Press kit
Everything you need to write about Carnaval Simulator: descriptions, facts, images and contact details. You are free to use all images for coverage of the game.
We will update this press kit with new, higher-quality images in the coming period.
The Big Carnaval Update
The biggest update in the history of Carnaval Simulator, free for everyone who owns the game. With a brand-new city, co-op multiplayer, marching groups, a living crowd, a new light system and Mac support.
- Co-op multiplayer: build together Build the same parade float together with your friends, at the same time.
- New city: Cologne Take your floats to Cologne, the heart of Rhineland carnival, and parade across the Deutzer Brücke.
- Marching groups Brand-new marching groups dance and march through the streets between the floats, just like at a real parade.
- Drive your own float Get behind the wheel and steer your float through the parade yourself, with a turning steering wheel and free zoom. Plus fresh new graphics.
- Carnaval Simulator is coming to Mac! Available from January 28, 2027 with the Big Carnaval Update.
More new features in this update
- New crowd reactions Spectators look, point, clap, wave, take photos and videos and throw confetti as your float passes by.
- A completely new light system Fully customisable light shows, moving heads with patterns, loads of new options, new lamps, automatic light rope building and live testing of your shows in build mode.
- New build system New grid system, blueprint/grouping system, smoother rotating, local and global moving, easy copying and a colour picker.
- Mod & music wizard Pick a 3D model or an .mp3 on your computer and that's it. Modding the game has never been easier!
- Faster than ever IL2CPP support, ~90% faster mod loading, ~35% faster parade loading and ~20% more FPS in busy scenes.
And there is one more thing…
This update hides a secret feature that lets people experience the parade in a whole new way, including those who can’t easily be there in real life. Want to know more? Get in touch and we’ll happily tell you more.
ContactPress release
On January 28, 2027, The Big Carnaval Update arrives for Carnaval Simulator, the PC game in which players build their own carnival floats and parades. It is the biggest update so far and free for everyone who owns the game. At the same time, the game comes to Mac for the first time.
Players take their floats to Cologne, the heart of Rhineland carnival, and parade across the Deutzer Brücke. With co-op multiplayer, friends build the same float together. Marching groups dance between the floats, the crowd reacts by waving, taking photos and throwing confetti, and players now steer their own float through the parade. A completely new light system, a revamped building system and major performance improvements complete the update.
Carnaval Simulator is made single-handedly by Jeffrey van der Wal from Brabant, the Netherlands. The idea came about during the Covid pandemic, when parades were canceled. Several floats in the game were recreated with permission from real float-building clubs, and the game is made in collaboration with partners including Museum Helmond, the Lichtjesoptocht Standdaarbuiten light parade and Corso Vollenhove. On Steam, the game is rated “Very Positive”.
“With the game, I also hope to inspire people to get started themselves, and to show that carnival is about more than just drinking. Building a float together is a wonderful way to meet new people and make friends.”
About the game
Short description
Carnaval Simulator is an indie PC game in which you build, light up and drive your own carnival floats and parades through the streets. Design floats with moving parts, light shows, fireworks and music, alone or with up to 8 friends online. The game is inspired by carnival, flower parades and light parades in the Netherlands, Belgium and around the world, and is made by a single developer from Brabant.
What makes it special
- Build and design your own carnival, flower parade or light parade float, with moving parts.
- Real floats from float-building clubs, recreated with their permission.
- Cultural impact: the game keeps the tradition of float building alive and introduces new people to carnival.
- International players: played by carnival and parade fans in the Netherlands and abroad.
- Available in 9 languages, including the Brabantian and Limburgish dialects.
- Play online with up to 8 players, and from the update also together on one float.
- Install and share mods through the Steam Workshop.
Facts
- Developer & publisher
- JBA Software Development (Jeffrey van der Wal)
- Country
- The Netherlands
- Genre
- Simulation, tycoon, sandbox
- Platforms
- Windows (Steam), Mac from January 28, 2027
- Steam release
- February 22, 2025
- Big Carnaval Update
- January 28, 2027, free
- Price
- €10.99
- Players
- Single-player and online multiplayer up to 8 players
- Languages
- Dutch, Brabantian, Limburgish, English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese
- Steam reviews
- Very Positive
Media
Click an image to download the original.
Logos and key art
Big Carnaval Update screenshots
Gameplay screenshots
Trailer
Watch the trailer on YouTube. We are happy to send a downloadable video file on request.
Trailer on YouTubeThe developer
I’m Jeffrey van der Wal, an indie game developer from Brabant, the Netherlands, and I also work in web development. As a kid I kept scrapbooks, drew parade floats and built floats with my toys. Because I always found it a shame that I couldn’t rewatch my favourite parades, I have been filming them to archive them on my YouTube channel since I was 15, 11 years now. I’m a member of carnival club CV de Narrekoppen myself and have helped out at various float-building clubs.
I started Carnaval Simulator during the Covid pandemic, when parades were canceled. I develop the game on my own and work with float-building clubs, parades and museums to make it as authentic as possible.
Press coverage
Partners
Float-building clubs and associations
Links
Press contact
Questions, an interview, a review key or curious about the secret feature? Call us or use the contact form.