Co-op roguelike "Father, Son & Holy Guns" where a priest wields a gun to fight aliens. A fusion of Lovecraftian atmosphere and sandbox elements.
Note: the original Japanese article can be found at:
https://www.4gamer.net/games/954/G095478/20251019003/
Deputy Editor-in-Chief: Noguchi | 2025/10/19 05:01 (UTC)
From October 16 to 19, 2025, at the venue of gamescom asia × Thailand Game Show 2025, we spoke with Mr. Lerk, Executive Producer at Thai developer Jumbo Jumps, about their upcoming PC game, “Father, Son & Holy Guns”.
Official Website for “Father, Son & Holy Guns”
“Father, Son & Holy Guns” is a shooting game that combines online cooperative gameplay with roguelite elements. The title playfully references “Father, Son and Holy Spirit”—the Christian doctrine of the Trinity—while portraying priests armed with guns battling aliens. Though it appears comedic at first glance, the game actually features a dark narrative.
Alien gods have invaded Earth, attempting to transform humanity into a new species. In response, clergy from various religions unite to confront this extraterrestrial threat, working together in cooperative missions. Enemy designs draw inspiration from H.P. Lovecraft’s works, featuring eldritch beings reminiscent of the Cthulhu Mythos.
The core gameplay involves selecting maps and completing multiple objectives within them. The game supports online co-op for up to four players, with characters offering different playstyles—some excelling in close combat, others specializing in long-range firearm attacks. Some characters even feature control schemes similar to twin-stick shooters.
Successfully completing objectives grants upgrades. Over 60 upgrades are available, and collecting a special item called “Human Oil” scattered across maps allows players to summon bosses for challenging encounters.
A “Black Market” system also exists where players can spend in-game currency earned from defeating enemies to purchase skill upgrades. Additional upgrades can be acquired from NPCs located at specific spots within the map—this gives players full freedom to customize their characters according to personal preference.
According to Mr. Lerk, gameplay is designed differently than titles like “Hades” or “Enter the Gungeon,” instead aiming for a sandbox structure similar to “Deep Rock Galactic.” Players can strengthen their characters in ways they prefer and devise unique strategies accordingly.
One distinctive system in the game is “Sanity.” If players fail to complete all objectives within time limits, their vision begins to blur, glitches appear, and hallucinations start occurring. This mechanic acts as a timer that pushes players toward swift action and decisive decisions, adding tension to gameplay. Combined with its Lovecraftian theme of madness, this creates a uniquely atmospheric experience.
Currently, Jumbo Jumps is focused on developing the first biome, which consists of four maps and one large boss. Once completed, they plan to release an early access version in February 2026. The team then intends to add three more biomes, bringing the total to four. Each biome features distinct visual themes—such as icy environments or highly abstract settings. Final completion is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026, with plans to release additional DLC in 2027.
Pricing will range from $6.99 to $8.99, aiming to appeal to a broad player base. The developers are carefully balancing comedic and satirical elements with darker, more serious tones to shape the game’s overall atmosphere.
Mr. Lerk serves as Executive Producer overseeing the entire project, though he is not involved in direct development work. The core team consists of 10 to 13 members, led by producer Mr. Napak, lead developer, designer, and creative director responsible for map and enemy design.
Jumbo Jumps is currently seeking a publishing partner, and their participation at this year’s “gamescom asia × Thailand Game Show 2025” is part of that effort.
Despite its unconventional premise—clergy battling aliens—the game successfully blends roguelite mechanics with sandbox-style freedom, offering a unique experience. We look forward to seeing how this indie team from Thailand fuses Lovecraftian worldbuilding with high player freedom in gameplay.
Jumbo Jumps Executive Producer Mr. Lerk Thumbnail image No.001 / Cooperative roguelite shooter “Father, Son & Holy Guns” where clergy fight aliens, merging Lovecraftian atmosphere with sandbox elements