Kasala in the Building. An Indie Game Giving Mortal Kombat a Run for Its Money.
By Kasey Starr | Esports Africa News Nigeria
If you’ve ever wondered what happens when Street Fighter takes a danfo ride through Lagos, meet Kasala.
I was doing the rounds at Lagos Games Week, soaking in the neon lights, arcade noises, and energy, when I bumped into Jide Williams, co-founder of Tepida Studios. The guy looked like he had seen battles not just in games, but also in getting them made. He wasn’t just there to talk shop. He was there to shake tables.
Kasala, A Mobile Combat Game With Vibes
“We built Kasala, a mobile PvE combat game,” Jide began, as gamers around us furiously mashed keyboards. It’s currently available on mobile, but we’re testing the PC build here today. We wanted players to feel at home, Jide explains. Even the locations are iconic.
Imagine throwing combos under the Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge, or dodging attacks near Erin Ijesha Waterfalls. There’s also Kagoro Castle in Kaduna and Aria ria Market in Aba, Abia State.
This isn’t just representation. It’s a celebration of the East, West, North and Southern part of Nigeria.
My dream is to put Kasala into esports competitions right beside Mortal Kombat, Tekken, and Call of Duty. Kasala is more than just a game. It’s an experience soaked in Nigerian culture and wrapped in adrenaline.
Speak Local, Fight Global
One of the game’s best features is that the characters speak our languages. You’ll hear Pidgin, Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, and Fulani.
And did we mention Kamoru, He’s a boss-level conductor who fights with broken bottles. Gritty. Hilarious and Real. But this describes a typical hustler who against all odds reaches his goals.
Ochuaya – Nurse Run
As if Kasala wasn’t wild enough, Tepida Studios also dropped Ochuaya Nurse Run. A zombie-infested hospital, with a vibrant Nurse collecting gems, rescuing patients, and speaking full-blown Warri Pidgin. It’s what happens when Left 4 Dead meets Benin hustle.
Making Kasala wasn’t all fun and games. Jide and his team insisted on keeping the development 100% Nigerian. That meant sourcing animators, riggers, voice actors, and original musicians all locally.
And let’s not even get into the Apple Store wahala. “We needed a partner outside the country just to get listed on iOS,” Jide revealed. Even now, there are still some hurdles to get Ochuaya Nurse Run listed.
A Love Letter to Nigerian Gamers
Game development, as Jide puts it, is not beans. From punch reaction timings to making sure no one sues you for IP issues, it’s a maze. But we powered through for us. For Africa!
And that’s why Kasala matters. It’s not just another mobile combat game. It’s a love letter to Nigerian identity, to our slang, our struggles, our legendary resilience. We want everyone and anyone to feel our Grit through Kasala.
- 📲 Download Kasala on Google Play Store and Apple Store
- 🚀 Follow Tepida Studios @tepida_studios
- Follow Jide Williams @jidewils
- ⚔️ Challenge your friends (and Kamoru) to a proper Lagos showdown
Watch the Live interview with Jide Williams on Kasala here @esportnigerianews_ng
