Students behind CataMiner are making an impression and will appear at INDIGO next week.
The team behind CataMiner proves that Fontys ICT students aren’t afraid to dream big. Over the past few years, they have worked hard on their own game project, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed. With several successful presentations, a SPARC Award and a place at INDIGO on 2 & 3 June in Rotterdam – one of the most important gaming events in the Benelux – they are demonstrating what is possible when talent, perseverance and collaboration come together.
CataMiner is a four-player co-op game in which players team up to venture into the underground world to rescue so-called ‘Cat Gremlins’. The game is inspired by various classics from the 1990s and combines exploration, mining gameplay and humorous chaos into a unique experience.
The story revolves around an evil Lizard Wizard who hates alien cats. Using magic, he transforms these cats into screaming, indestructible gremlins. As he then doesn’t know what to do with his own creations, he locks them away deep underground. Players take on the role of a cat rescue team that descends to the core of the planet to free as many gremlins as possible and turn them back into normal alien cats.
The developers, students at Fontys ICT, describe their game as a reflection of the team itself: fun, chaotic and built from a colourful collection of ideas, mechanics and surprises. The result is a multiplayer experience centred on cooperation, in which no two play sessions are the same.
A flying start
From the outset, the development of CataMiner was on the up. Deadlines were met, designs took shape, and the team managed to lay a strong foundation for their project.
That strong start was confirmed during their first Dragons’ Den presentation, where the students received nothing but positive feedback. An achievement of which they can rightly be proud. During a second Dragons’ Den, the team once again demonstrated the progress they had made in developing the game.
The biggest milestone, however, came during Innovations Insight, where the team won the SPARC Award. This made CataMiner the first entertainment game ever to receive this prize. A special recognition of the team’s hard work and innovative approach.
The success was not limited to this award. Just like the team behind Rats in the Kitchen, the students have now set up their own company. In addition, they have been accepted into the SPARC Incubator programme, where they receive support in further developing their studio and future-proofing their project.
On the way to INDIGO and beyond
Next week is the big moment: on 2 and 3 June, the team behind CataMiner will be at INDIGO 2026 in Rotterdam. During this event, they will have the chance to present their project to players, professionals, publishers and investors from the international games industry.
CataMiner has also been awarded a Showcase Spot, meaning the game will be playable on the exhibition floor for visitors from the international games industry. In addition, this gives the team a chance to win an INDIGO Award.
The students behind Rats in the Kitchen will also be present. They have been awarded a Pitch Spot, allowing them to present their game to publishers, investors and other business partners. This means that two student teams from Fontys ICT will be represented at one of the most important events in the Dutch games sector.
After INDIGO, the students are already setting their sights on the next step: Steam Fest. With every showcase, not only does the game grow, but so does the team’s experience as young developers and entrepreneurs. An impressive development that shows just how far a student project can go.
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