Family is not always defined by a bloodline. Frequently, the deepest and most permanent bonds in our lives are forged from pure affection—born from the individuals we choose to walk beside us. This profound truth served as the driving inspiration for renowned software engineer and game designer Carlos Zhou, who has channeled his personal life story into a beautiful interactive tribute titled “Don Memo.”

Although Zhou’s biological parents are of Chinese origin, he proudly considers himself a Tico through and through, natively representing his identity from Guanacaste. Throughout his childhood, he was raised, protected, and nurtured by Don Guillermo and Doña María Ángulo (affectionately known as “Betty”). This loving couple looked after him
for years without any biological ties or financial expectations, filling his youth with warmth and guidance.

It was Don Guillermo who spent countless evenings passing down Costa Rican folklore, legends, and deep cultural roots to a young boy who grew up to be a true Costa Rican at heart. Sadly, Don Guillermo passed away when Zhou was just 12 years old. To keep his memory vibrant and immortalize their shared experiences, Zhou turned to his professional craft to develop a unique indie video game.

The Plot of “Don Memo”: A Journey Through Local Folklore

Named lovingly after his grandfather, the adventure game follows an elderly man living a peaceful life alongside his wife and their granddaughter, Milagro. Everything takes a dramatic turn when the infamous “Pisuicas”—a devilish rogue character deeply rooted in Costa Rican oral traditions—abducts the little girl, forcing Don Memo to set out on a dangerous rescue mission.
To save his granddaughter, Don Memo must journey across all seven provinces of Costa Rica. Along the way, players will face puzzles and environmental hazards modeled after local geography, confront mythical creatures from traditional legends, and experience iconic culinary staples and cultural sights unique to the nation.

A Hilarious Pop Culture Reference: Inside the game, every visual cue has an
intentional layer of depth. For instance, the antagonist “Pisuicas” escaping with Milagrom inside a classic red taxi is a direct nod to a legendary, humorous true story in Costa Rica involving the bizarre theft of a family cow named Milagro inside a red taxi cab in the town of Coronado.

From Conceptual Prototype to Corporate Sponsorship

Zhou originally kicked off the creation process independently as a solo developer, building the core engines, writing script paths, and drawing the character models from scratch. However, the roots of the project actually traces back five years to an academic assignment during his university years, where he fleshed out the original rough prototype.
As he publicly documented his development journey like an open “dev log,” his dedication caught the eyes of major national brands. Today, heavyweights like Dos Pinos and Gollo have stepped forward as financial backers. With their corporate support, the project has expanded into a fully realized production, bringing onboard additional development resources to elevate the final product.

Official Release and Playable Demo Details

For gamers eager to check out the title, here is a quick look at what to expect from the full release:
Visual Aesthetic: Beautiful retro pixel-art designs that capture the nostalgia of 8-bit and 16-bit gaming eras.
Campaign Volume: The final build will boast 21 distinct, feature-rich levels spanning multiple environments.
Target Release: Scheduled to officially launch across marketplaces this coming October.
Pricing Model: Anticipated to retail at an accessible entry point of roughly $10. Ultimately, Zhou hopes that “Don Memo” accomplishes much more than just paying homage to his beloved foster grandparents. His broader goal is to spark a profound cultural appreciation in younger generations, allowing players to look through a romanticized lens at the daily items, phrases, and histories that define Costa Rican identity. Want to get an early look? The official playable demo has launched this week. It delivers an immersive, 30-to-60-minute gameplay preview, giving players their very first taste of
this heartwarming homegrown adventure.

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