Coding nostalgia: Filipino developer turns ‘Tumbang Preso’ into modern adventure

A first look at the title screen of ‘Tumbang Preso: Endless,’ which introduces the digital revival of the traditional Filipino game. (Photo courtesy of John Patrick Quintos)

“Tumbang Preso,” which loosely translates to “Knock Down the Prisoner,” is a beloved Filipino children’s game typically played outdoors. The mechanics are simple: one player guards an empty can (the ‘preso,” or prisoner), while the others take turns trying to knock it down by throwing their slippers, then rushing to retrieve them before being tagged by the “it” player. It’s a game of timing, speed, and street-smart strategy. 

Now, that same spirit of fast reflexes and clever tactics lives on in “Tumbang Preso: Endless,” a single-player roguelike card game launched only last June 21. At first glance, it plays like a classic card battler with endless replayability and ever-evolving challenges. But underneath its digital mechanics is the soul of the original game: slipper in hand, tension rising, and strategy ready to fly.

The creative mind behind the game is John Patrick Quintos, also known as Jon Quin, a 24-year-old Filipino developer from Navotas City, Metro Manila, who transformed his memories of playing in alleyways into a full-fledged game, proving how creativity and code can come together to preserve Filipino culture and tradition. 

Translating Tumbang Preso from a spontaneous street game into a structured game posed an interesting challenge for Quintos: “How does the game end?” In real life, the game usually ends in very Filipino ways: when someone gets tired, when a parent calls them home, or when a player gets too upset or bruised. There are no formal winning conditions, just the rhythms of everyday life dictating its beginning and end. 

A gamer himself, Quintos knows that loving games doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll enjoy making them. But for him, game development became a way to merge his interests. He pulled elements he liked from different genres and blended them into a cohesive experience. 

The result is a hybrid design that combines card game mechanics and roguelike progression. The gameplay takes inspiration from titles like Hades, where players are presented with choices after each level. These upgrades allow them to evolve their play style. This injects replayability into the game while still honoring the unpredictable chaos of the original street version.

From alleyway to app store

For generations of Filipino kids, Tumbang Preso was a staple of growing up. It was a recollection of memories, a means of preserving tradition, and a celebration of culture. 

Still, despite its simplicity, Tumbang Preso remains iconic, often revived by each generation that remembers how fun and chaotic it was. It represents a childhood spent barefoot, where joy was improvised, and friendships were forged in play. Even more, it evokes lazy afternoons, shouts of “taya!” echoing in narrow alleyways, and the thrill of spontaneous community fun. 

Personally, Quintos did it purely out of nostalgia. It is a game he and his friends used to play in the alleyway back in the day.

Now working as a junior software engineer, Quintos started developing games as a hobby three years ago. Creating the game began as a personal memory, then evolved into a project, and ultimately became a full-fledged game: a digital tribute to the heart of a Filipino childhood classic. 

“During the planning stage, I realized that there’s a genuine charm in our culture – it’s more than just Filipino recognition. There are things that can naturally be translated into fun gameplay. I’m glad I did. I hope I can inspire others, too,” he said.

A closer look at the game design of Tumbang Preso: Endless demonstrates a thoughtful integration of nostalgic elements and contemporary design. (Photo courtesy of John Patrick Quintos)

Support role: artists in the game

While Quintos designed the mechanics, it was his artist friends who gave the game its soul. The textures of old neighborhood walls, every piece of graffiti, every overgrown bush, and makeshift structure – these were not random assets. Through detailed pixel art, they reimagined the overlooked corners where generations of Filipino kids once played or still do. The artists did not just illustrate; they translated memory into atmosphere, which helped make the game feel like home.

“When it comes to the background art, I’m giving full credit to my artist friends, DemKi (Daryll Dionision) and Vinsprout (John Kevin Aclan). I just gave them directions on where the house should be and where the objects in the game should go. They were the ones who brought it all to life,” Quintos said.

What began as a solo passion project slowly evolved into a community of creation. Every element on screen carries a story, not just of childhood, but of creative trust, where friends who grew up playing games together found themselves building one. And in doing so, they turned their nostalgia into something others could play, revisit, and even reimagine.

It stands as a reminder that art is shaped by human hands, and that collaboration doesn’t just create but amplifies the art itself.

By turning these street dynamics into digital mechanics, Quintos reimagined Tumbang Preso for a new generation. The game keeps its cultural roots while evolving its form.

Quintos’s work can be seen as a kind of love letter to cultural preservation in the Philippines. He shared that more and more locally made games are gaining recognition, which has become a source of inspiration for him.

However, he admitted that at first, he was hesitant to develop Tumbang Preso: Endless. He was concerned that he might be boxed in so that people would expect all his future projects to be Filipino-based. 

Ultimately, he decided to proceed with the project. Rather than seeing it as a limitation, he saw it as an opportunity to showcase his culture in a way that felt both modern and deeply personal.

Legacy, reprogrammed

In a world where most children are now growing up in a technology-centered environment, games like Tumbang Preso: Endless create a bridge between generations. Despite the differences in what each generation grew up with, the game  brings people together instead of dividing them. It becomes a living manifestation of cultural preservation, showing that tradition can evolve with the times.

“The reactions were very mixed. Mostly positive, but there were some who said, ‘Instead of playing outside, kids will just be on their phones.’ But I saw one comment that defended the idea, saying there are people who can’t run around anymore, like the elderly, but still want to experience the game. For them, the digital version has value,” Quintos said.

However, for Quintos the goal was never to replace real-life play, but rather to reflect it. Inspiration, he says, still comes from the outside world. 

“Don’t forget to go outside and socialize. That’s where it all started. That’s also where you’ll find inspiration. Let’s not limit ourselves to staying indoors,” he reminded.

It also empowers local developers, reminding them that their memories, their streets, and their stories matter — they’re not just nostalgic fragments meant to fade, but raw materials for something to build.

Culture isn’t static. It moves. It changes. It learns new languages, and this includes coding. 

And sometimes, that’s what remembering looks like now.

Tumbang Preso: Endless is not just a game. It’s a tribute.

To code culture is to weave memory into motion; and turn childhood echoes into playable worlds, where tradition lives not in textbooks, but in every tap, every challenge, every pixel of breath. – Courtney Ora-a, INQUIRER.net trainee

RELATED STORIES:

‘One Last Game’ allows you to play your fave childhood street games

This free-to-play mobile game will take you on a cultural trip using a jeepney fueled by… milk tea

Filipino horror game ‘Hapunan’ puts players in the shoes of balut vendor who uncovers dark conspiracies