The Summer Game Fest 2025 introduced 'Out of Words,' a debut game from Kong Orange and WiredFly that has resonated deeply with players, evoking tears. Game director Johan Oettinger shared insights about the game's narrative, focusing on the characters Karla and Kurt who struggle to express their feelings due to life's complexities. The game blends cooperative puzzle-platforming with emotional storytelling, illustrated through stunning stop-motion animation that Oettinger feels passionately inspired by. 'Out of Words' promises a profound exploration of vulnerability and the challenges of communication in relationships, beyond just gameplay mechanics.
I am a bit of a romantic,' game director Johan Oettinger told me, describing the relationship between the game's playable characters, Karla and Kurt. Typically, 'they can talk about anything. But they find themselves in a moment in their relationship with something new in the air.' But sadly, Oettinger added, 'they can't find the words' to say how they feel. Out of Words is a coming-of-age love story about the things we want to say but don't know how.
'I love stop-motion,' Oettinger told me, admitting it's like the 'extreme sport of animation' due to how unforgiving it is. He explained to me that creating this game had been his dream since he was 11 years old, when he played The Neverhood, a 1996 stop-motion animated game developed in collaboration with Stephen Spielberg's Dreamworks. 'All the cinematics [of Out of Words] are fully stop-motion, animated frame by frame in front of a camera. And everything in the world is also handcrafted.'
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