Daniel Rosenfeld, widely known as C418, crafted the memorable soundtrack for Minecraft, music that’s woven into the DNA of a gaming generation. Even though he’s perfectly content with the notion of being forever labeled “the Minecraft guy,” Rosenfeld stepped away from that iconic image on March 11 to release something far more personal—a game. This new journey, deeply intimate and stirring, is called Wanderstop, where he played a pivotal role in its creation.
Wanderstop, brought to life by Ivy Road, unfolds the intriguing tale of a formidable warrior named Alta. After suffering a defeat in front of a large audience, she wanders into a mystical woodland area, ultimately finding herself at a quirky little tea shop. The game explores themes like burnout, with Alta dubbing herself a “failure” and expressing self-doubt after her loss. As the game kicks off, players are given the choice to urge her to take a break. Yet, she briefly pauses only to push herself back into action, chastising herself for even entertaining the idea of idleness. As the narrative progresses, Alta learns to slow down and take a much-needed sigh of relief.
Rosenfeld shares that his own experiences echo the game’s storyline. During the development of Wanderstop, he wasn’t just composing; he rolled up his sleeves as an engineer too, diving into every aspect of the audio work. This was a new challenge for him, he explained during a February Zoom chat with Polygon, just weeks before the game’s release.
Reflecting on this whirlwind of activity, Rosenfeld confides, “I’ve had to deal with a lot on an emotional level, especially regarding hard work. Even now, with the game’s release just around the corner, I find myself making tweaks, pushing for every last improvement I can muster.”
He admits that setting work aside and just basking in the moment can be a real struggle, particularly given his ADHD. “There are a lot of takeaways in Wanderstop,” he admits, “and I get them, but sometimes I just can’t heed that advice. It’s one of those times when I tell myself just hold on, I need to plunge into work for a bit. There’s so much depth there.”
Despite battling these personal hurdles, Rosenfeld assures that the Wanderstop team is serious about promoting healthy work-life balance. With a chuckle, he notes, “We’ve certainly got a bit of irony at play there, but one thing’s for sure: we take overworking seriously—there was no crunch with this game.”
Reflecting on the transition from the expanding franchise of Minecraft to a smaller-scale project like Wanderstop, Rosenfeld elaborates on why indie gaming appeals to him. “I’ve had conversations across many sectors,” he mentions, “from AAA games to Hollywood, to indie musicians touring. But there’s something uniquely appealing about the spirit of independent projects—the way people juggle multiple roles and bring creativity to life in such a versatile environment. I just thrive in that kind of dynamic setting.”
