Episode 37: Melanie Zawodniak (Gamer, Podcast Editor) Draknek & Friends 2025-09-25 | In this episode, hosts Alan and Syrenne are joined by Melanie Zawodniak the editor of this very podcast! In this very casual episode, we talk about puzzle games, livestreaming, and Kingdom Hearts.
Episode 36: Adam deGrandis (Spooky Express, A Monsters Expedition) Draknek & Friends 2025-09-11 | In this episode, hosts Alan and Syrenne are joined by Adam deGrandis, the art director on Spooky Express and A Monster's Expedition. Topics include the development of the games, his time teaching, a dive through some gaming history, and a surprisingly long tangent about music.
Episode 35: Zach Barth (Kaizen: A Factory Story, Opus Magnum, etc.) Draknek & Friends 2025-08-28 | In this episode, hosts Alan and Syrenne are joined by Zach Barth, one of the developers behind Kaizen: A Factory Story and Zachtronics. Topics include the development of Kaizen, making accessible Zach-likes, and systems design.
Spooky Express Launch Date Announcement Draknek & Friends 2025-08-14 | Play the demo and wishlist now on Steam:store.steampowered.com/app/3352310/Spooky_ExpressPre-Order / Save on Mobile:Google Play: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=express.spookyApp Store: apps.apple.com/app/id6738424828Take charge of the Spooky Express; the only rail service willing to carry the undead passengers of deepest, darkest Trainsylvania. In your new role, you'll plan routes and lay train tracks to meet your creepy commuters' demands, and create a rail network spanning more than 150 thoughtfully designed levels. Trainsylvania spans a host of unique locations, with each puzzle forming a cosy diorama, complete with spooky soundtrack. Whether you're probing the Pumpkin Patch, meandering through the Morbid Manor, or investigating the Impish Inferno, you'll find playful touches and surprises around every corner.
Episode 34: Ben Wilson (Draknek & Friends) Draknek & Friends 2025-08-14 | In this episode, hosts Alan and Syrenne are joined by Ben Wilson the other producer at Draknek & Friends. Topics include his journey through the games industry, crossword puzzles, and card games.
Episode 33: Robin and Jeremy (The Roottrees are Dead) Draknek & Friends 2025-07-31 | In this episode, hosts Alan and Syrenne are joined by Robin and Jeremy, the developers behind The Roottrees are Dead. Topics include the origins of the game, the remake on Steam, and genre classifications.
Episode 32: Chao Cui (Kikos Apple Adventure) Draknek & Friends 2025-07-17 | In this episode, hosts Alan and Syrenne are joined by Chao Cui, the developer behind Kiko's Apple Adventure. Topics include the development of the game, designing a sokoban with movable stages, and the Draknek New Voices Puzzle Grant.
Episode 31: Corey Martin (Bonfire Peaks, Tire Boy) Draknek & Friends 2025-07-03 | In this episode, hosts Alan and Syrenne are joined by Corey Martin the developer behind Bonfire Peaks. Topics include the development of Bonfire Peaks and its DLC sequel, Bonfire Peaks Lost Memories, his other work on games like Tire Boy, and puzzles in non-puzzle games.
Episode 30: Dana Trebella (Spoke & Wheel Strategy) Draknek & Friends 2025-06-19 | In this episode, hosts Alan and Syrenne are joined by Dana Trebella, the founder of Spoke & Wheel Strategy. Topics include best practices for how and when to message your game, common marketing pitfalls, and stories of working with the Draknek team.
Spooky Express - play the demo now on Steam! Draknek & Friends 2025-06-09 | store.steampowered.com/app/3352310/Spooky_Express
Spooky Express - PC Gaming Show trailer Draknek & Friends 2025-06-08 | Play the demo on Steam and wishlist: store.steampowered.com/app/3352310/Spooky_Express
Episode 29: Lucie Viatgé (Spooky Express) Draknek & Friends 2025-06-05 | In this episode, hosts Alan and Syrenne are joined by Lucie Viatgé, the concept artist behind Spooky Express. Topics include the development of Spooky Express, her time at KO-OP, and her relationship with puzzle games.
