11 Sep 2026Developer post

🏆 Cícera's Journey Continues — and It's Already Winning Awards

Hey, everyone! 🌵✨ If you followed Cícera across the sertão in the first ÁRIDA, this one is for you: the next chapter of her journey, ÁRIDA 2: Rise of the Brave , is already turning heads before it even launches — winning awards and showing up at some big events! 🏆 An Award and

31 Aug 2026Developer post

🌵 Double Backlands at Gamescom 2026!

Hey everyone! 👋 We have some incredible news to share: the backlands of ÁRIDA has crossed the ocean and landed straight in Germany! From August 26th to 30th, Aoca Game Lab was present at Gamescom Cologne 2026 , the biggest gaming event in the world. This was a historic milestone

27 Jun 2026Developer post

ÁRIDA 2 Demo now available!

The bonfire is lit, the sky is bright, and our backlands are celebrating. There couldn't be a more special occasion to open the gates of our world to you. It is with immense joy that we announce: the first public and free demo of ÁRIDA 2: Rise of the Brave is officially available

The bonfire is lit, the sky is bright, and our backlands are celebrating. There couldn't be a more special occasion to open the gates of our world to you.

It is with immense joy that we announce: the first public and free demo of ÁRIDA 2: Rise of the Brave is officially available on Steam!

This demo features the first hour of the game. We have crafted every single detail with the same love and deep respect for the Brazilian backlands as always.

Here is a glimpse of what awaits you in this new journey:

The continuity of a saga

ÁRIDA 2 starts exactly where the journey of the first game left us. After touching the hearts of thousands of players worldwide, we now follow a new chapter for our protagonist. Cícera has left her home behind and sets off completely alone in search of Canudos.

New exploration and survival mechanics

To make the sertão ecosystem feel even more alive and rewarding, we have expanded our gameplay systems. You will be able to test brand-new mechanics designed for players who love to uncover every single corner of the map.

Unexpected allies on the road

Even though Cícera begins this journey alone, the sertão is also a place of deep connections. Right in this first hour of gameplay, you will be introduced to Cícera's main travel companions. They will be crucial in helping her survive and find her way to Canudos. We don't want to spoil the surprise, but we can promise they are striking figures of our local wildlife that will steal your heart!

New soundtrack and refined UI

Immersion wouldn't be complete without an evolution in how you interact with the game. We developed completely new and more intuitive user interfaces. Additionally, you will be accompanied by all-new original musical compositions that blend the melancholy of the drought with the strength and poetry that make this culture eternal.

Take your time and help us with your Feedback!

We want to invite you to take a moment, slow down, play, breathe in the sertão air, and reconnect with the universe of ÁRIDA.

In the coming days, we will announce several surprises related to the demo, but our biggest focus right now is hearing from you. We work driven by your feedback, which is why your review on Steam is VERY important—above all, it helps ÁRIDA 2 find new players!

Write your honest impressions. Steam's review system directly helps us adjust our course for the final launch, and most importantly, it teaches the Steam algorithm that our game matters, pushing Cícera's story to potential buyers all over the globe.

A warm embrace from Aoca Game Lab!

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28 May 2026Developer post

New Features in the ÁRIDA 2

Development on ÁRIDA 2: Rise of the Brave is in full swing, and if you’ve been following our social media recently, you probably saw that we released our first Gameplay Teaser! If you haven't watched it yet, brace your heart and press play below: This teaser is just a small taste

Development on ÁRIDA 2: Rise of the Brave is in full swing, and if you’ve been following our social media recently, you probably saw that we released our first Gameplay Teaser!
If you haven't watched it yet, brace your heart and press play below:

Watch on YouTube

This teaser is just a small taste of how we are expanding the universe of ÁRIDA.
We want Cícera’s journey to Canudos to be deeper, more immersive, and, of course, much more challenging.

Below, we’ve listed some of the new features showcased in the teaser:

🔹Titela and the Biodiversity of ÁRIDA 2 One of the community's biggest requests after the first game was: "We want more of the backcountry's wildlife!". We heard you loud and clear. In addition to the goats and chickens already present in the first game, the ecosystem of ÁRIDA 2 is much richer. You’ll be able to encounter carcará hawks, foxes, snakes, donkeys, dogs, and much more! All of this is on top of Cícera's new companion: Titela, a skinny goat full of personality who will help sniff out items and secrets across the map!

🔹Revamped Survival For survival system enthusiasts, we have completely remodeled resource management. In ÁRIDA 2, the loot and crafting systems have been deepened to give players much more autonomy.

🔹Vertical Exploration The backlands of ÁRIDA 2 isn't just bigger; it’s vertical. We’ve introduced new forms of movement that will challenge your perception of space. Cícera will now be able to cross narrow bridges, explore biomes at different altitudes, and make use of other new traversal features that we will reveal soon.

To reward the most adventurous players, we’ve scattered new collectibles and a new Memories feature throughout the world. By interacting with these elements, you will unlock records that deepen the game's lore, revealing the past of the people who lived in that historical context.

