I've overhauled my puzzle level generation so a level is now "grown" like cell tissue in a triangle tessellation. New elements can be inserted anywhere, and the whole level deforms to make room. This makes it easier to control topology and create paths that loops around areas.
#ProcGen #GameDev
The first episode of The So Many Games Podcast for 2026 is now live!
Join us as we chat with developer @jakefriend.bsky.social on the development, the origins and the mechanics of his top-down, Zelda-like Metroidvania, Scrabdackle.
⬇️ Links in the comments below ⬇️
ICYMI, Scrabdackle Act 1 is out NOW on Steam 🧙
@jakefriend.bsky.social has released their hand-drawn, open adventure with a full 12–15 hour Act 1 ready for you to explore 🗺️
If you've been curious, now is the perfect time to hop in 💛
🪄 bit.ly/Scrabdackle
My review of Scrabdackle, a special game almost solely made by an ambitious, talented maniac called @jakefriend.bsky.social .
Not only is Scrabdackle fun to say, it is incredibly fun to play. My personal pick for 2025's hidden gem. Congratulations to jake and @fellowtraveller.games.
A square graphic with an olive-green background, black gradient triangles in the corners, and a black line art floral header & footer. A circular photo of GardenOfIndie's V-Tuber is on the left surrounded by green vines, with lines of green blocky text above, to the right, and below surrounding the photo, which reads the following: Sundays at 3PM Eastern Time Garden Party Weekly Indie Recap New Release Trailers Content & DLC updates Live gameplay & chat Twitch.tv/GardenOfIndie
💌 You're invited to a Garden Party @ 3pm [EST]
Another slower week as we head into Winter showcase season (which I mostly expect to hold through the end of the year) BUT Scrabdackle Act 1 is finally out, and I'm so excited to play it today! The demo was so much fun! 🔮🧙♀️
⏯️ twitch.tv/gardenofindie
Scrabdackle logo with Blue, a faceless wizard in blue robes except for two yellow dot eyes, standing in front of a tower with a variety of monsters and other wizards bursting from it, including bat monsters, armored ducks, a flamingo in a crown, a bull-like cube in a crown, and a wizard in a UFO.
Blue casts a spell on a farmer duck on a small farm plot.
Blue encounters red (Young-looking Witch) in her stony lair with a fireplace in the back. YLW: Oh, you're just a kid wizard! Who are you to talk? I bet you only know like, *one* spell! Reply: Hey, I know at LEAST two!
Scrabdackle by @jakefriend.bsky.social, an open world adventure, is out now in early access! [PC]
The academy was attacked and novice Blue was tossed out a window. Out of his sheltered life, help him find his way home through the weird world.
#indiegame
Scrabdackle is good. Very good! My playthrough of it left me high on many things - bosses kick ass, world is very amusing and way more interconnected than expected - but what makes me want to bring attention to @jakefriend.bsky.social's game is Blue's lovely notebook:
www.avclub.com/scrabdackle-...
𝗦𝗖𝗥𝗔𝗕𝗗𝗔𝗖𝗞𝗟𝗘 is 𝗢𝗨𝗧ⵑⵑ
5.5 years in development!! Try it NOW! It would mean so much I AM NOT JOKING this day is TRULY THE BEST KIND OF SURREAL! 😭💙
store.steampowered.com/app/1578720/...
A bunch of bundles on the store page too!
#indiedev #indiegames #gamedev #animation
❤️❤️❤️😭
Aaah, thank you Evan!!! 😭
My game Scrabdackle releases TOMORROW, Dec 2nd!! I've been trying to explain what it is for years - here's my final attempt before launch.
store.steampowered.com/app/1578720/...
#videogame #indiegames #cutegame #animation
😭
Awhh, thank you James!! It was such a lovely review you wrote too 😊
Blue the wizard who stands in the middle is surrounded by enemies and other characters from the game. The following quote is included: "Scrabdackle equals fun. Fun writing, fun exploration, fun combat, fun visuals and a fun narrative. It's a big ball of fun that only small issues dampen very slightly."
Go on a sprawling hand-drawn adventure with spells to study, bosses to best, and a huge handcrafted world to traverse on the long journey home.
Take a look at our full review of Scrabdackle Act 1 to learn more:
somanygames.co.uk/review/scrab...
@jakefriend.bsky.social
How the conversations (and 'scrying' spell) work in my game, Scrabdackle! Convo trees are so branchy that I had to make my own editor tool to manage them 😅 It's launching tomorrow (TOMORROW) if it sounds neat!
store.steampowered.com/app/1578720/...
#game #videogame #indiegame #cutegame #animation
Sharing some of my favourite smear frames in my handmade game, Scrabdackle! It's coming out TUESDAY! Dec 2! Would love if y'all took a look! 😊💙
store.steampowered.com/app/1578720/...
#game #videogame #indiegame #cutegame #animation
Hello indies! It's almost Thanksgaming 2025!
If you have an unknown indie project in dev or just released, please could you email me at jwalker@kotaku.com with the subject "THANKSGAMING 2025", and a store page and YouTube link? I'll put as many as I can on Kotaku.
Rules next. Reposts appreciated!
Just 7 days until Scrabdackle Act 1 launches on Steam 🗓️
ICYMI, the trailer from Six One Indie Showcase earlier this year gives you a closer look at @jakefriend.bsky.social's vast world of Scrabdackle and its strange but genuine inhabitants 🗺️
🪄 bit.ly/Scrabdackle
Very soon!! 😅 I can get everytrhing ready in just three more weeks, SURELY...??
Having a LOT of fun making the key art look like a CD label while prepping the soundtrack release! 😄
#indiedev #indiegames #gamedev
🎮 #Scrabdackle es una aventura que invita a explorar un vasto mundo dibujado a mano y repleto de personajes encantadores, caminos ocultos y jefes desafiantes. El primer acto llega en diciembre. @jakefriend.bsky.social @fellowtraveller.games #Videojuegos #Noticias
Lee mi nota aquí. 👇
That's me! That's my little game! Dec 2!
Thanks Ben!! It's happening!! 😄😄😄
OH DANG
Super excited for you @jakefriend.bsky.social!!
(make sure you check this one out, it’s just so goshdarn charming)
Mark your calendars, because Scrabdackle Act 1 is out Dec 2📅
Scrabdackle is a scribbly, hand-drawn adventure full of wit, secrets, tough-but-fair bosses, curious encounters, and oodles of charm and genuine joy 🗺️
Wishlist now to get thrown into a whole new world on launch day 🧙
🪄 bit.ly/Scrabdackle
Scrabdackle
Straight up the funniest game I've played in a minute. A whimsical and charming adventure through a doodle-core world that'll have you blowing up garbage, hanging out with peanuts, and scanning everything like you're Magical Samus Aran.
store.steampowered.com/app/1578720/...
This is my favourite thing anyone has ever written about my game and it's not even close
✨ My Little Spider releases Nov 7th!!✨
🐛 care for a cozy spider companion that lives on your PC
🏡 collect 50+ unique bugs at different locations and times of day
🕸️ adorn your web with fun decorations and colors
⬇️ link below ⬇️
#gamedev #cozygames #indiegame
Thank you!! 😄 I'm really excited for people to get to finally see what I've been cooking with Act 1, too; most of the narrative of the game isn't really 'present' in the demo
Thank you!! That's a good note - I'll file that away; the 'main' font is one I designed to be more varying than usual to be easier to read with dyslexia, but I should really put in a toggle to use a more standard system font in the settings. (Glad you enjoyed!!)
