Draknek & Friends Official Podcast

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Latest Episodes:

Episode 12: Furniture & Mattress (Arranger) Jan 30, 2025

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.

Episode 11: Alex Diener aka ThemsAllTook (Leaf's Odyssey, YouTuber) Jan 23, 2025

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.

Episode 10: Our Favourite Games of 2024 (with Joseph Mansfield) Jan 16, 2025

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) Jan 09, 2025

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) Jan 02, 2025

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) Dec 19, 2024

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.

Episode 06: Blaž Urban Gracar and Ferran Ruiz Sala (LOK Digital) Dec 11, 2024

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) Dec 05, 2024

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) Nov 28, 2024

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.

Episode 03: Jason Newman (Isles of Sea and Sky) Nov 21, 2024

In this episode, hosts Alan and Syrenne are joined by Jason Newman, the developer behind Isles of Sea and Sky. Topics include how Jason started making games, designing an open world puzzle game, and blending different genres together.

Episode 02: Lenophie (Pâquerette Down the Bunburrows) Nov 14, 2024

In this episode, hosts Alan and Syrenne are joined by Lenophie, the developer behind games like Pâquerette Down the Bunburrows. Topics include how Lenophie started making games, packing a cute game full of secrets, and "chaos vs structure" when designing games.
Please note that this episode contains spoilers for the game Pâquerette Down the Bunburrows.

Episode 01: Arvi Teikari (Baba is You) Nov 07, 2024

In this episode, hosts Alan and Syrenne are joined by Arvi Teikari, also known as Hempuli, the developer behind games like Baba is You. Topics include how Arvi started making games, what drives him to make puzzle games, and weird Finnish candies.

Episode 00: Pilot with Syrenne McNulty Oct 22, 2024

Join hosts Alan Hazelden and Syrenne McNulty as they kick off the podcast with a conversation about Syrenne's experiences getting into the games industry, getting into production, and eventually moving into thinky puzzle games.

Our music is by Priscilla Snow, who you can find at ghoulnoise.bandcamp.com. Our podcast artwork is by Adam DeGrandis. Our podcast was edited by Melanie Zawodniak. Please rate and review us on your podcast service of choice, and be sure to tune in next episode for more interesting conversations.

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