Episode 28: Cerebral Puzzle Showcase and Thinky Direct Draknek & Friends 2025-05-29 | In this episode, hosts Alan and Syrenne are joined by Joseph Mansfield for his threepeat appearance on the podcast to discuss the Cerebral Puzzle Showcase 2025 and the recently premiered Thinky Direct!A copy of each of our shortlist of recommended games, some of which did not get discussed in the episode:Games Discussed:Bonfire Peaks - Lost Memories Parts 2+3Gentoo RescueKiko's Apple AdventureSpooky ExpressCompress(space)Shape Sender DeluxeDuck Detective: The Ghost of GlampingMap Map: A Game About MapsSchrodinger's Cat BurglarPup ChampsHe Who WatchesBlue PrinceIsles of Sea and Sky868-BACKMemory's ReachThe Button EffectOther recommendations we ran out of time to discuss:Stuffo the Puzzle BotHiding SpotSOLAS 128LinelithIs this Seat TakenHeadlong HuntThe Court of WanderersToki Tori 2+LOK DigitalEcho Weaver
Bonfire Peaks: Lost Memories DLC Part 2 + 3 Out Now Draknek & Friends 2025-05-29 | Bonfire Peaks: store.steampowered.com/app/1147890/Bonfire_PeaksBonfire Peaks - Lost Memories: store.steampowered.com/app/2008250/Bonfire_Peaks__Lost_MemoriesGet ready to fan those embers and rekindle the campfires in Bonfire Peaks: Lost Memories, a 3-part DLC for the critically beloved puzzle game.With new mechanics, thoughtful new puzzle design, and new areas to explore, the Lost Memories DLC has something special in store for all puzzle fans.Lost Memories can be played on a fresh savefile, but for the best experience we recommend first playing through Bonfire Peaks. Each part of Lost Memories is roughly 1/4 the size of the base game.
Spooky Express - Play the Demo Now Draknek & Friends 2025-05-29 | Play the Demo on Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/3352310/Spooky_ExpressPlan the train route for the world’s spookiest theme park!All the passengers are all just dying to ride the Spooky Express.Pick up the creepy cryptids and drop them at their destinations around the park. But be careful! Don’t let them scare or bite the human passengers. Stay on track of the situation or you’ll have a grave problem.
Episode 27: Zachary Johnson (Stage Fright) Draknek & Friends 2025-05-22 | In this episode, hosts Alan and Syrenne are joined by Zachary Johnson, a developer behind games like Joggernauts and Stage Fright. Zach is also the inspiration for Draknek's next game, Spooky Express - a fact he did not know when the recording started. Topics include an overview of Zach's career, stories from Train Jam, and Zach's hopes for Spooky Express.The Spooky Express demo is live now, so go ahead and give it a try after listening to this episode!
Episode 26: Luke Spierewka (Pup Champs) Draknek & Friends 2025-05-15 | In this episode, hosts Alan and Syrenne are joined by Luke Spierewka, the developer behind Pup Champs and Railbound. Topics include the development of Afterburn's games, developing games in shorter turnarounds, and lessons learned across multiple successive puzzle games.
Spooky Express Announcement Trailer Draknek & Friends 2025-05-08 | Plan the train route for the world’s spookiest theme park!Pick up the creepy cryptids and drop them at their destinations around the park. But be careful! Don’t let them scare or bite the human passengers. Stay on track of the situation or you’ll have a grave problem.Wishlist now on Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/3352310/Spooky_Express
Episode 25: Lucas Le Slo (Spooky Express) Draknek & Friends 2025-05-08 | In this special episode, hosts Alan and Syrenne are joined by Lucas Le Slo, a puzzle designer on the newly announced Spooky Express. Topics include the development of Spooky Express and its inception, the project's goals, as well as Lucas' other work on puzzle games such as Lab Rat.
