Forests and fires are not natural allies, but flames are worshipped as benevolent deities in the charming woodland world of Pirofauna.

Created by Tomasz Ostafin, the celebrated indie developer behind 2021’s hugely acclaimed point-and-click adventure game Papetura, Pirofauna is a bold follow-up that makes a combustible partnership of fire and paper. 

And you can wishlist it on Steam right now. 

In terms of set-up, Pirofauna sees you playing as a flame exploring a dark forest. Being a flame, you can set fire to any flammable material that comes into contact with your tail, and you use this power to light the way for friendly critters—and chase away unfriendly ones. 

Right now, Pirofauna is still taking shape, so we can’t tell you exactly how the gameplay will work. 

But we know how the game will look and feel, thanks to the artwork that’s already available and the fantastic legacy of Papetura’s unique hand-drawn aesthetic. 

Once again, Ostafin—and his studio Petums—is making the entire game world out of paper. And not just arrangements of pixels that look like paper. The process of making Pirofauna involves crafting and photographing real paper models, giving the game an uncanny, palpable feel. 

The big difference between Pirofauna and Papetura is the fact that the newer game is fully 3D, bringing a whole new dimension to the on-screen action. 

The bugs that litter the forest floor in Pirofauna are all inspired by real woodland creepy crawlies. 

Along with the adorable flame at the middle of it all, these bugs and critters are the stars of the show. Each species has its own customs and habits, and by the time the game is finished Ostafin aims to fill it with entire villages of worms with stories to tell. 

To round out a highly promising package, Ostafin has recruited Tomáš Dvořák—the award-winning composer and regular Amanita Designs collaborator—to provide the soundtrack and effects. 

We’re not entirely sure when Pirofauna will be ready, but Ostafin promises it won’t take seven years like Papetura did. 

To stay in the loop, head to the Pirofauna Steam page and add the game to your wishlist right now.