Malaysian Game ‘Kabaret’ Is Inspired By Southeast Asian Monsters And Folklore

The fantasy adventure game Kabaret by Persona Theory features a host of familiar monsters from Southeast Asia.

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Malaysian game studio Persona Theory Games has released a dark fantasy folklore adventure game named Kabaret and it’s downloadable on Steam for RM49.

What’s special about Kabaret is that it features monsters from Southeast Asian myths and folklore. The visual novel follows Jebat, a Penang boy who was cursed and turned into a beast.

He has 30 nights to try and break his curse. During his journey in the mystical Alam Bunian, Jebat meets and confronts monsters both supernatural and human.

To gather more information about the monster that cursed him, he works as a tea leaf reader in Kabaret after its owner, The Caretaker, takes him in.

#Kabaret is a visual novel about a boy cursed into a monster.

📖 Talk to monsters & learn their stories
🍵 Brew tea
🕹️ Play minigames
🐲 Inspired by Southeast Asian myths and folklore

Coming to Steam, Epic, Xbox on 5th of April#indiegame #MadewithUnity pic.twitter.com/jAIVLnoh6E
— Kabaret 🍵 – OUT NOW!! (@personatheorymy) March 25, 2023

Persona Theory Managing Director Saqina Latiff told IGN Southeast Asia that the inspiration to create a game around mythical monsters of Southeast Asia came from how much we know about Western Gods and myths instead of our own.

Western Gods and myths are more familiar to us and we’ve somewhat adopted the Japanese and Korean culture into our own. Maybe it’s just us trying to be romantic in trying to get to know our ancestors and the stories they used to tell.
Persona Theory Managing Director Saqina Latiff

Saqina added that the game’s setting is inspired by old cabarets from the ‘60s that feature various performances, like a club. The game also features songs by musicians in Southeast Asia.

So far, reviews are positive. IGN Southeast Asia wrote that the choices a player makes in the game affect the game’s ending and each playthrough is different enough to make it worth replaying.

A Twitter user Burhan (@BurhanPlays) liked how the art in the game is beautifully outlined in gold, akin to showcasing batik patterns.

Another Twitter user Hani (@HaniAmy) praised the introduction song at the start of the game.

Congratulations to Malaysian studio @personatheorymy on releasing their game, Kabaret!

It’s available on Steam for RM49.

One detail I love about this game is that a lot of the art is golden-outlined. A brilliant adoption of batik.

It’s like playing a living batik showcase. pic.twitter.com/iJxamoslJx
— Burhan (@BurhanPlays) April 5, 2023