Press kit - Behind the Beyond

• Based on Hungarian folktales
• Dual-character puzzle solving
• Skill-based interactions
• Multi-solution gameplay
• Day-night cycle that affects gameplay
• Built-in streamer mode
• Ulti card game included

Behind the Beyond is a story-driven point-and-click adventure inspired by Hungarian folk tales — full of strange curses, enchanted woods, talking animals, and the occasional three-headed dragon. You play as Jánoska, the youngest son of a poor man, setting out to find honest work — and stumbling into adventure, mystery, and magic instead.

Set in a richly illustrated world where embroidery blooms from trees and legends walk the earth, the game blends classic genre mechanics with modern touches: multi-solution puzzles, skill-based challenges, a controllable second character, and a day-night cycle that affects gameplay.

It’s a heartfelt and humorous fairy tale where your choices matter — whether you're charming villagers, solving mysteries, or just trying not to lose at cards to a talking horse.

• Based on Hungarian folktales - Inspired by traditional storytelling, folk motifs, music, and embroidery art — with modern twists. It is a living, breathing tapestry of old-world fairy tales, mixed with modern humour and lots of 4th wall breaking.
• Dual-character puzzle solving - Switch between Jánoska and the mysterious Fox companion to solve puzzles, explore, and uncover secrets. Each character has their own strengths — from charm to magic.
• Skill-based interactions - Strength, Dexterity, and Charm affect how you approach problems. Mastering these skills will unlock new possible routes to solve problems.
• Multi-solution gameplay - Tackle challenges in multiple ways: pay your way out, charm someone into helping, or use brute force to make it work.
• Day-night cycle that affects gameplay - Some events and puzzles change with time — you’ll need to act fast, or wait for the right moment.
• Built-in streamer mode - You can let your viewers vote on your dialogue and actions in real time via a companion website — no plugins or extra setup required.
• Ulti card game included - Everyone in this world plays Ulti, a real Hungarian card game. Play against nearly every character — and try not to get humiliated by Auntie Babi.

The visuals in Behind the Beyond are deeply influenced by the works of legendary Hungarian animator Marcell Jankovics. The world is crafted using a blend of hand-drawn and digitally painted media alongside vector graphics and skeletal animation. Every leaf, flower, and cloud resembles living embroidery, pulsing with vivid colors and repeating folk motifs. The result is often psychedelic and dream-like, more akin to walking through a stitched fairy tale than a realistic countryside.

In-game texts, such as signs and tablets, use rovásírás, an old Hungarian runic script. While most modern players won’t be able to read it fluently, it's fully decodable — and when you inspect it, Jánoska reads it aloud for you.

The soundtrack of Behind the Beyond features a selection of songs by the renowned Kerekes Band, Hungary’s favourite ethno‑funk ensemble. Since their founding in Eger in 1995, Kerekes Band has fused traditional Hungarian folk music from regions like Gyimes and Moldova with jazz, rock, funk, and even drum & bass rhythms. Their high‑energy and culturally rooted sound has earned gold and platinum albums, multiple Fonogram awards, and international acclaim.

You can explore more of their music at kerekesband.hu, or listen to the full game soundtrack playlist on Spotify.

Sugarpunch Games is the independent studio of Katalin Rábel, a Hungarian developer now based in the UK. With a background in computer science and years of experience in business software, Katalin eventually shifted focus to pursue her long-standing passion for games.

As the sole permanent member of the studio, she handles a bit of everything from code and design to animation and art direction. While she works with a small team of collaborators on specific tasks like concept art, voice acting or music, the core of each project is her vision — and her workload.

Behind the Beyond combines her love for quirky game mechanics, and visual storytelling. The result is something a little offbeat, a little experimental, and full of details drawn from Hungarian culture, reimagined through the lens of an adventure game.