Stop motion adventure Out of Words was one of the standout announcements during this year’s Summer Game Fest. Unlike traditional games crafted from code, Out of Words is uniquely made from clay, fabric, and glue. It’s genuinely a hand-crafted love story that even caught the attention of Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima, who expressed, “This is the biggest compliment we can imagine,” according to game director Johan Oettinger.

Oettinger has aspired to create stop-motion video games since he was 12, when he experienced the ’90s point-and-click claymation gem, The Neverhood. After years immersed in film, commercials, and installation art, Out of Words emerged as a project that flawlessly merged these two lifelong passions.

The process of giving life to clay is as exceptional as the game itself. With a robust team of 40 in Aarhus, Denmark, they have developed a custom scanner and photogrammetry pipeline to capture these artisanal assets. The Unreal Engine is fused with stop-motion cutscenes where animators maneuver puppets at 12 to 24 frames per second. “Something magical happens when real materials embody a character… [it] offers an authenticity that renders the characters more relatable than any other storytelling medium,” says Oettinger.

This implies the studio is as immersed in glue, wood, and clay as it is in coding. “Absolutely! We’re more likely to be humming our favorite Disney songs than working in pin-drop silence,” adds game developer Mariano Pugliese. “There’s a shared passion among the puppeteers who transform wood and steel into characters, just like the CG artists who refine game settings.”

The narrative of Out of Words revolves around two young characters, Kurt and Kara, on the brink of discovering their first love. “I aim to narrate a story that reflects the moments when you crave the right words to convey to someone you love, which is almost impossible, especially in your early teens,” Oettinger shares. “That moment transforms into a profound inner journey of light and shadow… In our tale, that journey is mirrored between two characters as they seek the right words, ultimately hoping to emerge from the game hand in hand.”

Out of Words is a collaborative two-player adventure that can be played either in person or online, with the protagonists’ journey mirroring the players’ evolving relationships.

“The cooperative element is fundamental to the game design,” emphasizes design lead Jeff Sparks. “Players will guide Kurt and Kara through a world filled with unexpected challenges, experiencing every high and low together.” While trust is central to the theme, the cooperative gameplay reflects the growth of the bond between the characters.

Even the most unusual puzzles are rooted in emotion. One distinct puzzle features a giant clay face, which Sparks elaborates on: “When Kurt and Kara near his mouth, they wiggle around, almost as if they are tickling his lips. While it serves as a rather elaborate door, the creativity and mechanics layered on top of it breathe life into it like I’ve never witnessed before.”

Ultimately, Out of Words is not just a game but an exploration of human connection. “You must treasure the incredible experience of expressing your love to someone for the very first time,” Oettinger remarks. “Our dream is for this experience to forge a deep connection between the two players.”

Their aspirations are high: “We want this experience to be memorable for a lifetime.” And what could be more fitting for a hand-crafted game than the moment you finally reach out and pick it up?