Mito Games' Tupi: The Legend of Arariboia introduces players to the rich, multi-layered story of the titular Arariboia as he journeys to save his people and rebuild his once-mighty village. Tupi, which won the Abragames Pitch Contest at Gamescom LATAM 2025, incorporates figures from Brazilian folklore as both NPCs and spirits that players can recruit and befriend. In addition, several spirits are based on real-life plants and animals that call Brazil their home.
The Best War Games spoke to Tupi: The Legend of Arariboia game director Leon Zigoni and lead programmer Rafael Calmon about the game's inspirations, both fictional and factual. It all starts with Arariboia, the game's protagonist. A legendary chief and "brilliant warrior and strategist," Arariboia "played a key role in the war to reclaim the region that would later become Rio de Janeiro," Zigoni explained. This legend is the perfect figure to lead a story that introduces players to the many wonders of Brazil.
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Tupi's Spirits Pay Homage To Brazil's Legends And Indigenous Culture
One of Tupi's primary game mechanics is a Shin Megami Tensei- inspired monster recruitment system. Arariboia can befriend many different spirits, utilize them in battle, and even fuse them to create new allies with unique powers. Zigoni discussed how the team chose and designed some of the mythology-inspired spirits featured in the game:
"We aimed to represent the full spectrum of the cultural mosaic that shapes Brazilian identity. So, alongside legendary Indigenous figures like the Caipora, we introduced spirits inspired by Afro-Brazilian traditions, such as the Sigidi, as well as folkloric beings from the Northeastern region, like the Boi-Bumbá and Mandacaru...[and] elements that evolved from European legends, which over time became part of Brazilian folklore, such as the Lobisomem (Werewolf) and Cotaluna, a kind of river siren."
Brazil's Flora And Fauna Also Inspired Spirits And Bosses
In addition to the rich tapestry of indigenous myth and legend, Brazil is also known for its "rich biodiversity" and "native flora and fauna," said Zigoni. Animals represented in the game as spirits include the "capybara, maned wolf, guarana, and many others." Similar to how the Shin Megami Tensei and Persona games gave realistic, grounded designs to mythological figures from around the world, Mito Games combined fact and fiction when designing Tupi's spirits:
"We see this storytelling as a beautiful and vital way to foster respect for and preservation of our biodiversity. Take the golden-handed tamarin... According to legend, this curious little primate once tried to touch the sun, nearly shattering it and plunging the world into darkness. As a reminder of this mischievous act, Guaraci, the Sun god, marked its hands with golden hues so it would never forget."
The design team at Mito Games took real-world facts about the flora and fauna utilized in the game and used them to craft creative, memorable designs for the characters Arariboia can recruit, fuse, or form Social Links with. For example, Ipê is based on a tree of the same name - also known as the trumpet tree - that flowers in the winter. In Tupi, the character Ipê is bursting with beautiful blooms, but is also portrayed with a perpetual cold and constantly sipping a hot cup of tea to combat the low temperatures.
From the adorable capybara spirit whom Arariboia encounters early in the game to the elemental Guardians whose aid he seeks - Py'a Ybytyra the Heart of the Mountain, Îaratatá the Flamebearer, and Îy Pyasab, the River Weaver - every element of Tupi: The Legend of Arariboia is drawn from Brazil's history, mythology, flora, fauna, and more. The game is a lovingly designed tribute that will introduce its players to Brazil's lore in a unique way.
Tupi: The Legend of Arariboia is currently in development with a free demo on Steam.