🔹Surviving the Night While the sun is your greatest enemy during the day, the night brings dangers of a completely different nature. In ÁRIDA 2, we’ve introduced night gameplay featuring a dynamic threat system.

When night falls, visibility drops drastically, and you will need to spend precious resources

to keep your oil lamp lit and avoid the shadows of the backlands.

🔹Cinematic Direction and Visual Polish Finally, you probably noticed that ÁRIDA 2 looks visually sharper and more refined. Polish applied to lighting, models, textures, and visual effects enhances the artistic identity that makes the ÁRIDA series so special.

Additionally, dialogues and cutscenes now feature a much more cinematic camera language. Character interactions have gained dynamic angles and expressiveness, making the narrative far more engaging and dramatic.

What’s Next?

We are moving forward with our pipeline of adjustments and polish, and we can’t wait for you to get your hands on this new adventure. If you liked what you saw and want to support the development of Brazilian independent games, add ÁRIDA 2 to your Wishlist and share it with your friends right now!

This helps our studio immensely to gain visibility here on Steam.

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16 May 2026Developer post

ÁRIDA 2 at Gamescom LATAM!

Development for ÁRIDA 2: Rise of the Brave is in full swing, and today we’re here to share a recap of what we’ve been up to recently at Gamescom LATAM! 🎮 Three times more 'Sertão' Anyone who dropped by the event got to test the new ÁRIDA 2 demo across three different locations:

Development for ÁRIDA 2: Rise of the Brave is in full swing, and today we’re here to share a recap of what we’ve been up to recently at Gamescom LATAM!

🎮 Three times more 'Sertão'

Anyone who dropped by the event got to test the new ÁRIDA 2 demo across three different locations: at the Abragames, Sebrae, and Brazil Games Accelerator booths. The community’s reception was incredible and got us super excited! In addition to playing it first-hand, people were able to grab exclusive merch, including the new compact (and very affordable!) version of the Official Artbook from the first ÁRIDA.

Want to grab your copy?

📕 https://www.amazon.com.br/Art-Árida-Mini-Backlands-Awakening

📺 PREMIERE: The New Gameplay Teaser at Coelho Direct!

If you missed the live broadcast on the main stage during @Coelho no Japão's panel, don't worry! We revealed our new Gameplay Teaser, which shows exactly how we are evolving the game based on your feedback.

Here are the 3 main pillars of this evolution:

Visual and Atmospheric Refinement: The backlands are more alive than ever. We’ve implemented a more sophisticated lighting system and particle effects that bring unprecedented immersion to the game's ecosystem.
Pacing and Contemplation: Going against the grain of a frantic market, we calibrated the pace to emphasize narrative depth and your emotional connection to the world and characters.
Overhauled Systems and UI: Much smoother movement and a clean, modern user interface (UI). All of this was changed by listening directly to the constructive feedback from our community here on Steam!

Watch on YouTube

🥾 "The Ascent": From Real Life Straight Into the Game

Did you catch the final scene of the teaser? Internally, we call that moment "The Ascent" (A Subida). This scene is the real-world result of the research expeditions our team took to the Sanctuary of Monte Santo, in Bahia. We climbed it, documented it, and translated that experience directly into gameplay.

🧡 Help us spread the word of ÁRIDA!

If you enjoyed the updates and want to show some massive support for our studio, don’t forget to add ÁRIDA 2 to your Wishlist here on Steam.

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08 Nov 2024Developer post

ÁRIDA on consoles!

The game about the culture of the Brazilian backlands completes its multiplatform saga! Switch and Xbox versions of the acclaimed ÁRIDA: Backland’s Awakening will be available starting November 22 ! The end of the year brought great news for Aoca Game Lab . After winning second p

The game about the culture of the Brazilian backlands completes its multiplatform saga! Switch and Xbox versions of the acclaimed ÁRIDA: Backland’s Awakening will be available starting November 22!

The end of the year brought great news for Aoca Game Lab. After winning second place in the "Embratur - Brasil Tá pra Game!" award, ÁRIDA finally arrives on consoles, establishing the series’ two feet in the multiplatform world.

The first version was released for PCs in 2019, followed by updates in 2020, with the “1 Year Edition”, and 2021, with the “2 Year Edition”, versions that brought new content, languages and improvements to the game inspired by the historic town of Canudos. In 2022, the mobile versions (Android and iOS) were released, followed by a major update in 2023 with the “Definitive Edition” version, which brought ÁRIDA to the Google Play Pass subscription system.

Now, at the end of 2024, Cícera’s adventures will find new fans in the world of consoles.

According to the company’s COO, Victor Cardozo, completing this journey is part of the series’ expansion plans, because, according to him: “people have always asked for the console version. Especially on the Switch, where there is a great “match” with the players’ profile. This expansion could have come much earlier, but this escalation was part of our strategy”.

Despite the proposals from publishers and porting companies, Aoca made a bold decision: to overcome the difficulties involved in importing equipment and the development itself to take on the entire process to develop an internal porting core.

