Hey, Good Game

James Sinclair shares his remarkable journey from immigration lawyer to full-time puzzle crafter and creator of the Artisanal Sudoku Substack—a haven for lovers of elegant, human-made Sudoku variants.

In this episode, James breaks down his puzzle design philosophy, his preference for handcrafted logic over AI generation, and how he’s turned personal passion into a growing newsletter, a community of solvers, and a published puzzle book. The conversation covers everything from the joys and challenges of variant Sudoku to the deeper question: What makes a puzzle satisfying to solve?

James also shares thoughts on monetization, platform choice, audience building, and why central hubs like Logic Masters Germany play a key role in the global puzzle scene. Plus, he previews Sudoku Con, talks about the fog-based puzzle design he’s experimenting with, and gives rapid-fire takes on puzzle pet peeves, dream collaborations, and favorite solves.

🧩 Games, Platforms & Influences Mentioned

• Variant Sudoku – His main craft
• Artisanal Sudoku – James’s Substack newsletter
• Logic Masters Germany (LMG) – Puzzle publishing hub
• Cracking the Cryptic – Popular YouTube channel mentioned
• Sudoku Con – Community event
• Dynamic Fog puzzles – One of James’s current experiments
• AI-generated puzzles – Discussed critically

🌐 Websites & Platforms Mentioned

• Website: https://artisanalsudoku.substack.com/
  https://substack.com/@artisanalsudoku

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• (00:00) - Introduction and Guest Background

Check out our brainy games:

Sumplete - https://sumplete.com
Squeezy - https://imsqueezy.com/
Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.com
Mathler - https://mathler.com
Crosswordle - https://crosswordle.com
Sudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.com
Hitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.com
Wordga - https://wordga.com

Bryan Chen joins Nate Kadlac and Aaron Kardell on Hey, Good Game to unravel how a simple coding side project exploded into Duotrigordle, the 32-Wordle brain buster beloved by millions.

A computer science student at the University of Waterloo, Bryan walks us through his programming journey from C# exercises in grade school to building viral games during online college lockdowns. The episode explores how Duotrigordle evolved from a dorm-room Discord link into one of the most beloved—and chaotic—Wordle spinoffs online.

The trio discusses Bryan’s inspirations (from Waffle to Magic: The Gathering), why he values intuitive UX over flashy features, and how he’s balancing indie game maintenance with his academic and career goals. Bryan also opens up about monetization, treating side projects as portfolio pieces, and the emotional payoff of seeing friends unknowingly become fans of his work.

Favorite Games Mentioned by Bryan Chen

• Magic: The Gathering – His all-time favorite
• Wordle – Foundational inspiration
• Octordle / Quordle – Multi-board Wordle influences
• Waffle – Admired for clean design and visual polish
• League of Legends – Used its API as a test project
• Tetris (AI bot project) – As a personal dev exercise

🔗 Find Bryan Chen online
Game: https://duotrigordle.org/

Website: https://thesilican.com/

GitHub & side projects linked on his website

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• (00:00) - Introduction and Welcome

Check out our brainy games:

Sumplete - https://sumplete.com
Squeezy - https://imsqueezy.com/
Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.com
Mathler - https://mathler.com
Crosswordle - https://crosswordle.com
Sudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.com
Hitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.com
Wordga - https://wordga.com

Angela Swain and Mariam Mollaghaffari join Aaron Kardell on Hey, Good Game to share how two longtime friends turned a nostalgic obsession with wordplay into Silly Little Games—a vibrant, human-crafted daily puzzle experience.

Angela (a flight attendant with a journalism background) and Mariam (an architect with design chops) break down the collaborative, scrappy spirit behind their Rebus-style puzzle game Silly Little Codes. From hand-drawing hundreds of clever puzzles in Figma to battling bad developers and solving design challenges (including a keyboard that nearly derailed their launch), the duo talks candidly about their indie journey—complete with frog-fueled editing fights and dream expansions into physical card games.

The episode explores how Angela and Mariam are navigating indie game development without coding skills, what they've learned from BlueSky and social media outreach, and why they’ve stayed committed to handcrafted design in an AI-saturated market. They also tease upcoming games under the Silly Little Games umbrella and share honest insights about self-funding, monetization plans, and growing a community of puzzle lovers.

🧩 Games & Favorites Mentioned

• Silly Little Codes (Angela & Mariam's daily puzzle game)
• Backgammon (Mariam’s nostalgic favorite, tied to her Iranian heritage)
• Bingo and Spoons (Angela’s family-friendly picks)
• Architecture as Tetris (Mariam compares architectural design to the game)

🔗 Website & Socials

• Website: https://www.playsillylittlegames.com
• Instagram, Threads, TikTok, BlueSky: @playsillylittlegames
• Note: Not on Reddit (permanently banned 😅)

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• (00:00) - Introduction to the Podcast and Guests

Check out our brainy games:

Sumplete - https://sumplete.com
Squeezy - https://imsqueezy.com/
Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.com
Mathler - https://mathler.com
Crosswordle - https://crosswordle.com
Sudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.com
Hitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.com
Wordga - https://wordga.com

From Haunted Pixels to Conservation: Peter Lazarski on Art, Accessibility, and Indie Game Grit

Indie developer and visual artist Peter Lazarski—aka Imaginary Monsters—joins Nate to explore his creative evolution from childhood horror obsessions to crafting cult-favorite lo-fi games like Halloween Forever and Deathstate. Known for his pixelated gothic aesthetic and offbeat charm, Peter shares how games like Earthbound shaped his visual language and love for physical editions.

