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Herne Bay Developer Launches Kent’s First Home-Grown Esports Competition
Local game created in Herne Bay aims to put Kent on the esports map
A new competitive online game developed in Herne Bay is preparing to launch its first official esports tournament – and for its inaugural season, only teams from Kent will be allowed to compete.
Onimo, a fast-paced online multiplayer game developed by local independent studio Mytholite, will host the first season of the Onimo Championship Series (OCS) later this year, bringing together players from across the county to compete for the title of Kent’s first Onimo champions.
The project has been developed primarily by Herne Bay resident Luke, founder of Mytholite, who built the game around a full-time job, often treating development as a second full-time occupation.
“It started as a passion project and gradually grew into something much bigger,” said Luke. “Most people imagine esports being created by massive studios with huge budgets. Onimo was built in Herne Bay, largely by one person, fuelled by determination, late nights, and probably less money than most people spend on takeaways in a month.”
The game’s development budget has become something of a running joke within the team.
“If you add up the direct costs of creating the original version, it was probably somewhere around the cost of a supermarket meal deal. The expensive part was the thousands of hours of work that went into it.”
The upcoming Onimo Championship Series will begin with a unique focus on Kent-based competitors, encouraging local players to represent their towns and communities.
“We wanted to start where the game started,” Luke explained. “Kent has a rich sporting history and the county motto is Invicta – unconquered. We thought it would be fun to challenge Kent players to become the world’s best at a game that was created right here in Kent.”
The tournament is expected to attract teams from across the county, including players from Herne Bay, Whitstable, Canterbury, Margate, Ramsgate, Faversham and beyond.
While esports is often associated with international competitions and million-pound prize pools, Mytholite’s goal is to build a grassroots competitive scene from the ground up.
“We’re not trying to be the next billion-pound esports company overnight,” said Luke. “We’re focused on building a community, creating opportunities for local players, and proving that exciting things can be built in Kent.”
Onimo is currently available to play online, with players already practising ahead of the inaugural season.
For more information about Onimo, the Onimo Championship Series, or to register interest in competing, visit play-onimo.com.
About Mytholite
Mytholite is an independent game development studio based in Herne Bay, Kent. Founded in 2023, the studio focuses on creating original games and interactive experiences, with a commitment to community building and long-term player support.
Media Contact:
Luke
Founder & Creative Director
Mytholite Games
onimo@mytholite.co.uk