Young Developer Launches Unique RPG “Geto Ratz,” Inspired by Life

The debut role-playing game (RPG) titled Geto Ratz has officially launched, showcasing the creative journey of its developer, Kai Woelke. Drawing inspiration from his childhood experiences and a deep-seated passion for storytelling, Woelke aims to bridge the gap between immersive gaming and personal narrative.

Woelke’s journey into the realm of role-playing games began at the age of six, sparked by his late father’s enthusiasm for gaming. Brent Woelke introduced his son to popular titles such as Skyrim, Fallout 3, and Total War: Shogun 2. These experiences ignited a creative fire in Woelke, who recalls, “Those little glimpses… were infinitely cooler and more influential to me than any video game ever was.” Despite his youth preventing him from playing at the time, his desire to create led him to develop his own games, producing as many as five each week.

By the age of 22, Woelke reflected on the role gaming played in his life, particularly as a coping mechanism for his struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). “I was using the invasive and compulsive part of my brain to create, rather than harm,” he explained. “Instead of thinking about bad things, I was thinking about fun things. And that helped me.”

As he entered his teenage years, Woelke shifted his focus to screenplays, short stories, and music, but found it challenging to see projects through to completion. This changed dramatically during a session of Dungeons & Dragons in Grade 10, which reignited his passion for RPGs. “It showed me that grown adults play the exact same pretend games I loved as a kid,” he said. “That’s when I saw a future in it. I was like, ‘OK, this is what I want to do.’”

The culmination of his journey is Geto Ratz, a post-apocalyptic tabletop RPG where players pursue one of six dreams: escape, legacy, love, power, revenge, or revolution. The game is characterized by its blend of dark comedy, moral dilemmas, and narrative freedom, as players navigate a chaotic city in desperate times. Woelke describes it as “over the top, chaotic, and fun,” emphasizing a desire to create empathy for characters often seen as criminals. “I wanted people to empathize with the criminals, so I had to design a world so bleak that you’d instantly understand: if you were going to survive, doing it by the book wasn’t an option.”

While the game’s themes are fictional, they resonate with Woelke’s personal experiences growing up in Winnipeg. He acknowledges that his life and beliefs significantly influenced the game’s design and narrative.

Regardless of whether Geto Ratz achieves widespread popularity, Woelke believes in the profound potential of RPGs. “I think it’s really sad that these games have been relegated to the super nerds,” he remarked with a laugh. “I love that it’s a way for your friends, your family — even total strangers — to explore what it means to be a person, together. It’s an incredible way to spend time.”

As the game enters the market, Woelke hopes it will encourage more people to embrace the joy and creativity that RPGs offer. With its unique blend of storytelling and gameplay, Geto Ratz may well become a significant entry in the evolving landscape of tabletop gaming.