Draknek & Friends Official Podcast

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR9-5FyKJOM

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.