How COREBLAZER, the Non‑Publisher Support Team, Propelled Hit Coin Roguelike RACCOIN to Success

“RACCOIN: Coin Pusher Roguelike,” a fresh roguelike coin‑pushing title crafted by Doraccoon Games, has been available on PC via Steam since March 31. Priced at 13 ¥ including tax, the game has already earned a “very well received” rating on the store page, with over 90 % of reviewers praising it. In a remarkable burst of popularity, concurrent player counts surpassed 10,000 in a matter of days, underscoring the title’s rapid ascent in the indie scene.

Remarkably, the creative force behind this hit is a newly graduated university student, and the core team consists of just three members. “RACCOIN” marks their inaugural commercial release, a testament to their ambition and skill.

A key contributor to the game’s success is COREBLAZER, a development‑support outfit launched by Hypergryph, the studio behind “Arknights.” Unlike traditional publishers or outsourcing firms, COREBLAZER offers financial backing, business guidance, and deep insights into the Chinese market, providing a unique support structure for emerging developers.

In a recent interview, we spoke with Doraccoon Games’ producer, Wan Shou, and COREBLAZER’s strategic investment director, Guo Jinye. They shared the inspiration behind “RACCOIN,” the nature of the assistance received from COREBLAZER, and how that partnership helped bring the project to fruition.

During my time at China Central Television University, both I and Wulong were immersed in the Game Studies department, juggling coursework while gaining hands‑on development experience. Every assignment, from daily homework to the capstone project, revolved around creating games.

When the concept for RACCOIN: Coin Pusher Roguelike first surfaced, I was already buried in my graduation project. The idea was still a distant dream, but even then we were already envisioning mechanics like rabbit coins that spawn more rabbits upon contact, and bomb coins that obliterate every coin on the board.

In the early prototyping phase, we studied existing coin‑pusher titles such as Old Coin Pusher Friends and Coin Dozer, examining both realistic and monster‑combat variants. By dissecting how predecessors rendered coin physics and gameplay, we drew inspiration for our own design. We also explored roguelike titles like Ballionaire and Fortune Master, which further shaped our creative direction.

Raccoon: Coin Pusher Roguelike, published by Playstack, has also received backing from Coreblazer. The Japanese investment and support firm, which focuses on game‑development assistance, has taken a hands‑on role in the project, offering both financial resources and strategic guidance.

Coreblazer’s approach goes beyond a one‑off investment. The team builds long‑term relationships with promising developers, providing capital and business support to help them navigate the competitive gaming landscape.

Lead developer Manbooth shares that Coreblazer acted as a behind‑the‑scenes powerhouse, offering invaluable business advice alongside development help. “They didn’t dictate what we must do; instead, they suggested practical approaches that made sense for us,” he explains. “As recent graduates, we were unfamiliar with many aspects of management and distribution, so their insights were a huge relief.”

Coreblazer’s founder, Guo Jinyan, recounts how the firm introduced itself to university students in their junior and senior years. By encouraging students to thoughtfully consider their future paths rather than rush into employment or entrepreneurship, Coreblazer fosters a deeper understanding of the industry. During these outreach efforts, students met Manbooth through their faculty, reviewed his work, and were then presented with Coreblazer’s support package.