The conversation touches on Peter’s iterative design process, how he blends art with mechanics, and why accessibility and emotional tone matter in indie games. He also unpacks the ethos behind his newest project, Don’t Kill the Bats—a whimsical but meaningful game raising awareness for bat conservation.

Peter reflects on developing under an alias, building community through mentorship, and finding creative purpose in strange, spooky spaces.

Check out Peter's Resources:
https://imaginarymonsters.com

https://imaginarymonsters.shop 

https://twitch.tv/imaginarymonsters 

https://discord.gg/imaginarymonsters 

🎮 Favorite Games Mentioned:

• EarthBound (SNES) – Peter’s all-time favorite
• Tactics Ogre (Re-release) – Currently playing
• Persona 5 – Currently playing
• F-Zero, Super Mario World – Childhood favorites
• Commander Keen, DOOM, Wolfenstein – Early PC gaming
• Monster Party (NES) – Referenced for sprite interpretation
• Metroid II (Game Boy) – Admired for its enemy art in the manual
• Ayuda Mort – ZX Spectrum-style indie game that influenced Halloween Forever
• Castlevania – Referenced as a typical “bat enemy” game
• Splatterhouse – Mentioned as a game style he’d love to try
• Rolling Stock – Mentioned earlier as a favorite (possibly in a different episode or cut)

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• (00:00) - Introduction to the Podcast and Guest

Check out our brainy games:

Sumplete - https://sumplete.com
Squeezy - https://imsqueezy.com/
Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.com
Mathler - https://mathler.com
Crosswordle - https://crosswordle.com
Sudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.com
Hitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.com
Wordga - https://wordga.com

Award-winning artist, animator, and game designer Michael Frei joins Nate and Joseph to share his creative journey from apprentice construction draftsman to co-founder of Zurich’s Playable, the indie studio behind critically acclaimed interactive works like Plug & Play, Kids, and the meditative mortality sim Time Flies.

Michael breaks down his minimalist approach to game design—how stripping away noise can lead to emotional clarity—and explains why humor, absurdity, and interaction are central to his artistic voice. He reflects on transitioning from animation to games, his fascination with weird player dynamics, and why making something personally meaningful matters more than chasing trends.

Frei also shares lessons from testing, iterating, and publishing across platforms, as well as advice for aspiring indie creators navigating simplicity, success, and staying creatively grounded in a crowded market.

Check out Michael Frei's Resources:
https://michaelfrei.io/
https://x.com/panic
https://bsky.app/profile/michaelfrei.io
https://www.instagram.com/michaelfrei10/

Games Mentioned:
FIFA - Michael's favorite game to play
Glider
Not About Us
Plug and Play
Time Flies
Windowsill
Feet Ahead

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• (00:00) - Introduction to the Podcast

Check out our brainy games:

Sumplete - https://sumplete.com
Squeezy - https://imsqueezy.com/
Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.com
Mathler - https://mathler.com
Crosswordle - https://crosswordle.com
Sudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.com
Hitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.com
Wordga - https://wordga.com

Pete Muller is not your average guest—he’s a quant hedge fund legend, a touring singer-songwriter, and a prolific puzzle constructor whose creations appear in The New York Times and The Washington Post. In this episode we dive into Pete’s polymath life: his journey from math to markets, from poker tables to music stages, and how puzzles tie it all together. We also discuss his latest creation, the “Think Twice” puzzle, and what drives him to keep solving, creating, and performing. Whether you love games, music, or stories about reinvention, this conversation will surprise and inspire.

Check out Pete's Resources:
https://petespuzzleplayground.com/
https://www.petemuller.com/
https://www.forbes.com/profile/peter-muller/
https://www.youtube.com/@PeteMullerMusic/featured
https://www.pdtpartners.com/

Games Mentioned:
Poker - Pete's favorite game to play
Crosswords
Variety cryptics
Bridge
Chess
Ping pong
Ultimate Frisbee
Blackjack
Wordle
Letter Boxed
Stray Cat Strut
Meta Puzzle
Scrabble
Sudoku
Spelling Bee
KenKen

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• (00:00) - Introduction to Pete Muller: A Modern Polymath

Check out our brainy games:

Sumplete - https://sumplete.com
Squeezy - https://imsqueezy.com/
Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.com
Mathler - https://mathler.com
Crosswordle - https://crosswordle.com
Sudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.com
Hitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.com
Wordga - https://wordga.com

Indie-game luminary Tatiana Delgado joins Nate to trace her 20-year journey from drawing paper games as a kid to co-founding Madrid’s Out of the Blue Games. She explains how titles like Call of the Sea create emotional tension without combat, why early VR prototyping was both thrilling and nausea-inducing, and how small studios can balance artistic vision with funding realities.

