Indie Developer Adds Playable Tofu Character to Satisfy Gender Complaints

The developer behind the upcoming indie simulation game Honcho has implemented a unique solution to address player complaints regarding the game's protagonist: adding a playable, sentient block of tofu.

Greg Pryjmachuk, the solo developer at Minksworks known for the 2018 title Jalopy, introduced the eccentric character option after some community members expressed dissatisfaction with the game's female lead. The new feature allows players to replace the human avatar entirely with the food item, complete with an option to hide the character's hands.

A Creative Compromise

Honcho places players in a procedurally-generated Showa-era Japan, where they must build a vending machine empire using customizable Kei trucks. While the game focuses heavily on vehicle maintenance and real estate, the shift from a male protagonist in the developer's previous work to a female lead in Honcho sparked debate in certain community circles.

On social media platforms and the game's Steam forums, a segment of players requested the option to play as a male character. One specific forum post argued that playing as a female character "ruined immersion." In response, Pryjmachuk explained that the project currently lacks publisher funding—describing it as funded by "hopes and dreams"—and creating a fully rigged male character with unique outfits and story beats was not financially viable.

Instead, the developer offered the "Mr. Tofu" option as a practical alternative.

Developer Response and Context

Speaking to Polygon, Pryjmachuk clarified that the addition was not made with malice, nor was it a joke. The player who made the initial request reportedly responded positively to the compromise. The developer noted that he did not want to dictate how others enjoy their media, stating that while he has no interest in self-inserting, he recognized the player's desire for a different experience.

The move has drawn comparisons to industry discourse regarding the cost of character customization. It serves as a roundabout reference to a 2014 controversy where a major publisher claimed that adding female characters would double production work. By using a low-effort asset to solve a high-effort request, Pryjmachuk highlighted the resource constraints often faced by indie developers while defusing a potentially toxic situation with humor.

The Steam discussion thread regarding the protagonist has since been locked to prevent dogpiling, with the developer stating the interaction was intended to offer a funny insight into the corners of indie development.