SUPPORT VOCABOUNDHelp build
the world.
Give $15 or more and the game is yours, with beta access before launch.
VocaBound is made by two co-founders, every weekday. Donations pay for the things we can’t do alone — real Taiwanese voices, art, music and the people who make a world worth learning in. Any amount helps.
— raised · next goal $250
Where we’re headed
Small goals first, so you can watch each one land. Donations and preorders both move the meter, and when we reach a goal, the next one appears.
- $250Up next
On Steam
VocaBound gets a Steam page you can wishlist.
For example
- The Steam fee to list the game
- Store art and a short trailer
- $750Goal 2
First voices
The opening scene in real Taiwanese voices.
For example
- A native Taiwan Mandarin voice actor for the airport arrival
- Studio recording time
- $1,500Goal 3
Checked by a teacher
Level 1’s Mandarin, checked by someone who teaches it.
For example
- A Taiwanese Mandarin teacher reviewing Level 1’s words and dialogue
- Licensed street sounds and ambience for the first scenes
- $3,000Goal 4
A street worth walking
The first neighborhood, built to feel like Taiwan.
For example
- Licensed 3D packs for shops, signs, scooters and the MRT
- Materials and lighting that make it feel lived in
- $5,000Goal 5
A free demo
A demo anyone can play, tested by real beginners.
For example
- Paid playtesters who are new to Mandarin
- Entering a Steam demo festival
- $7,500Goal 6
Chapter one, voiced
The whole first story arc, ready to play.
For example
- A voice cast for Lin Mei, Mr. Zhou and everyone you meet
- An original main theme
- $10,000Goal 7
Ready for Early Access
Polish, accessibility and the first classrooms.
For example
- Subtitles, Pinyin and Zhuyin options, and adjustable text
- A pilot with founding classrooms
- A faster computer for builds
After $10,000: a second region, a bigger team, and more languages.
All donations and preorders go into one fund for building VocaBound. Goals show our plans and priorities right now. If plans change or something costs less, the money goes to whatever the game needs most, and we’ll share what it went to in our weekly updates.
Any amount helps
Small amounts add up fast for a two-person team. Every donation moves the meter above, and we share what the money went to in the weekly devlog.
- Not tax-deductible. VocaBound LLC is a company, not a charity.
- $15 or more includes the game — the preorder edition your amount covers. Uncheck the box if you’d rather just donate.
- Refunds within 30 days if you donated by mistake — email hello@vocabound.tech.
Frequently asked questions
Is my donation tax-deductible?
No. VocaBound LLC is a small company, not a charity, so donations aren’t tax-deductible. They go straight into building the game.
Do I get the game if I donate?
Yes, if you give $15 or more — with beta access before launch. You get the highest preorder edition your donation covers — $15 is Traveler, $30 Explorer, $50 Founding Traveler, $100 Founder’s Edition and $250 Pioneer. It’s checked by default; uncheck it if you only want to donate.
Will my donation go to the goal shown?
It goes into the same fund as every other donation and preorder. The goals are our current plan, not fixed line items. We spend on what moves the game forward most, and post what we spent it on in the devlog.
What if you raise more or less than a goal?
Goals are a plan, not a promise. When we reach one, the next goal appears, and we’ll say in the devlog what the money went to.
Can I get a refund?
Yes. If you donated by mistake, email us within 30 days and we’ll refund it in full.
Can my school or company give a larger gift?
Yes. Online donations go up to $10,000 at a time. For anything larger, an invoice, or a sponsorship, contact us.
Arrive with more.
Every edition includes the full game at release plus in-game starting cash — and your preorder directly funds development. Not ready yet? Join the waitlist for launch news.