Enter “Nasi Lemak the Game,” an immersive and sambal-icious set-building card game that pays homage to Malaysia’s beloved national dish.
The premise is simple: each player runs a nasi lemak stall and has to fend off flies, thieves, wholesalers, and more to collect the right ingredients to make the perfect bungkus. The first player to whip up five nasi lemak packs wins the game.
Launched in July 2023, the game was created by Logan Ghanesh, Ravin Shunmugarajan, Nyanavelan Sivapalan, and Amarveen Malairaja, under their aptly named company, Faculty of Fun.
“In an age where people are glued to their screens, this is a fun and easy way to reconnect with others in real life,” Amarveen, a former doctor, shared with FMT Lifestyle. “Our game is simple, with beautiful artwork, and guarantees plenty of fun and laughter as you make your nasi lemak.”
The four friends, all self-professed board game enthusiasts, spent over a year perfecting the mechanics, playtesting it with family and friends.
Initially, the game, which retails at RM55, took a different route, but after realising it was too complex and costly, they switched gears and landed on the flavourful concept of nasi lemak.
Their goal? To create a game that anyone can pick up without feeling overwhelmed (looking at you, “Magic: The Gathering” fans) while keeping the local charm alive.
To make the game even more strategic and fun, they added quirky action cards like “Fly, Fly Swatter,” “Mak Cik Nasi Lemak,” and the “Supplier.”
“To make games engaging, there has to be strategy and a bit of sabotage. Players should feel emotions like betrayal or satisfaction,” explained Nyanavelan, 30.
Nyanavelan, a veterinarian, said their inspiration for adding “sabotage elements” stemmed from their own love of strategy games. “We wanted players to feel a little bit of betrayal when someone steals their ingredients,” he added with a laugh.
This desire for deeper engagement came naturally to the four friends who saw “Nasi Lemak the Game” as a playful escape from the seriousness of adult life.
“We’ve always enjoyed playing complex games, but we wanted to create something that had a local essence and appealed to a wider audience, even those who may not be hardcore gamers,” Logan, a former doctor, said.
“We initially wanted to make movies, some sort of creative outlet. But that felt too ambitious. A card game seemed more doable, so we channelled all our energy into it. The more we worked on it, the more inspired we became,” Logan, 30, added.
As the concept evolved, the team realised that the game needed more than just great mechanics to truly resonate – it had to look and feel distinctly Malaysian. That’s where the visuals came in.
The stunning artwork, created by local artist and illustrator Pan Sin Yi, beautifully captures the cultural diversity and charm of Malaysia.
“We wanted something that is timeless and nostalgic and the ingredients to look mouthwatering, like the food you see in ‘Spirited Away.’
“We also wanted the artwork to be done in watercolour because if you notice, a lot of Malaysian classic art is done in watercolour,” shared Ravin, 28, an entertainment photographer, adding that the illustrations are reminiscent of classic card games like “Happy Family,” “Snap,” and “Old Maid.”
The four hope this game will remind people of the joy of coming together with family and friends, away from screens, especially with the “Rendang Expansion,” which introduces even more layers of chaos and excitement.
“People who bought our game shared that it helped them have a good time with their kids. And a lot of our friends from abroad love this game because it’s a nice keepsake for them, a piece of home,” said Logan.
It’s these shared experiences, both at home and abroad, that reflect the heart of “Nasi Lemak the Game” – a fun way of reconnecting, not just with family and friends, but also with the simpler things – like a good plate of nasi lemak.
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