Alan Hazelden / Draknek & Friends

generative art I made with p5.js that matches the color scheme and theme of my game nuworm. sort of a microbiome of geometric shapes at different scales with dithering applied on top.

I've barely posted on this kind of social media anywhere but I have a reason to now. I made a game!!

It's called nuworm and you can play it for free in the browser.
I worked on it over three years, it might take you three hours to experience. cubestudio.itch.io/nuworm

We need to talk about The Game Awards' Best Mobile nominees High-profile free-to-play games have transformed the category in recent years

Both LOK Digital and Spooky Express were mentioned in @polygon.com 's latest article on mobile games. Thanks for the shout out!

www.polygon.com/game-awards-...

Literally EVERY parent should ban Roblox

A selfie holding up a green adventurex badge

AdventureX talks

Its AdventureX time! 🧡

I'll be talking about puzzles at 2.15pm!

Spooky Express has been enough fun that I actually dropped the coin to purchase the full game. It wasn’t breaking my bank at only $6, but I cannot overstate how monumental this felt considering I haven’t spent money on a mobile game in years. However, even with this out-of-character choice, I sense that I’m not enjoying it as much as I could be. And the game is solid to a point that I realize it’s not Spooky Express’ fault—in this case, it’s mine. The last couple of days spent building train tracks in haunted forests is forcing me to reckon with a slightly uncomfortable truth: it’s not really mobile games’ fault that I write them off so often. In my heart, I already knew this, but was admittedly willing to dismiss it because there was no incentive to address these feelings. But alas, I’d like to enjoy putting vampires into coffins while hearing train sounds more than I previously did, so the time has come.

I owe mobile games an apology

Spooky Express unravels our complicated feelings about mobile games Spooky Express, a mobile game about driving a train full of adorable monsters, has us rethinking our aversion to phone games.

OH I was not aware this piece was coming out today! Yay for Thursday!

Anyway, my first feature at what’s now @theavclubgames.bsky.social is about Spooky Express and how it made me reckon with my feeling about mobile games:

www.avclub.com/spooky-expre...

Happy one monthiversary to Spooky Express! 🎃🚂

store.steampowered.com/app/3352310/...

Oh no, don't age me like that 😅

Thinky Third Thursday (from Draknek & Friends) Monthly game recommendations from the puzzle experts at Draknek & Friends

Get Thinky Third Thursday sent to your inbox each month by joining the mailing list at thinkythirdthursday.com.

Upcoming games to watch for:
* Toroban, by Hebert Games
* The Art of Reflection, by Hydrozoa

Recent thinky highlights (part 2):
* A Case of Fraud, by @hesperusgames.bsky.social
* Orbyss, by Misty Whale
* The Apothecary of Trubiz, by kinjo and Image Labo
* MotionRec, by HANDSUM and @playismen.bsky.social
* Puzzle Depot, by @laughingmanatee.bsky.social

Recent thinky highlights (part 1):
* Spooky Express, by @draknek.bsky.social
* Grooveyard, by @guavagoosegames.bsky.social
* Prince of Darkness Jr., by Pond Area
* Riddlewood Manor, by @peanutbutton.bsky.social
* The Séance of Blake Manor, by @spookydoorway.bsky.social and @rawfury.bsky.social

Thinky Third Thursday - November 2025 Monthly game recommendations from the puzzle experts at Draknek & Friends

Here's the November edition of Thinky Third Thursday, the monthly roundup of thinky puzzle games that have caught our eye: thinkythirdthursday.com/november-2025

Check out a snippet of our conversation and listen to the full episode wherever you get podcasts!

YouTube video by Draknek & Friends Episode 41: Alan and Adam deGrandis have a rambly chat

Draknek & Friends Official Podcast Episode 41 featuring @adamdegrandis.bsky.social is out now! While Syrenne was on a much-needed vacation, Alan took the opportunity to chat to Adam for an hour about all things game dev!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=smrC...

It's the fourth and final day of #CozyQuest2025 and it's a packed one!

We've got a day of the coziest puzzle games around starting right now, then join us on YouTube at 4pm GMT for the Cozy Quest Awards!

youtu.be/iFNUQzyP2is

I find this thumbnail triggering because I instinctively know this isn't a valid solution! And I know that because I've put 13 hours into Spooky Express so far, and sometimes I'm seeing tracks laid out when I close my eyes.

check the FAQ, noob

It snowed today in London... You know what that means for A Good Snowman is Hard To Build ☃️
Pay what the weather is!

draknek.itch.io/a-good-snowman

The year is almost over, have you had your I-want-to-be-the-kind-of-person-who-reads-this-but-it-turns-out-I'm-not-and-I-feel-bad book amnesty yet? It's time to free up that space on your bedside table!

With Strange Jigsaw, puzzlemaker Fleb wants getting stumped to feel like a gift 'I would like people who have never played puzzle games before to be able to complete the game'

I loved Strange Jigsaws and I love Fleb www.polygon.com/strange-jigs...

I'm planning to be there at some point on Sunday, not sure yet if I'll also be there Saturday evening

Again I have to advocate for this game on the basis that the zombies say "traaaains" when you pick them up. Also because it's very cute and lots of fun. (I was gifted a key)

It's #ScreenshotSaturday & here's a look at our recently released puzzle game, Spooky Express!

All the passengers are dying to ride! Don’t let them miss their stops: they may be monsters, but they still have places to be and people to eat– er, we mean meet!

store.steampowered.com/app/3352310/...

This is one of my favorite puzzle games!! Wonderful style and atmosphere, effortlessly enjoyable.

A Good Snowman Is Hard To Build by Draknek & Friends, Benjamin Davis Pay what the temperature is: 16.3°C = $16.30!

The temperature is getting colder here in London, so this is an excellent time to remind you that every hour, the monster goes out to the weather station in London to check the temperature and sets the price for A Good Snowman is Hard to Build to match the weather.

draknek.itch.io/a-good-snowman

Friends! We updated the Existential Treads demo! Presenting the Towerful Demo Update; four new tower upgrade buildings that allow you to better defend your settlement. And we also have a bunch of bug fixes and QoL tweaks as well. 🤘

store.steampowered.com/app/3580340/Ash__Adams_Existential_Treads/

We've just rolled out a minor patch for Spooky Express which fixes a number of reported audio bugs, and some iteration on the initial onboarding.

Thanks so much to everyone who has played and given feedback (or left us a review) so far!

spooky.express

Spooky Express · Thinky Games Control the path of a ghost train and dispatch ghoulish creatures to their resting place.

We're thrilled by this excellent review of Spooky Express from @thinkygames.com 🎃

"The superb Halloween theme of Spooky Express acts as conductor for its train puzzles, bringing the whole game together into a seasonally-appropriate, varied, and delightful outing."

thinkygames.com/games/spooky...

If you've picked up the latest copy of EDGE, keep an eye out for an excellent 9/10 review of Spooky Express in there:

“Whether you're a mere mortal or a puzzle demon, then, you're all but guaranteed to enjoy the ride.”