The Indie Diarist

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

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

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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