Tatiana also teases two new projects—Lovecraft-flavored sequel Call of the Elder Gods and branching visual-novel series The Vigilante Diaries—while sharing hard-won advice on user testing, team culture, and pitching in today’s crowded market.

Check out Tatiana's Resources:
https://www.outbluegames.com
https://x.com/OutBlueGames
https://x.com/arilea

Games Mentioned:
Portal 2 - Tatiana's favorite game to play
Wonder Boy series
Myst
Riven
Aladdin VR
Warhammer

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• (00:00) - to Call of the Sea

Check out our brainy games:

Sumplete - https://sumplete.com
Squeezy - https://imsqueezy.com/
Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.com
Mathler - https://mathler.com
Crosswordle - https://crosswordle.com
Sudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.com
Hitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.com
Wordga - https://wordga.com

What does it take to turn a minimalist text-based game into a global phenomenon?

Indie developer and software craftsman Amir Rajan joins us to unpack his unconventional path from enterprise software to the top of the App Store with A Dark Room. In this episode, we explore how Amir built the DragonRuby Game Toolkit, why betting on hyper-niche communities pays off, and how rapid prototyping drives sustainable success in indie dev. From cracking console publishing to navigating the unpredictable App Store ecosystem, Amir shares hard-earned insights into the creative and financial realities of going solo in the game industry.

Whether you’re a seasoned dev or just starting out, this episode offers an honest look at the intersection of craft, code, and commerce.

Check out Amir's Resources:
https://amirrajan.net/
https://x.com/amirrajan
https://github.com/amirrajan
https://www.twitch.tv/amirrajan
https://www.youtube.com/@amirrajan
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirrajan/
https://www.reddit.com/user/amirrajan/

Games Mentioned:
Illusion of Gaia - Amir's favorite game to play
Slay the Spire
Balder's Gate
mildly interesting RTS
Dark Room
De Noble Circle
Inside Vista
Dragon Ruby Game Toolkit

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• (00:00) - Introduction to the Podcast and Guest

Check out our brainy games:

Sumplete - https://sumplete.com
Squeezy - https://imsqueezy.com/
Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.com
Mathler - https://mathler.com
Crosswordle - https://crosswordle.com
Sudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.com
Hitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.com
Wordga - https://wordga.com

What does it take to create unforgettable game audio—from eerie soundscapes in Death Stranding to iconic branding in Mortal Kombat?

Composer and sound designer Joel Corelitz joins us to talk about his path from writing music for pharmaceutical ads to shaping the sonic identity of major titles. We dive into the creative process, what good feedback really sounds like, the overlooked potential of sound in web games, and why sometimes doing the work is more important than waiting for inspiration.

Check out Joel's Resources:
https://joelcorelitz.com/
http://twitter.com/joelcorelitz
http://instagram.com/joelcorelitz
https://joelcorelitz.bandcamp.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@joelcorelitzmusic

Games Mentioned:
Dark Souls - Joel's favorite game to play
Halo Infinite
Death Stranding
Mortal Kombat One
The Unfinished Swan
Nine Souls
The Last Clockwinder
Hyperlight Breaker
Hyperlight Drifter
Lazy River

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• (00:00) - Introduction to Joel Kitz and Wave Plant

Check out our brainy games:

Sumplete - https://sumplete.com
Squeezy - https://imsqueezy.com/
Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.com
Mathler - https://mathler.com
Crosswordle - https://crosswordle.com
Sudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.com
Hitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.com
Wordga - https://wordga.com

Meet David Workman, known in the puzzle world as "HalfBakedLunatic" - a Microsoft veteran who creates Sudoku puzzles so difficult he can't solve them himself.

David shares the incredible story of how he invented TiVo's core technology in 1996, only to watch it slip away when his two-page concept paper got buried at Microsoft. He reveals his epic gambling simulation that proved why casinos always win (even with unlimited money, you'd eventually make bets exceeding the world's GDP), and explains the paradox of puzzle creation - building something is the opposite of solving it.

With 64 puzzles published and 10 featured on the legendary Cracking the Cryptic YouTube channel, David has earned his place among elite puzzle setters. His masterpiece had viewers watching for 45 minutes before a single digit was placed. Plus: the hilarious tale of licensing Elvis for $1,200 while a cockroach photo nearly cost millions.

Check out David Workman's Resources:
http://www.halfbakedlunatic.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mediabizdev/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCkyCXQNZY5ZhoSy1dL8b1Q
https://logic-masters.de/Raetselportal/Benutzer/eingestellt.php?start=0&name=HalfBakedLunatic

Games Mentioned:
Craps - David's favorite game to play
Pinochle
Sudoku
Kropki puzzles

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• (00:00) - Introduction to Puzzle Setting

Check out our brainy games:

Sumplete - https://sumplete.com
Squeezy - https://imsqueezy.com/
Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.com
Mathler - https://mathler.com
Crosswordle - https://crosswordle.com
Sudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.com
Hitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.com
Wordga - https://wordga.com