The Thomas Brush Show

Sebastian Drews, indie developer behind metroidvania Constance, shares his story from beginner to selling 67,000 copies. He talks marketing risks like leveraging Silksong comparisons, design choices for bosses and pacing, lessons from demos and QA limits, and a deep Unity walkthrough of their map, parallax tricks, and level tools.

Xalavier Nelson Jr., indie creative director behind Strange Scaffold known for quirky hits like Space Warlord Organ Trading Simulator. He talks process, choosing the right scale, and how frequent, distinct releases build a reliable studio. Short games, consistent vision, and the DIDIT decision framework come up as practical shapes for sustainable game making.

Thomas Mahler, game director and Moon Studios co-founder behind Ori, shares the wild journey of No Rest for the Wicked. He recounts a publisher buyback, a rescue via a free weekend that sparked massive sales, and the custom engines and tooling that shaped the art and level design. He also discusses balancing systems, long-term maintainability, and practical uses for AI in development.

Jonathan Blow, the mastermind behind iconic indie games like Braid and The Witness, shares insights on creating games in 2026. He discusses the challenges of marketing amid the crowded internet landscape and how pricing pressures have evolved. Blow emphasizes the importance of choosing the right platform, notably Steam, for indie success. He reveals his ambitious 10-year project, Order of the Sinking Star, describing the need for a custom programming language and engine to enhance workflow and artistic vision. His thoughts on the future of AI in game development complete this enlightening conversation.

I chat with the brilliant Adam Younis about his 8 year game project... ► 1 day left to get 50% Full Time Game Dev► Wishlist Insignia

I chat with the legendary American McGee, the creator of the Alice franchise. ► Get 50% Full Time Game Dev for Black Friday► Checkout Plushie Dreadfuls: https://plushiedreadfuls.com/

Is working for years on a single project worth it? I actually just asked this question to Edmund McMillen and his dev partner Tyler Glaiel (who have spent 6 years on a cat-breading game) and their answer was... well.► Get 50% Full Time Game Dev for Black Friday► Wishlist Mewgenics

Chris Zukowski, an indie game marketing master, and I talk about why small games matter, why friend slop is a good thing, and so much more.► Get 50% Full Time Game Dev for Black Friday► Read Chris's article

I chat with the brilliant mind behind Cultic, a boomer shooter with a cult following.► Get 50% my game dev program for Black Friday!► Play Cultic Chapter 2

The discussion dives into what qualifies as a 'bad' game on Steam, exploring mismatched expectations through examples like Mighty No.9. Insights from veteran developers highlight how misleading marketing can lead to disappointment. Pricing plays a crucial role, impacting perceived value and player satisfaction. Thomas emphasizes the need for honest marketing and setting truthful expectations to prevent negative reviews. He also addresses how production quality and teaching mechanics can significantly influence player experience and feedback.