Indie developer Wonder Potion has taken to Tumblbug to drop a roadmap for the future, alongside details on the inaugural side story for their breakout hit, SANABI.

For those who missed the start, SANABI first appeared via Tumblbug crowdfunding back in March 2021, before hitting Steam Early Access in June 2022. Wonder Potion initially planned for two short, 20-to-30-minute episodic expansions. However, thanks to the overwhelming support from the fans, the developer has pivoted toward something much more substantial, promising a fresh gameplay experience that transcends the original.

The first side story is titled 'The Day a Ghost Possessed Me', and as many eagle-eyed fans predicted, the protagonist is none other than Major Song. Forget the chain-hook action of the base game; this expansion introduces a high-flying aerial combat system featuring recoverable double jumps and a punchy shotgun. You will step into the boots of Major Song during their time as the youngest-ever cadet to pass the military exam, spanning roughly two hours of gameplay.

Expect 8 standard stages and 2 boss encounters, plus a full-featured speedrun mode for the dedicated. The story unfolds on the outskirts of Hanyang in a robot junkyard, where you will navigate mysterious occurrences and suspicious machines.

Furthermore, Wonder Potion confirmed that the second side story, 'Mari's Past', will now be developed in tandem with the sequel, SANABI 2. This represents a significant shift in plans, as the developer candidly admitted that the aging 2019 Unity engine infrastructure makes it difficult to push for truly innovative mechanics. By bundling this into the production of the sequel, the developer aims to overcome these technical hurdles to deliver a more refined experience. 'Mari's Past' will serve as a prequel to SANABI 2 and will be distributed free of charge.

Before tackling SANABI 2, Wonder Potion plans to release a new title called 'Paradise Workshop' to bolster their development capabilities for the more complex demands of the sequel. 'Paradise Workshop' is described as a 'bloody, hardcore noir top-down action game featuring an angel with a sledgehammer.' Set in a city trapped in a mysterious time loop, the game aims to offer multi-layered progression and a dynamic narrative structure. While acknowledging that this might not be the news fans of SANABI 2 were hoping for, the developer remains committed to bringing the sequel to life.

Both side stories, 'The Day a Ghost Possessed Me' and 'Mari's Past', will be free, with the former expected to launch in the very near future.