The Indie Diarist

Itching to make a cool game late this year? Seasoned developer or complete newbie, this might be a good chance to do something special for it! To celebrate episode 100, I'm hosting the Meaningful Games Jam 2026. It's a jam to make a game that means something to you!

Listen to this episode to learn about all the rules and details, or skip to the good stuff with the links below. 🎒💛

Check out the Meaningful Games Jam 2026: https://itch.io/jam/meaningful-games-jam-2026

Join the Discord server to vote the theme with us: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvj

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Support the show 🎒💛

Become a Patron: https://patreon.com/theindiediarist

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiarist

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Threads: https://threads.net/@theindiediarist

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Game development is a journey of passion, persistence, and often a little bit of sweat and tears. In this episode, I spent some time with Pippo and Alex from Cobalt Lane, a small development studio currently working on narrative gem Imprinted. If you're into David Lynch and obscure vintage references, this episode is for you!

We're going to have a dev commentary livestream with these two lovely peeps on Discord soon, so make sure to join the community from the links below!

Enjoy! 🎒💛

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Support Alex & Pippo 🎒💛

- Wishlist Imprinted: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3980340/Imprinted/

- Social links: https://linktr.ee/cobaltlanegames

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Support the show 🎒💛

Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvjBecome a Patron: https://patreon.com/theindiediaristYouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiaristTwitch: https://twitch.tv/theindiediarist⁠TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@theindiediaristThreads: https://threads.net/@theindiediaristTwitter: https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠

Can a childhood visit to a dentist’s office game plant the seed for a lifelong journey into game design? Well, you're about to find out!

Most game developers have a secret weapon for turning mundane ideas into deeply compelling experiences. AP Thompson (the Brooklyn-based solo dev behind Titanium Court) discusses that hidden magic in this episode, revealing how a tiny spark of curiosity transformed into a narrative-driven masterpiece. Enjoy! 🎒💛

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Join the Meaningful Games Jam to celebrate Episode 100! 🎒💛

-> https://itch.io/jam/meaningful-games-jam-2026

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Support AP 🎒💛

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/apthomson.bsky.social

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2364580/Titanium_Court/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2359120/Consume_Me/

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Support the show 🎒💛

Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvjBecome a Patron: https://patreon.com/theindiediaristYouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiaristTwitch: https://twitch.tv/theindiediarist⁠TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@theindiediaristThreads: https://threads.net/@theindiediaristTwitter: https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠

In this episode I spent some time with Fred Hoffman, art director and co-founder of Newfangled Games – the studio behind an award-winning little puzzle game gem called Paper Trail!

This was my first time exclusively hosting an art director on an episode and all it told me is that I should definitely do it more! You will notice the questions are a little different which should help keep things fresh. Enjoy! 🎒💛

Support Fred and his team 🎒💛

• Buy Paper Trail: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1889740/Paper_Trail/

• Fred's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fredthegremlin/

• Newfangled Twitter: https://x.com/NewfangledGames

• Newfangled Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newfangledgames/?hl=en

• Newfangled website: https://www.papertrailgame.com/

Support the show 🎒💛

• Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvj

• Become a Patron: https://patreon.com/theindiediarist

• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiarist

• Twitch: https://twitch.tv/theindiediarist⁠

• TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@theindiediarist

• Threads: https://threads.net/@theindiediarist

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠

DISCLAIMER + APOLOGY: Audio issues on my track :( but Liza and Igor sound great!

In this episode, I spent some time with the SHARQ IT Labs team, the developers behind action-roguelike Ritualist, to talk about their unconventional paths into game development and how their backgrounds merged to found their incredibly passion-led studio. Enjoy! 🎒💛

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Support Liza & Igor 🎒💛

- Ritualist on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3179460/Ritualist/#app_reviews_hash

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Support the show 🎒💛

Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvjBecome a Patron: https://patreon.com/theindiediaristYouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiaristTwitch: https://twitch.tv/theindiediarist⁠TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@theindiediaristThreads: https://threads.net/@theindiediaristTwitter: https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠

