The OvenSmash director thinks that PvP shouldn't just be for hardcore players

PvP games have always carried a certain reputation. For many casual players, that space is reserved for games that aren't always inviting and instead, more often than not, quite intimidating, as they're dominated by skill gaps and players who have far more time to devote to a game than other players might. And that perception has only grown stronger as competitive gaming continues to evolve, generally rewarding engagement at the expense of accessibility. But what happens when a series likes CookieRunknown for its charm and approachability, step into the competition arena and try to rethink what it might feel like? It seems like CookieRun: OvenSmash intends to do just that, to give players with different preferences a chance to feel like they're actually good at a PvP game.

GameRant was recently interviewed CookieRun: OvenSmash game director WonYoung Lee on the challenges of bringing the long CookieRun franchise into a real-time PvP environment. As Devsisters brings a new genre to the IP with fast-paced competitive battles and multiple modes built around short matches, Lee offered some insight into how the team approaches competition in a way that aligns with the series' identity while embracing the intensity that PvP so often demands.

CookieRun: OvenSmash wants to make PvP more inviting

One of the biggest struggles with moving a welcoming, fun IP-like CookieRun in the intense space that PvP gaming is trying to maintain a balance between identity and competition. Taking it all to a battle arena format brings with it expectations that don't always line up with what players associate with CookieRunespecially when the fun of PvP tends to boil down to player skill. For WonYoung Lee, the challenge wasn't just about making a competitive game with OvenSmashbut figuring out how that competition could still feel like it belonged within CookieRun universe:

“We started with CookieRun IP, and it's a new genre, the battle arena genre, so it can be tough. But how do we do it? CookieRun? How do we stay in style? CookieRun while making it a tough competition? And how do we develop CookieRun into a PVP game? That's what we focused on the most.”

But developers can't just hope to succeed if all they've done is slap their own IP on top of someone else's idea, and at first glance it's easy to think CookieRun: OvenSmash do just that. Of course, the upcoming mobile title has been compared to other battle arena games like Supercells Brawl Starsand it's easy to understand why. The bright, stylized characters, the fast-paced matchmaking, the hero-based design, and the team-based PvP focus all reinforce these comparisons. However, Devsister's goal with OvenSmash was never to compete with other games – or any similar games Brawl Starsin particular — and has instead “thought a lot about why people would like this particular game.”

In the end, it's about honing what ultimately does CookieRun: OvenSmash unique among other PvP games. Again, games in this space are often dependent on player skill, which can create a barrier for those who aren't ready or willing to commit to that level of play or the time it takes to get there. Lee pointed to that gap as one of the biggest things the team wanted to address when considering what makes CookieRun: OvenSmash feel different:

“I think when there are more advanced players, more experienced players, PvP games are about losing to those players. Small things can have a snowball effect, and those elements can make the game boring. The difference in skill can make a big difference. If the skill ceiling is too high, it can be overwhelming for some users. So we focused on luck and skill, not only the user can use the skill, not even the user can use. modes and tricks in the game, and they still can overcome the skill gap.”

What does CookieRun: OvenSmash stands out, then, is how it redefines the idea of fairness in PvP gaming. Instead of treating balance as something that strictly rewards the best players, CookieRun: OvenSmash seems to be exploring ways to keep players engaged even when their skill levels aren't quite in line with others. It doesn't automatically trivialize the skill cap, but it does introduce enough variety that outcomes don't always feel like they've been decided before a match even starts.

That idea feeds directly into how Lee sees the game's potential place in the genre. Instead of just competing with established PvP games, there's a sense that CookieRun: OvenSmash trying to rethink who these games are actually built for in the first place:

“Yes, I think it's definitely possible. I really like the PVP genre itself. When I play PVP games, it can still be stressful. It's a lot of fun, but some matches are unsatisfying, so I think it's hard to play it for a long time. I think it's because players who stay in PVP games are really hardcore users. And we thought we could play non-hardcore games so that we could do different types of PVP. of users coming together – new players and hardcore players We wanted to go further than others and make sure we become a new standard in the PVP genre.

Bringing these two audiences together is where the idea becomes more ambitious. PvP games tend to decline over time, with experienced players raising the skill floor in a way that makes it harder for others to keep up. If CookieRun: OvenSmash can maintain a space where both groups feel like they belong, it could end up doing more than just creating a niche and possibly even changing the way accessibility is approached in competitive gaming.

Cookie Run OvenSmash - Official Steam Screenshot 5

For Lee, that vision is ultimately rooted in something much simpler than genre expectations or design philosophy. As he put it, “I want a lot of players to come to our game, invite their friends, and I just don't want them to quit after playing a short match. I want this game to be something that people would want to invite others to and want to play with their friends.” To accomplish that, Devsisters believes CookieRun: OvenSmash must be a game for everyone, and that's where a little accessibility can go a long way.