Mizuki and the Crimson Moon - Demo Released!

This week I've been adding lots of effects and such to the game, the biggest of which is a new hit effect for Mizuki!

Usually, I'd show a 'before' but...there wasn't any...

Anyways, F's for Mizuki taking hits for the sake of game dev.

#ScreenshotSaturday #gamedev #indiegame #pixelart

I'm just using the sprite maker in GameMaker Studio 2. It's nothing fancy but does what I need it to.

Have you played the recent demo update? If not, you should totally check it out. You'll have a much better time than this enemy guard is having.

Seeing him fall off the tree is pretty satisfying. Maybe there should be a way to knock foes around more.

Hmmm...

#indiegame #GameMaker #gamedev

Fixed up the money display in the shop along with some other bugs this week. Now I'm just trying to figure out if there should be a nice background for all of the charms to be displayed on...
#screenshotsaturday #gamedev #indiegame #GameMaker #pixelart

Huge update to Mizuki and the Crimson Moon has been released! Feels so nice to get this out after weeks of hard work.
Controller support is now active and it's coming with lots of gameplay and UI improvements!
Check it out on Steam!
#gamedev #indiegame #gamemaker #demo #yokai

Drawing a circle for an icon is hard, especially a stylized one. But when you get that shape *just* right...
It's amazing.
#gamedev #pixelart #drawnwithamouse

Just working on redesigning the menu right now, nothing too crazy...for now!
A big rework is coming to the demo next week...
#screenshotsaturday #gamedev #indiegame

Yep it’s a Monday.

Prepare yourselves for a busy coding week!

Sign translation: Error free day, not gonna happen!
#gamedev

Controller support for Mizuki is nearly finished! Looking to release it next weekend after some more adjustments and quality of life additions.

Don't mind Mizuki, she's just teaching the local invaders a lesson!

#screenshotsaturday #indiegame #gamedev #GameMaker

Finished up some fast and snappy teleportation controls for gamepads / controllers. Nearly finished with full controller support for the Mizuki and the Crimson Moon demo now that this is wrapped up!
#screenshotsaturday #gamedev #indiegame #teleporting #GameMaker #controller

I've been busy creating new menus to go along side controller integration for Mizuki and the Crimson Moon!
Still needs work, but it's a much-needed upgrade, although I will miss seeing Mizuki's face.

(Pictured below, new then old)

#screenshotsaturday #gamedev #indiegame #gamemaker

Decided to take a break from all the coding and make some pixel art.
Made a scene that portrays all the areas that will be in Mizuki and the Crimson Moon. Going to use it as the new Stage Info / Pause Screen background.

(You might want to zoom in)

#pixelart #gamedev #indiegame #background

I love it when I'm able to do little coding tricks in my game, like being able to evaluate a Boolean as a positive or negative number for evaluations! Simple but still nice.
It's the little things that help the most though. These couple of lines saved a lot of time!
#gamedev #coding #GameMaker

As we all head into 2026 with New Year’s resolutions and goals for what we want to accomplish, just remember:

Generous hit boxes save lives!

#HappyNewYear2026 #indiegame #gamedev #pixelart

I had to take a hiatus from game dev the past couple weeks because of some family matters and holiday trips.
I'm back now and ready to start 2026 strong with lots of new developments for Mizuki and the Crimson Moon!

Happy (late) holidays and Happy New Year!
#oc #characterart #sketch #indiegame

Ahhh, an evening full of GameMaker updates, backing up code, and of course, refactoring.
The less exciting but still super important work of a game dev.
#indiedev #gamedev

Here's a side-by-side of how gameplay felt (and looked) before and after adding input buffering!
Really though, it's something you have to feel. Kinda hard to show through video you know?
Expect it in a quickly upcoming update!

#indiegame #gamedev #GameMaker #gameplay

Spending tons of time debugging code on Mizuki and the Crimson Moon has really made me appreciate bug-free video games a lot more.
Like, even just touching collision makes me think “I wonder how many times this was tested…and broke” 🥲
#gamedev #coding #GameMaker

Adding some proper input buffering into the control scheme has made gameplay smoother than ever!
Such a small change made such a big difference, coming as a demo update soon!

Wishlist Mizuki and the Crimson Moon on Steam!

#screenshotsaturday #indiegame #gamemaker #gamedev #platformer

Best part about being able to teleport? Being able to find cozy spots even in the most dangerous places!

Okay maybe it's not the best, but it's definitely up there.

#gamedev #indiegame #gamemaker #platformer

Updated two attack animations and added a third version at the end! Variance is nice when unleashing a bunch of attacks.

Slowed down by 25% for your viewing pleasure.

#gamedev #pixelart #animation #indiegame

Nooooooo, not the cactus flower!

F

Well it, happened.
I played a game that I really was starting to love and a specific aspect of it just killed it for me.
As a game dev, I am now obligated to make a similar game that doesn’t have that aspect!
After I finish Mizuki and the Crimson Moon of course…

Any game devs relate???

#gamedev

Nothing like a super close view of those pixels meshing together perfectly. Absolutely satisfying pixel-perfection!

Definitely makes playing the game tricker though...

#indiegame #screenshotsaturday #gamedev #pixelart

Updated the display for teleportation so the number of wisps Mizuki has is displayed at the cursor.
Visual feedback is key for a game like this!
#screenshotsaturday #gamedev #indiegame #gamemaker

Been working on improving the backgrounds for Mizuki and the Crimson Moon. Here's a timelapse of what I've been up to!
#gamedev #pixelart #indiegame #gamemaker

I’ll let you know

Developers don't want you to know, but this is actually the prime way to organize folders for your projects.

Don't @ me

#gamemaker #gamedev #coding

Teleporting through the forest and see a glowing light?
Check it out!
This nice addition will make sure you don't miss a single checkpoint.
#screenshotsaturday #indiegame #gamedev #gamemaker

New checkpoint flag style! Just a bit bigger and flashier.
#pixelart #gamedev #indiegame