Developer Chris Hunt worked on his game, Kenshi, for 12 years. Initially alone, he was able to build a small team later on. Today, the survival RPG is a hit on Steam. We at MeinMMO tell you how it came to be.
What kind of game is it? Kenshi is a harsh sandbox RPG that does without a linear narrative. Instead of taking on the role of a hero, you fight for survival as a simple “nobody.” Whether you act as a thief, farmer, adventurer, or end up as cannibal food depends on the player.
The RPG was in development for a full 12 years and was predominantly created by a single man. Today, it boasts a 95% recommendation rate on Steam and is considered one of the highest-rated open-world games.
The Beginning of a 12-Year Journey
How did it start? When Chris Hunt began working on Kenshi, he worked part-time as a security guard to make ends meet. He had no specific inspiration, only his own experiences as a gamer. He also did not have formal training in game design; he taught himself everything.
He studied music technology. He taught himself game development: “A book here, a tutorial there.” The first 6 years consisted mainly of learning, practicing, and failing, he revealed to Leviathyn.
In an interview with GameSkinny, he stated in 2017 that aside from the technical requirements, it was no different than someone wanting to write a book or make a movie: “You just need the motivation to work on it every day without getting bored. If you enjoy what you do, you won’t have a problem.”
The necessary drive for working on Kenshi came from it being “the game of his dreams.” He revealed to Siliconera that developing it was more fun for him than playing it himself. Kenshi was meant to be the “ultimate game” that would encompass all of Hunt’s preferences.
For 5 to 6 years, he worked completely alone on Kenshi – a massive undertaking considering the game’s size. He created the first version of the RPG entirely by himself. However, it was significantly rougher and less polished.
From Solo Dev with a Side Job to His Own Team
How was the development? After investing several years into his project, Hunt was able to secure funding for Kenshi. In 2013, the RPG finally entered early access. The developer initially distributed the game through his own website before it landed on Steam via the now-defunct “Greenlight” program.
Thanks to the revenue from early access sales, Hunt was eventually able to quit his side job and work full-time on Kenshi. He could also afford to hire help. He is now the lead designer of his studio Lo-Fi Games.
What challenges were there? Although funding was secured due to the success of early access, Hunt and his team still faced the challenge of actually finishing the game.
Money was not a motivation, the developer stated. He was able to take his time, financing Kenshi with the revenue from Steam sales. However, there was some pressure because the RPG was already accessible to players.
This meant he had to adhere to a timeline and be somewhat restrained when adding features.
Robots, Sexism, and Prosthetics
What aspects of the game were particularly tricky? The sheer scale of Kenshi presented challenges. In a conversation with Game Analytics, he mentioned that the world is larger than that of Witcher 3, which is a benchmark for many people when it comes to vast game worlds.
A world that large must be filled to avoid appearing lifeless and barren. However, as a small team, Lo-Fi Games had only a limited amount of assets available. Hunt had to distribute creatures and models thoughtfully. To this end, he divided the world into different regions and cultures.
This also affects gameplay: Entering a region with a robot or an all-female group could lead to hostility or even attacks depending on the prevailing local culture.
Hunt’s love for detail is also evident in other areas. For instance, there is a sophisticated medical system: Those who lose a body part in combat can have it replaced with a prosthetic. This encourages players to learn from their mistakes.
The dialogue system also required a lot of work as it responds dynamically to specific conditions, such as the gender of the counterpart, the health status of the player character, or the presence of enemies.
To accomplish all this, Hunt utilized generative programs that can create random characters, for example. Nevertheless, he had to forego some features. Animals mating or defecating in the wild unfortunately did not make it into the game (via Reddit).
From Music Technician to Security Guard to Steam Hit
What was the result of the long development time? On December 6, 2018, Kenshi finally celebrated its official release. By this time, it was already considered a bestseller but really took off at launch. On December 19, 2018, it even topped the bestseller charts on Steam (via Reddit). By 2020, it had sold more than a million copies (via PC Gamer).
How is Kenshi received? According to Hunt, opinions about Kenshi vary widely. People who can appreciate its quirky concept would invest hundreds of hours into it. Others find it hard to get into.
For in Kenshi, you start weak: If you run headlong into a horde of bandits right at the beginning, you won’t encounter weak cannon fodder. You will get thoroughly beaten up first. This matches Hunt’s own taste; he does not like games that “hold your hand.”
At the same time, there is a parallel to the game’s creation: Hunt also started with little, gradually acquired knowledge, and ultimately created something truly special.
What’s next for Hunt? Lo-Fi Games is working on a prequel to Kenshi that is supposed to take place 1,000 years before the events of the first game. However, the studio is quite reserved about updates regarding the development progress.
Fans anticipate a release sometime in 2025 at the earliest – likely only in early access. Hunt is indeed someone who prefers to take his time with his games to deliver a finished and satisfying product. An art that many AAA studios nowadays seem to have forgotten.
If the development of the first part is any benchmark, we might have to wait some time before we can dive back into the world of Kenshi.
Chris Hunt is not the only solo dev who has attempted an ambitious open world:
Solo developer hits big with new RPG – Receives 90% positive reviews on Steam
