Stop-motion animation has long been a labor-intensive, tactile art form, but rarely does it make the jump into the interactive space of video games. Out of Words, a new project from developers WiredFly and Kong Orange, aims to change that. Directed by Johan Oettinger and featuring collaboration from poet Morten Søndergaard, the game is a two-player co-op platformer that is entirely handcrafted.
Every element in the game—from the paper-cut grass to the cellophane water—is made by human hands and animated in front of a camera. The visual style draws direct inspiration from the works of Aardman Animation, the Brothers Quay, and Jan Švankmajer, resulting in a dreamlike aesthetic that feels both surreal and grounded.
A Handcrafted Journey for Two
The story focuses on Kurt and Karla, two characters who find themselves transported to a strange realm called Vokabulantis. Figuratively and literally “out of words,” the two lack mouths in this world, forcing them to navigate the gap between friendship and romance through non-verbal storytelling and mechanical cooperation. The developers spent time prototyping nearly 200 mechanics to ensure that every action in the game communicates the narrative journey of the two leads.
Gameplay is defined by this co-op necessity. In certain sections, players navigate localized gravity, jumping between floors and ceilings. In others, players must synchronize their movements to pass a glowing object back and forth, turning the traversal into a rhythmic, collaborative puzzle. Oettinger emphasizes that these mechanics are designed to be accessible, aiming to provide a friendly entry point for non-gamers while still offering deep, evocative gameplay.
Development and Release
The project began as a traditional stop-motion film collaboration between Oettinger and Søndergaard. It was during that process that Oettinger realized the story was best suited for a game, leading to the current partnership with Epic Games Publishing. The team’s commitment to the medium is total; the cinematic scenes are hand-animated with a level of detail that mirrors the work of modern stop-motion powerhouses like Laika.
While the game is built with local couch co-op in mind, it will also support online and cross-platform play. Players can expect to jump into the world of Vokabulantis when Out of Words arrives on Xbox Series X|S in 2027.