Earlier this year we sat down with Erik Andersen, developer of the innovative Japanese learning puzzle game So to Speak.

So to Speak drops players into a 2D simulation of Japan where they must decipher the meaning of Japanese words through context clues and visual connections. Players drag Japanese text onto corresponding objects or English descriptions, learning naturally through discovery rather than memorization. Unlike conventional language apps that rely on flashcards, the game presents practical vocabulary that travelers would actually encounter: entrance and exit signs, bathroom markers, and everyday conversation snippets.

Our interview with Erik reveals the story behind this innovative educational game. What started as a personal mission became a six-year solo development journey that transformed an academic researcher into an indie game developer.