I recently had the chance to sit down and play a few rounds with Marco de Santos from Level 99 Games. I’ll be honest, I was pleasantly surprised to find out he’s Filipino! Since Level 99 is a American studio, it was awesome to connect over our shared heritage and hear about his journey in game design.
We dove into his latest creation, Anito: Wish Granters, and lowkey? I am loving this game. It’s light, breezy, and honestly perfect for game nights.
The Lore: What is an Anito?
In Philippine mythology, Anitos are nature spirits that inhabit everything. They’re in the grass, the clouds, and the trees. As Marco joked during our game:
"How would one wield such power? To move nations? To move mountains? Or more importantly... how about using a spirit to move this car that’s blocking my driveway?"
Striking the Balance: Why This Isn't "Just Another Party Game"
We’ve all played party games that are too simple. Marco shared his philosophy on finding that "Goldilocks zone"—a game that is easy to grasp but deeply engaging.
"Party games must connect you to the people at the table first," Marco told me. "Depth comes from the unique lived experiences of the players. Everyone can doodle, but we all doodle differently."
How to Play: Cards Against Humanity Meets Gartic Phone
The elevator pitch for Anito: Wish Granters is pure chaos in the best way.
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The Setup: One player is the Wisher, trying to solve a problem from their hand.
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The Twist: The rest of the players are Anitos trying to provide the solution.
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The Catch: Wishers and Anitos don’t speak the same language. You have to communicate entirely through drawings.
This leads to what Marco calls "divine misunderstandings." One minute you think you’re drawing a laughing baby; the next, your friends are convinced it’s a giant pizza pie from the heavens. Hilarity, as they say, ensues.
A "People-First" Design
What sets Anito apart is how it highlights your friends' personalities. If you’re the Anito of Fire, how you draw "fire" says a lot about you. Is it a cozy fireplace? A stovetop flame? Or a giant fireball meant to eradicate the very concept of winter?
"It’s my hope," Marco said, "that every game gives you a better understanding of the people at your table in a way that transcends words."
Bringing the Philippines to the Global Stage
Marco has a habit of sneaking Pinoy culture into Level 99 titles(shoutout to Nawa from Bullet♥︎ and The Remover from Spooktacular!), but Anito: Wish Granters is his biggest tribute yet.
While he admits it’s not a 100% historical textbook representation—ancient spirits probably weren't answering wishes with fireballs for cute animals—it captures the spirit of communal storytelling that is so central to Filipino culture.
About Gaming Library
Gaming Library aims to be the go-to resource for board games, providing not only titles that can be enjoyed by families, but also to be enjoyed by friends both newcomers and veterans alike. By pulling from different resources from all over the world, we at Gaming Library curate an impressive collection of games for consumers to choose from, suitable for anybody from casual players to hardcore hobbyists. In doing so, we hope to provide the best means to foster activities that strengthen family ties and friendships, while teaching relevant skills and practical critical thinking that can be applied to your everyday life.
