Amanita Design crafts Phonopolis entirely from cardboard and paper
Czech studio Amanita Design, founded by Jakub Dvorský, is releasing Phonopolis, a puzzle adventure game made almost entirely from cardboard, paper, and paint. The game follows Felix, a rubbish collector in a dystopian city controlled by a fascistic leader using sonic amplions. Felix finds headphones that block the sound and rebels. The concept began in 2014 when animation graduates Petr Filipovic, Eva Markova, and Oto Dostal sought an authentic, tactile approach. They chose cardboard for its texture, volume, and affordability. The aesthetic draws from Russian constructivism, futurism, early 20th-century propaganda, and novels by Karel Čapek and Yevgeny Zamyatin, reflecting Czechoslovakian influences and childhood memories of communism's end. The team initially photographed sets but later transferred them into a 3D engine (3D Studio) for interactivity, scuffing and patinating cardboard textures. Filipovic, Markova, and Dostal were inspired by Amanita's earlier game Machinarium, which they played as students. Phonopolis is their first fully professional game project, with guidance from Dvorský. The game is set for release in 2026.
Key facts
- Phonopolis is a puzzle adventure game made from cardboard, paper, and paint.
- The game is developed by Czech studio Amanita Design.
- The protagonist is Felix, a rubbish collector in a dystopian city.
- The city is controlled by a fascistic leader using sonic amplions.
- Felix finds headphones that suppress the amplions and rebels.
- The concept started in 2014 by Petr Filipovic, Eva Markova, and Oto Dostal.
- The team chose cardboard for its tactile quality, volume, and affordability.
- Inspirations include Russian constructivism, futurism, and novels by Karel Čapek and Yevgeny Zamyatin.
- The game reflects Czechoslovakian history and childhood memories of communism.
- Sets were initially photographed, then transferred to a 3D engine (3D Studio) for interactivity.
- Textures were created by scuffing and patinating cardboard.
- The team was inspired by Amanita's earlier game Machinarium.
- Phonopolis is the team's first fully professional game project.
- Jakub Dvorský provided guidance on the project.
- The game is scheduled for release in 2026.
Entities
Artists
- Jakub Dvorský
- Petr Filipovic
- Eva Markova
- Oto Dostal
- Karel Čapek
- Yevgeny Zamyatin
- Jan Švankmajer
- Jiří Trnka
Institutions
- Amanita Design
- It's Nice That
Locations
- Czech Republic
- Central Europe
- Eastern Europe