In this episode, I spent a lovely hour with Kate Killick, co-founder of Glowfrog Games and developer of the delightful cosy puzzle game Pieced Together! Which is apparently a game that makes many people cry. Can't say I don't love that as a writer. Enjoy! 🎒💛

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Support Kate 🎒💛

- Buy Pieced Together: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2891370/Pieced_Together/

- Insta: https://www.instagram.com/glowfroggames

- Twitter: https://x.com/glowfroggames

- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@glowfroggames

- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@glowfroggames

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Support the show 🎒💛

Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvjBecome a Patron: https://patreon.com/theindiediaristYouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiaristTwitch: https://twitch.tv/theindiediarist⁠TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@theindiediaristThreads: https://threads.net/@theindiediaristTwitter: https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠

In this episode, I spent some time with Huw Millward, a super talented developer of a Steam bestseller (Warsim: The Realm of Aslona) who's now working on his next project: One of the most ambitious indie projects ever made. He's also a friend of Chaz, an old guest of the show! Enjoy! 🎒💛

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Support Huw 🎒💛

- Get Warsim: https://store.steampowered.com/app/659540/Warsim_The_Realm_of_Aslona/

- Learn about Slumbox: https://www.worldviper.com/

- Follow Huw: https://x.com/HuwMillward

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Support the show 🎒💛

Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvjBecome a Patron: https://patreon.com/theindiediaristYouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiaristTwitch: https://twitch.tv/theindiediarist⁠TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@theindiediaristThreads: https://threads.net/@theindiediaristTwitter: https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠

In this episode, I spent some time with the founder of O'Saurus Studios, a lovely (and beautifully-named) women-led studio based in Australia that's only just released its first game, Call of the Golden Valley. Maddy is a former Google software engineer turned game developer, and a breath of fresh air in an industry more globalised than ever! Enjoy! 🎒💛

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Support Maddy 🎒💛

- Call of the Golden Valley: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2131660/Call_of_the_Golden_Valley/

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/osaurus.studios/?hl=en

- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@osaurusstudios

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Support the show 🎒💛

Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvjBecome a Patron: https://patreon.com/theindiediaristYouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiaristTwitch: https://twitch.tv/theindiediarist⁠TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@theindiediaristThreads: https://threads.net/@theindiediaristTwitter: https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠

This is a special one! I spent some time with Chris Gardiner, Head Writer and Narrative Director at London-based studio Failbetter Games, to talk about the studio's approach to narrative, game design, community, and player engagement.

I've been a longtime fan of Failbetter Games and their work ever since the team released Sunless Sea in 2015, and it's always a pleasure to catch up with a member of their team.

Hope you enjoy!

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Support Chris and Failbetter Games 🎒💛

• All games: https://store.steampowered.com/search/?developer=Failbetter%20Games

• Wishlist Mandrake: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3710210/Mandrake/

• FBG Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/failbettergames.com

• Newsletter: https://www.failbettergames.com/follow

• Chris' Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/chrisgardiner.bsky.social

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Support the show 🎒💛

Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvjBecome a Patron: https://patreon.com/theindiediaristYouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiaristTwitch: https://twitch.tv/theindiediarist⁠TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@theindiediaristThreads: https://threads.net/@theindiediaristTwitter: https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠

In this episode, I spent some time with Timbo Johnson, a lovely solo developer from Wales with a burning passion for making small, fun, and beautiful games with amazing art. Though Timbo secretly has a dream... Will he make the game he's been dreaming of since childhood? Enjoy! 🎒💛

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Support Timbo 🎒💛

• Itch: https://timbojay.itch.io/
• Bubble Frog DX: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3262600/Bubble_Frog_DX/
• Threads: https://www.threads.com/@timbojay

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Support the show 🎒💛

Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/J84aPfSSvjBecome a Patron: https://patreon.com/theindiediaristYouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheIndieDiaristTwitch: https://twitch.tv/theindiediarist⁠TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@theindiediaristThreads: https://threads.net/@theindiediaristTwitter: https://twitter.com/theindiediarist⁠