Hi Hangry Fam,

We’re sitting at the last stage of 2025 and, as always, it’s time to take stock - not just of what we achieved, but what stirred us, challenged us, and changed us.

This year wasn’t just another lap around the sun. It was a gathering of questions, momentum, hard data, and deep gratitude. It was refinement over hype - not just building a game, but building something that could create real-world change. That’s always been the Hangry dream: play with purpose, not just with pixels. And this year, we pushed that boundary harder than ever.

One thing that shifted our thinking this year…
was realising just how much responsibility comes with building experiences for younger players - and how much appetite there is for doing things differently.

If you’re a parent watching how games shape younger players, this won’t come as a surprise. We spent a lot of time listening - to families, to players, and to people working across games, charity, and education - and what came through consistently was a desire for experiences that feel complete, safe, and meaningful.

We absorbed insights from reports, surveys, community interviews, and industry transition signals - especially around the ethics of content on big platforms and the exposure of younger gamers to harmful material.

At the same time, we watched indie studio after indie studio break through with shorter, sharable experiences that felt finished - not endless grind loops. These games didn’t just succeed commercially; they connected socially, creatively, and emotionally.

We asked ourselves: can charity and creativity coexist in gaming without cheap hooks or vapid mechanics?

Slowly, carefully, the answer became clear: yes - but only if it’s built with integrity from day one.

The industry is at a crossroads. In 2025 alone, over 17,000 games launched on Steam, all competing for attention. Very few deliver genuine value to players. We don’t see that as a complaint - we see it as a calling.

What this year made us more certain about…
is that purpose-led work can’t be a bolt-on. It has to be structural.

Our grant wins this year weren’t just cheques.
They reshaped how we approach research, product-market fit, and the core problem we’re trying to solve.

Interviews with young gamers and parents didn’t just validate ideas.
They became part of our blueprint, shaping how charities might engage with us and how players might feel rewarded for real-world impact.

Conversations with animal welfare partners like Hope Rescue grounded everything.
Seeing rescue work up close influenced game concepts, narrative direction, and the tone of what we’re building next.

These aren’t side quests. They’re the foundations of something we want to last, and contribute to this planet in a fun and meaningful way.

A decision we made that changed everything…
was committing fully to building more than a single game.

We’re building a platform - think of it like a curated library of small, meaningful game experiences (like Roblox, Yandex and YouTube Games), where playing and supporting animal charities are designed to work together.

Our vision includes:

• Purposeful monetisation that supports charities

• Ethical vetting by likeminded game studios, charity partners, and educators

• Revenue structures built to last, not burn out

• Gameplay that teaches, connects, and contributes but overall brings fun

It’s something we’ve been circling in our H.A.M editorials all year: games that give back.

We’re exploring pet ownership games that go beyond “cute”. Showing responsibility, care, and real-life consequences. Education through play, not preaching.

Tokens, access, and safety will sit at the heart of our 2026 roadmap. The ecosystem we’re shaping isn’t just playable - it’s exchangeable, giftable, and aligned with charitable missions through shared value.

This year also leaned further into multi-media storytelling.

Two three-part comic arcs are underway, moving toward 96-page trade paperbacks intended for both comic stores and mainstream bookshops. With over 22 pages already inked, the Hangryverse is becoming an accessible entry point for fans old and new.

This isn’t side content. It’s part of building a brand designed to grow.

As we wrap up 2025, we want to say thank you - to every supporter, commenter, partner, mentor, advocate, critic, and believer who helped shape this year.

Thank you for sticking with us as we refine not just what we make, but why we make it.

The questions we’re asking now will shape everything we build next.

From all of us at Hangry Animals,
Merry Christmas and a joyous New Year.

Stay Hangry. Eat Well. Be Merry.

Andy & Ceri

The Hangry Animals Team
www.hangryanimals.com

If you’ve not seen this yet, click here and read about how Hangry Animals came about.

👋 Just joined us? 

You can rummage through every past issue on our newsletter homepage in Paragraph.
No paywall, no spam, just pure Hangry.

👍 Got questions or reflections?
Pop them into the #ideas-vault on Discord or email us at hello@hangryanimals.com. 

👉Still want more?

