lawyers.
Beyond battles, Dosa Divas emphasizes community. Gathering ingredients and cooking for villagers rebuilds fractured relationships, mirroring the studio’s focus on connection. Outerloop’s previous title, Thirsty Suitors, similarly blended family drama with absurd humor, and early previews suggest this sequel doubles down on both. Critics at Summer Game Fest praised its “inviting” art style and “witty writing,” standing out among darker, dystopian titles.
While playful, the game doesn’t shy from weightier themes. The fast-food empire symbolizes cultural erasure, and the sisters’ reconciliation arc mirrors real immigrant-family rifts. By wrapping these ideas in bold visuals and quirky combat, Outerloop makes activism as engaging as it is flavorful. Whether battling bureaucrats or bonding over biryani, Dosa Divas proves resistance can be served on a banana leaf, with extra spice.
(Source: Wired)