Episode 24: The Electrifying Incident Retrospective Draknek & Friends 2025-05-01 | In this episode...Well, sometimes when you set out to create something, it doesn't actually end up looking at all like what your goal was. That statement applies to both this podcast episode as well as The Electrifying Incident. Syrenne and Alan are joined by Ben and Phoenix from the development team and things go off the rails fast as Syrenne re-experiences the intense scope creep and change that happened on this title.Please keep in mind that this episode contains FULL SPOILERS for all seven achievements of The Electrifying Incident. And remember folks: this isn't a 3-v-1, this is a 1-v-3 and I'm winning.
Episode 23: Annika Maar (Duck Detective) Draknek & Friends 2025-04-24 | In this episode, hosts Alan and Syrenne are joined by Annika Maar the developer behind Duck Detective. Topics include the development of the game, short development timelines, and making approachable and funny games with deep thinky mechanics.
Episode 22: Gwen Frey (Lab Rat) Draknek & Friends 2025-04-17 | In this episode, hosts Alan and Syrenne are joined by Gwen Frey the developer behind Lab Rat. Topics include the development of the game and its large scope, Gwen's long career in games, and the state of funding in the industry.
The Electrifying Incident Launch Trailer Draknek & Friends 2025-04-15 | The Electrifying Incident: A Monster Mini-Expedition is OUT NOW on:Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/3352300/The_Electrifying_Incident_A_Monster_MiniExpeditionitch.io: draknek.itch.io/the-electrifying-incidentThe reactor is malfunctioning!Explore the facility and manipulate the many electrical hazards and locked doors to find a way deeper, towards the source of the problem. Your only tool: a mechanical grabber-arm allowing you to lift and move boxes from afar.Think hard, because the reactor could go into meltdown at any moment.
Episode 21: Izzy Kestrel (Electrifying Incident) Draknek & Friends 2025-04-10 | In this episode, hosts Alan and Syrenne are joined by Izzy Kestrel from the Electrifying Incident development team. Topics include the development of TEI, Thinky Games as social experiences, Gex, and A Little Game Called Mario.
Episode 20: Tana Tanoi (Shape Sender Deluxe) Draknek & Friends 2025-04-03 | In this episode, hosts Alan and Syrenne are joined by Tana Tanoi, the developer behind Shape Sender Deluxe. Topics include the development of Shape Sender Deluxe, the Draknek New Voices Puzzle Grant, and the difficulties of making a thinky physics puzzle game.
The Electrifying Incident will launch April 15th 2025 #indiegame #puzzlegame #gamelaunch Draknek & Friends 2025-04-02 | ...
The Electrifying Incident - Coming April 15 Draknek & Friends 2025-04-02 | The Electrifying Incident: A Monster Mini-Expedition launches April 15th 2025Wishlist now on Steam:store.steampowered.com/app/3352300/The_Electrifying_Incident_A_Monster_MiniExpeditionThe reactor is malfunctioning!Explore the facility and manipulate the many electrical hazards and locked doors to find a way deeper, towards the source of the problem. Your only tool: a mechanical grabber-arm allowing you to lift and move boxes from afar.Think hard, because the reactor could go into meltdown at any moment.
Episode 19: Balloon Studios (Botany Manor) Draknek & Friends 2025-03-27 | In this episode, hosts Alan and Syrenne are joined by Laure and Kitt from Balloon Studios, the developer behind Botany Manor. Topics include the development of the game, the inspiration for setting the puzzles in a manor, and tricking players into playing puzzle games.
Episode 18: Joseph Mansfield (ThinkyGames.com) Draknek & Friends 2025-03-20 | In this episode, hosts Alan and Syrenne are joined by Joseph Mansfield, the manager of ThinkyGames.com. Topics include discussions of thinky games we love, what Joe's been up to, and a long tangent about Bonfire Peaks and The Legend of Zelda series. The vibes on this one are immaculate.
Episode 17: RBOR Games (Bean and Nothingness) Draknek & Friends 2025-03-13 | In this episode, hosts Alan and Syrenne are joined by Nic Ford, Jordan Watkins, and Michael Von Korff, the developers behind Bean and Nothingness. Topics include the development of the game, designing complex interactions while balancing the game, and designing puzzle games for hardcore puzzle fans.