Click here to explore our social channels

Hi Hangry Fam,

We’re sitting at the last stage of 2025 and, as always, it’s time to take stock - not just of what we achieved, but what stirred us, challenged us, and changed us.

This year wasn’t just another lap around the sun. It was a gathering of questions, momentum, hard data, and deep gratitude. It was refinement over hype - not just building a game, but building something that could create real-world change. That’s always been the Hangry dream: play with purpose, not just with pixels. And this year, we pushed that boundary harder than ever.

One thing that shifted our thinking this year…
was realising just how much responsibility comes with building experiences for younger players - and how much appetite there is for doing things differently.

If you’re a parent watching how games shape younger players, this won’t come as a surprise. We spent a lot of time listening - to families, to players, and to people working across games, charity, and education - and what came through consistently was a desire for experiences that feel complete, safe, and meaningful.

We absorbed insights from reports, surveys, community interviews, and industry transition signals - especially around the ethics of content on big platforms and the exposure of younger gamers to harmful material.

At the same time, we watched indie studio after indie studio break through with shorter, sharable experiences that felt finished - not endless grind loops. These games didn’t just succeed commercially; they connected socially, creatively, and emotionally.

We asked ourselves: can charity and creativity coexist in gaming without cheap hooks or vapid mechanics?

Slowly, carefully, the answer became clear: yes - but only if it’s built with integrity from day one.

The industry is at a crossroads. In 2025 alone, over 17,000 games launched on Steam, all competing for attention. Very few deliver genuine value to players. We don’t see that as a complaint - we see it as a calling.

What this year made us more certain about…
is that purpose-led work can’t be a bolt-on. It has to be structural.

Our grant wins this year weren’t just cheques.
They reshaped how we approach research, product-market fit, and the core problem we’re trying to solve.

Interviews with young gamers and parents didn’t just validate ideas.
They became part of our blueprint, shaping how charities might engage with us and how players might feel rewarded for real-world impact.

Conversations with animal welfare partners like Hope Rescue grounded everything.
Seeing rescue work up close influenced game concepts, narrative direction, and the tone of what we’re building next.

These aren’t side quests. They’re the foundations of something we want to last, and contribute to this planet in a fun and meaningful way.

A decision we made that changed everything…
was committing fully to building more than a single game.

We’re building a platform - think of it like a curated library of small, meaningful game experiences (like Roblox, Yandex and YouTube Games), where playing and supporting animal charities are designed to work together.

Our vision includes:

• Purposeful monetisation that supports charities

• Ethical vetting by likeminded game studios, charity partners, and educators

• Revenue structures built to last, not burn out

• Gameplay that teaches, connects, and contributes but overall brings fun

It’s something we’ve been circling in our H.A.M editorials all year: games that give back.

We’re exploring pet ownership games that go beyond “cute”. Showing responsibility, care, and real-life consequences. Education through play, not preaching.

Tokens, access, and safety will sit at the heart of our 2026 roadmap. The ecosystem we’re shaping isn’t just playable - it’s exchangeable, giftable, and aligned with charitable missions through shared value.

This year also leaned further into multi-media storytelling.

Two three-part comic arcs are underway, moving toward 96-page trade paperbacks intended for both comic stores and mainstream bookshops. With over 22 pages already inked, the Hangryverse is becoming an accessible entry point for fans old and new.

This isn’t side content. It’s part of building a brand designed to grow.

As we wrap up 2025, we want to say thank you - to every supporter, commenter, partner, mentor, advocate, critic, and believer who helped shape this year.

Thank you for sticking with us as we refine not just what we make, but why we make it.

The questions we’re asking now will shape everything we build next.

From all of us at Hangry Animals,
Merry Christmas and a joyous New Year.

Stay Hangry. Eat Well. Be Merry.

Andy & Ceri

The Hangry Animals Team
www.hangryanimals.com

If you’ve not seen this yet, click here and read about how Hangry Animals came about.

👋 Just joined us? 

You can rummage through every past issue on our newsletter homepage in Paragraph.
No paywall, no spam, just pure Hangry.

👍 Got questions or reflections?
Pop them into the #ideas-vault on Discord or email us at hello@hangryanimals.com. 

👉Still want more?

Click here to explore our social channels