About WonderLang
Welcome to WonderLang, an independent language‑learning RPG built with big dreams and a compact team. If you have ever level‑grinded a hero while quietly leveling up your vocabulary, this project was made for you.
Where the Idea Began
I’m Jonathan, a lifelong RPG enthusiast who grew up on Final Fantasy, Chrono Trigger, Suikoden, Dragon Quest, Okami, and Zelda. As a French kid in the nineties I played many titles that were never localized, so I learned English simply by exploring pixel kingdoms.
Years later, in 2016, I was living in Korea and juggling flashcards, apps, and yet another Final Fantasy adventure. It struck me that the most effective study sessions felt like quests, not drills. From that moment the seed for WonderLang was planted: a game where you acquire language by living it inside a story‑rich world.
The Kickstarter Quest
Our campaign, WonderLang: The Quest for Language Mastery, finished fully funded and then some. Hundreds of backers (gamers, teachers, lifelong learners) voted with their wallets and their feedback, shaping reward tiers, artwork, and even certain game mechanics. Every pledge still echoes through the project because each one helped pay freelancers, secure assets, and keep the lights on.
Game Engine
WonderLang is built on a heavily customized version of RPG Maker MZ, a 2D game engine originally designed for creating classic-style RPGs. While RPG Maker provides a solid foundation (maps, events, and battle systems). We’ve taken it far beyond its original capabilities to turn it into a true language-learning platform.
We developed and integrated a large number of custom and third-party plugins, many of which were modified or expanded to suit the needs of the game. A huge part of the work involved making sure language learning is present in every aspect of gameplay, not just in isolated lessons.
Some of the key systems we built or adapted include:
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A dynamic dialogue system where most words can be looked up on the spot, and entire sentences can be broken down with grammatical explanations.
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On-screen keyboards for all supported languages, including languages with non-Latin scripts.
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Dozens of language-focused mini-games, developed in-house, covering vocabulary, grammar, reading, listening, and more.
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Improvements to movement and controls, including refined 8-direction movement using improved community plugins.
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Fine-tuned UI adjustments to support right-to-left scripts and non-standard character sets, making the game usable in a wide range of languages.
Rather than reinventing the wheel, we built on what worked and rewrote what didn’t, turning a general RPG engine into a flexible educational framework.
Visuals
Our visuals are a mix of commissioned illustrations, licensed packs, carefully selected free assets and some AI generate art. Leading the charge is Cheung Ngo Chau, whose character designs give every hero and shopkeeper a memorable silhouette. By blending bespoke art with curated resources we stay on budget without sacrificing charm. We are progessively replacing all AI generated art with real artist art, as much as our sales numbers are allowing us to. If you are ineterested in participating as an artist, please contact us!
How the Language Comes to Life
We designed WonderLang to feel like a real adventure—but behind the scenes, every line of dialogue goes through a careful multi-step process to ensure it’s both beginner-friendly and natural.
| Step | What We Do | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Rough Translation | The base script is first written or adapted into the target language using a combination of internal drafts and modern translation tools. | Helps us support multiple languages efficiently and stay within budget. |
| Vocabulary Check | We spend many hours ensuring that every line only uses words from a curated list of ~1400 core vocabulary terms per language (plus reasonable variants like conjugations). Sentences that go beyond this list are rephrased or replaced. | Keeps the learning curve smooth for beginners and reinforces key vocabulary through repetition. |
| Proofreading | Native-speaker freelancers check every line for grammar, tone, and flow, making sure each sentence sounds natural in real-life conversations. | Avoids robotic or awkward phrasing, everything feels authentic. |
| Voice Pass | Lines are voiced using native-speaker text-to-speech tools. Each line may go through up to a dozen tweaks before we’re satisfied with the clarity and delivery. | Ensures consistent pronunciation that matches the text learners see. |
| Accent Variety | Some characters speak with real-world accents (e.g. a few French NPCs have Quebecois accents). Others speak more slowly and with less emotion (especially in early scenes). | Builds listening skills gradually and exposes players to natural variation found in real conversations. |
Our goal is clarity first—especially in the early game. More emotional and complex performances may come later. If the game continues to grow, we hope to eventually upgrade to real voice actors.
Why Your Support Matters
Educational games rarely pull blockbuster numbers, and that is okay. Every purchase of WonderLang directly funds more artwork, additional language routes, and new content. When you choose our game you are not just buying an adventure, you are joining a guild of players who want learning to feel like play.
Thank you for helping a tiny studio turn a lifelong dream into a tool that helps others learn.
See you in the world of WonderLang, where every quest is a lesson, and every lesson is an adventure.