Episode 16: Phoenix Stroh (The Electrifying Incident) Draknek & Friends 2025-03-06 | In this episode, hosts Alan and Syrenne are joined by Phoenix Stroh from the Electrifying Incident development team. Topics include the development of The Electrifying Incident, working with Godot, and working with your former professor.
Episode 15: Lukas Hort (Map Map: A Game About Maps) Draknek & Friends 2025-02-27 | In this episode, hosts Alan and Syrenne are joined by Lukas Hort, one of the developers behind Map Map: A Game About Maps. Topics include the development of Map Map: A Game About Maps, how cartography puzzle design intersects with level and world design, and being selected for the Draknek New Voices Puzzle Grant.
Episode 14: Benjamin Davis (A Monsters Expedition, Cosmic Express, A Good Snowman Is Hard To Bui... Draknek & Friends 2025-02-20 | In this episode, hosts Alan and Syrenne are joined by Benjamin Davis, the lead programmer on Draknek's games like A Monster's Expedition, Cosmic Express, A Good Snowman is Hard to Build, and the recently announced The Electrifying Incident. Topics include how Alan and Ben met, what it's like to work with Alan on these games, and details on the newly announced game. Come for the details about the new game, stay because Syrenne slowly deteriorates throughout the episode. It's a fun one.
Excited to announce that our new #puzzlegame The Electrifying Incident will launch in April Draknek & Friends 2025-02-19 | ...
Bonus Episode: YagmanX interviews Draknek Draknek & Friends 2025-02-13 | In this bonus episode, YagmanX interviews Draknek! Please note that this interview originally happened in early 2024.You can watch the original video upload here: youtube.com/watch?v=RR9-5FyKJOM
Episode 13: Andrejs Klavins (Golden Idol) Draknek & Friends 2025-02-06 | In this episode, hosts Alan and Syrenne are joined by Andrejs Klavins, one of the developers behind The Case of the Golden Idol and The Rise of the Golden Idol. Topics include the development of the Golden Idol games, balancing narrative and deductive reasoning puzzles, and the process of iterating the game design and UX to create the new standard for detective game design.
Episode 12: Furniture & Mattress (Arranger) Draknek & Friends 2025-01-30 | In this episode, hosts Alan and Syrenne are joined by Furniture & Mattress, the team behind Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure. Topics include the development of Arranger, designing puzzles and narrative in a world where every step counts, and the challenge of naming games.
LOK Digital is OUT NOW on Android and iOS #mobilegame #puzzlegame #gametrailer #indiegame Draknek & Friends 2025-01-29 | ...
Episode 11: Alex Diener aka ThemsAllTook (Leafs Odyssey, YouTuber) Draknek & Friends 2025-01-23 | In this episode, hosts Alan and Syrenne are joined by Alex Diener AKA ThemsAllTook, the developer of Leaf's Odyssey and a puzzle game YouTuber. Topics include the development of Leaf's Odyssey, the running of the YouTube channel, and how playing and covering games intersects with making them.
LOK Digital is OUT NOW on Android and iOS #gaming #puzzlegame #games Draknek & Friends 2025-01-23 | ...
Episode 10: Our Favourite Games of 2024 (with Joseph Mansfield) Draknek & Friends 2025-01-16 | In this very special episode, hosts Alan and Syrenne are joined by co-hosts Mairi Nolan and Joseph Mansfield to discuss some of their favorite thinky games of 2024. This episode is pretty spoiler-free, so kick back, enjoy, and learn about why we love some of the games that came out last year.Games discussed: No Case Shall Remain Unsolved, Is this Game Trying to Kill Me?, Duck Detective: The Secret Salami, Isles of Sea and Sky, Blue Prince (Demo), Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, Star Stuff, Leap Year, Tactical Breach Wizards, Botany Manor, Rise of the Golden Idol, Leaf's Odyssey, LOK Digital, BOND, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Ouros, and Croquet Conundrum.
