The Big Indie Interviews: Danar Dev on the award-winning resource management game Cat's Vote
At this year's Pocket Gamer Connects Jordan we once again ran our Very Big Indie Pitch competition - a speed-dating style event that we regularly take to shows around the world. It offers developers a chance to get their games in front of expert judges, gain valuable feedback, and maybe even a prize!
For a glimpse of what The Very Big Indie Pitch is all about, we caught up with the VBIP Jordan winner Danar Kayfi, the solo indie developer behind Danar Dev, to discuss the charming resource management game Cat's Vote.
Want to show off your exciting new game? We host Very Big Indie Pitch events throughout the year, so be sure to keep an eye out on our events page for an event near you.
PocketGamer.biz: Tell us a little about yourself and your indie studio. Who is in the team, and what are their inspirations?
Danar Kayfi: I’m Danar Kayfi (Danar Dev), a game developer from Kurdistan/Iraq, with over a decade of experience in game development, having started back in 2012. I’ve always been passionate about creating games that not only entertain but also carry meaningful messages.
I’m also the host of the Game Maker’s Cafe podcast, where I explore the stories of game developers making a difference in the Middle East, and I organise Game Zanga, a regional game jam that’s close to my heart.
Currently no consistent team, I’m a solo-dev who collaborates with other friends/freelancers, passionate individuals who share a love for crafting unique game concepts.
While I'm a one-man army, my inspiration comes from real-world events and the desire to express them creatively. For example, Cat’s Vote started as a satirical take on the chaos of elections and their impact on ordinary families, all wrapped in a whimsical world of cats.
Tell us about your latest project that you pitched at the competition.
The game we pitched is Cat’s Vote, a resource management and decision-making simulation where you lead a feline household in a chaotic world of cat politics.
Your job is to keep your family happy by managing their needs, like food and electricity, while navigating the unpredictable promises of political candidates. Elections play a central role—players must cast votes wisely because the candidates' promises can either improve living conditions or lead to disaster.
The game blends humour, strategy, and a touch of satire, drawing attention to the ripple effects of elections on everyday lives. It’s inspired by real-world election dynamics but presented in a lighthearted, approachable way through its cute art style and engaging mechanics.
How hard is it to survive as an indie developer?
Surviving as an indie developer is definitely challenging. There’s a constant balancing act between creativity, funding, and visibility. Unlike larger studios, indie developers often wear multiple hats—coding, designing, marketing, and sometimes even funding everything themselves. It’s hard to stand out in a saturated market, especially when competing with big-budget games.
However, the sense of freedom and creativity in indie development is unmatched. The ability to take risks, experiment with unconventional ideas, and tell stories that resonate with players makes it worthwhile.
Success often comes down to persistence, community support, and platforms like the Big Indie Pitch and Pocket Gamer Connects, which provide visibility and opportunities.
How was your experience pitching as a part of the Big Indie Pitch?
The Big Indie Pitch was an incredible experience. It’s a rare chance to present your game to industry professionals and receive constructive feedback in a fast-paced environment. The energy in the room was electric, and pitching Cat’s Vote was both thrilling and nerve-wracking.
Winning first place was a huge morale boost. It validated the hard work and the unique concept of Cat’s Vote. Beyond that, it was a great opportunity to network with fellow developers, publishers, and journalists, gaining insights and exposure that are invaluable for an indie studio like ours.
What do you feel you have gained from these experiences, and what do you still hope to gain?
Participating in events like the Big Indie Pitch has helped us sharpen our pitching skills, better articulate our game’s core strengths, and connect with the broader game development community. Winning the competition brought recognition and credibility to Cat’s Vote, opening doors to potential collaborations and support.
Looking ahead, we hope to continue growing our player base and expanding our reach, especially as we approach the game’s release on Steam. We also aim to keep learning from the community and refining our craft. Ultimately, we want to create games that leave a lasting impression and continue building a supportive indie ecosystem in our region.
What are your hopes for this game in the future, and do you have any plans for future projects?
For Cat’s Vote, our immediate goal is a successful PC release on Steam, followed by a mobile version for iOS. We’re also planning to add features like Steam achievements, community challenges, and possibly even post-launch content updates to keep players engaged.
As for future projects, I’m excited to continue working on General Idler, an idle game where players build and scale their armies to conquer countries one by one. It’s a mix of strategy, progression, and idle mechanics that offers a rewarding gameplay loop. The concept has a lot of room for creative expansion, and I’m looking forward to refining it further.
In the long-term, I want to keep creating games that resonate with players, exploring themes that are both fun and thought-provoking. I’m also passionate about strengthening the indie game development scene in the Middle East, helping developers in the region share their stories and games with a global audience.
A little more about Cat's Vote:
Cat's Vote is out now on Steam and is coming to iOS in early 2025.
Game overview: Cat's Vote is a resource management and decision-making simulation game where players take charge of a feline household. As the head of the family, players balance a tight budget to keep their family happy, facing constantly changing resource costs based on a dynamic, player-driven election system.
Every election season, players vote for candidates who promise lower costs or improved conditions. However, broken promises can lead to chaos, testing players' judgment and adaptability. With each vote and decision, Cat's Vote offers multiple potential outcomes, adding to its replayability and engagement.
Game inspiration: The original idea was Done in a Game Jam called (Game Zanga) in 2017 and the Jam Theme was "You always have a choice". We decided back then to make a game depending on the current state back then, the impact of elections and the promises that candidates do which affect everyone, and we thought it would be funny to use a metaphor for all that in a world full of cats and how candidates affect their needs. We revisited the game in 2024 to develop the full version of it and release it on Steam.
Art style: The cute, approachable art style that balances the satirical undertones, making it both family-friendly and appealing to a wide audience. Also cats can always represent two faces; cute and evil at same time, which is reflected by the candidates that appears as angels through the election period, and change afterwards.
Game message: The chaos that happens in the election period (hence the US elections as an example) and how everyone tries to promote and make promises, which sometimes are a lie, and how in the end the price is always paid by the normal families like me and you. The question line is “You always have a choice... Do you really?”
Want to show off your exciting new game? We host Very Big Indie Pitch events throughout the year, so be sure to keep an eye out on our events page for an event near you.
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