Building a story-driven game for heritage kids—what's the biggest friction point in your house when trying to keep Mandarin alive?
Hey everyone! I’m a founder/creator building a story-driven web RPG inspired by Chinese folklore.
Growing up in a heritage family myself, I experienced the classic weekend Chinese school battle firsthand. Now, in our early research with diaspora parents, we keep hearing the same thing: kids hear basic Mandarin at home, but getting them to actively engage, speak, or explore the language voluntarily feels like an uphill battle—especially when competing against Roblox or YouTube.
We’re designing an interactive story game where kids navigate folklore mystery puzzles using their spoken comprehension—making Chinese feel like an immersive world rather than extra homework.
Before our team writes production code, I want to make sure we're listening to real family dynamics:
For heritage parents: What usually happens in your household when you try to get your child to engage with Mandarin learning materials or activities? Where does the frustration hit hardest?
(Note: I'm not selling anything! If you have 2 minutes to help shape our research screener, I put together a free curated guide of non-boring native C-dramas and animated shows on the confirmation page as a thank-you. Link is in the comments below!)