Episode 09: Mairi Nolan (Draknek & Friends studio manager and escape room aficionado) Draknek & Friends 2025-01-09 | In this episode, hosts Alan and Syrenne are joined by Mairi Nolan, the studio manager at Draknek & Friends. Topics include how Mairi got into puzzle games, her love of escape rooms, and what being a studio manager at a company like Draknek & Friends is like.
Episode 08: Harry Shang Lun Lee (Sokobond) Draknek & Friends 2025-01-02 | In this episode, hosts Alan and Syrenne are joined by Harry Shang Lun Lee, one of the developers behind Draknek's first major commercial release Sokobond. Topics include the development of Sokobond, how Harry and Alan met, what Harry's been up to since then, and being comfortable with failure and personal growth.
Episode 07: Samarth Hattangady (Konkan Coast Pirate Solutions) Draknek & Friends 2024-12-19 | In this episode, hosts Alan and Syrenne are joined by Samarth Hattangady, the developer behind Konkan Coast Pirate Solutions. Topics include how Samarth started making games, learning how to design great puzzles throughout development, and his experiences with the Draknek New Voices Puzzle Grant.
LOK Digital - Day of the Devs segment Draknek & Friends 2024-12-19 | This segment was originally aired as part of the Day of the Devs: The Game Awards 2024 showcase. This showcase celebrates the creativity, diversity and magic of indie games. LOK Digital is thrilled to have been featured, handpicked alongside a selection of incredible indie games.------Website: lok-digital.comSteam: store.steampowered.com/app/2207440/LOK_DigitaliOS: apps.apple.com/app/id6476513210Android: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.IcedropGames.LOK------Learn the rules as you go and uncover how each new word has its own special ability to change the world around you in deep and surprising ways. Expand your vocabulary through 15 distinct worlds, each one exploring a new mechanic and completely shaking up the way you solve puzzles.With approachable mechanics and mind-bending gameplay, LOK Digital invites you to return every day for new procedurally generated puzzles showcasing the breadth and depth of mechanics.Bring the LOK creatures to life by spelling words that shape their world. They can only live on blackened tiles, so by solving puzzles you're expanding their horizons and helping their civilization thrive.
LOK Digital Launch Trailer Draknek & Friends 2024-12-11 | Website: lok-digital.comSteam: store.steampowered.com/app/2207440/LOK_DigitalLearn the rules as you go and uncover how each new word has its own special ability to change the world around you in deep and surprising ways. Expand your vocabulary through 15 distinct worlds, each one exploring a new mechanic and completely shaking up the way you solve puzzles.With approachable mechanics and mind-bending gameplay, LOK Digital invites you to return every day for new procedurally generated puzzles showcasing the breadth and depth of mechanics.Bring the LOK creatures to life by spelling words that shape their world. They can only live on blackened tiles, so by solving puzzles you're expanding their horizons and helping their civilization thrive.
Episode 06: Blaž Urban Gracar and Ferran Ruiz Sala (LOK Digital) Draknek & Friends 2024-12-11 | In this special episode, hosts Alan and Syrenne are joined by the developers of LOK Digital, the exciting new Draknek & Friends published release that just surprised launched! Topics include the original design of the LOK book, the journey to the digital version, signing with Draknek & Friends, and the road to launch.
Episode 05: Ánimo Games (Star Stuff) Draknek & Friends 2024-12-05 | In this episode, hosts Alan and Syrenne are joined by the team at Ánimo Games, the developer behind Star Stuff. Topics include how games can relate to education, designing an approachable programming puzzle game, and balancing difficult optional content while keeping forwards momentum through the campaign.
Episode 04: José Hernández (Sokobond Express) Draknek & Friends 2024-11-28 | In this episode, hosts Alan and Syrenne are joined by José Hernández, the developer behind Draknek & Friends' Sokobond Express. Topics include how Jose started making games, how Draknek & Friends discovered and signed the game, and the long iteration process to making Sokobond Express the game you can play today.