Regarding this, Anderson Sampaio, the company's CTO, states that "it was a major challenge to carry out the port in parallel with the company's other projects. The programming and quality control teams have evolved a lot, so we are much better prepared for the future challenges of the series. This is a great achievement that is still celebrated internally today, as we now have the autonomy and decision-making power to take our series to the main platforms: PC, Mobile and Consoles".

Taking advantage of the momentum, Aoca is also preparing to launch the Epic Store version of ÁRIDA, seeking to further expand the reach of the series in the PC world. The Playstation version is also being developed "in-house", with a release scheduled for the first half of 2025.

But the news doesn't stop there!

Later this year, ÁRIDA will receive an update for 3 new languages: Polish, Vietnamese and Indonesian, recurring demands especially for the mobile version, meaning that internationalization strategies can count on 15 languages instead of 12.

Original post

14 Jun 2024Developer post

Launch of the ÁRIDA Artbook

The ArtBook " The Art of ÁRIDA - Book I: Awakening " was launched today, 06/14 , so Aoca Game Lab celebrates the expansion of its award-winning series set in the Brazilian backlands of the 19th century. Published by Editora Europa , the launch establishes a still unusual partners

04 Jun 2024Developer post

The rapidly expanding ARIDA backlands

Here comes the physical version of our Artbook! 😍📕 Published by Editora Europa , the launch establishes an unusual partnership between a Brazilian independent games company and a book publisher. Titled " The Art of ÁRIDA - Book I: Awakening ", the physical ArtBook is available

02 Dec 2023Developer post

Update and more news from ÁRIDA

The year is ending, but there is time for new things! 👀 An update with several new features is now live: New music for dialogues, cinematics and other scenes in the game; New sound effects for various actions in the game; Many visual improvements such as particles and aesthetic

13 Oct 2023Developer post

ÁRIDA: Definitive Edition

ÁRIDA gets a Definitive version that promises to please new and old fans of the series. 🌵 Improvements were implemented to expand and improve the experience, such as a map, new missions, new items, collectibles, and even new mechanics! There are also three new game modes: “ Adve

13 May 2023Developer post

The backlands of ÁRIDA are on sale!

ARIDA is 50% off from May 12th to May 16th on the Steam page! During this promotional period, a few other streamers will stream their adventures to share their experiences with the world. It's unbelievable how each player interacts with the world of ÁRIDA in a different way: some

17 Aug 2022Developer post

3 years of ÁRIDA!

It's been 3 years since the release of ÁRIDA: Backland's Awakening here on Steam. To celebrate, we at Aoca have started a cycle of promotions with discounts of up to 75% ! On Steam and all other platforms, including Google Play as well, where we launched the mobile version last m

18 Dec 2021Developer post

2-year edition: there is a new update!

And it's been two years since the release of our first game, ARIDA: Backland's Awakening ! ❤️ In celebration, we have a big update on Steam ! The first new feature is a digital artbook that we made with all the love for you! We had no idea how much work it is to make a book, but

25 Jun 2021Developer post

Bundle with 9 Brazilian games!

ARIDA: Backland's Awakening is now part of a bundle with 8 other cool Brazilian games ! During the Steam Sale, this bundle will be at a generous 66% discount ! Here's the list of the games that are part of the Box Special Edition Indie BR : • ÁRIDA: Backland’s Awakening • Cowmilk

ARIDA: Backland's Awakening

Updates & announcements

🏆 Cícera's Journey Continues — and It's Already Winning Awards

🏆 An Award and Two Nominations in Brazil!

Around the World: From Europe to Bon Odori and a Steam Fest!

🌵 Double Backlands at Gamescom 2026!

How to support ÁRIDA 2 development

ÁRIDA 2 Demo now available!

The continuity of a saga

New exploration and survival mechanics

Unexpected allies on the road

New soundtrack and refined UI

Take your time and help us with your Feedback!

New Features in the ÁRIDA 2

Below, we’ve listed some of the new features showcased in the teaser:

What’s Next?

ÁRIDA 2 at Gamescom LATAM!

🎮 Three times more 'Sertão'

📺 PREMIERE: The New Gameplay Teaser at Coelho Direct!

🥾 "The Ascent": From Real Life Straight Into the Game

🧡 Help us spread the word of ÁRIDA!

Scenes from ÁRIDA 2 revealed

ÁRIDA on consoles!

Launch of the ÁRIDA Artbook

The rapidly expanding ARIDA backlands

Here comes the physical version of our Artbook! 😍📕

Made in Brazil Sale on air...

Update and more news from ÁRIDA

ÁRIDA: Definitive Edition

Update: Definitive Edition!

The backlands of ÁRIDA are on sale!

Here comes spring! 🌺

Great promotion of Brazilian games on Steam

Promotion and lots of news!

3 years of ÁRIDA!

2-year edition: there is a new update!

Complete 2-Year Edition Update List

Bundle with 9 Brazilian games!