Bound Ascent is a 2.5D merge-based civilization builder, and my first video game.

Mechanically, I've always enjoyed merge-based games, powering something up by mashing parts of other things together. The biggest inspiration here is that old Alchemy game, where you merge wind, fire, earth, and water and keep going until you run out of ideas.

For naming, I tend to cruise around the Philippines, and since my artist is from here, I figured I'd pull inspiration from landmarks and cultural sites to put a positive spotlight on the country.

For design, I've played my share of games, board and digital, and sometimes you land on ideas that seem ridiculous. A D&D character in bladed armor with two bucklers who only wants to be in melee. Or making a dual-shield build work in Dark Souls 2.