Draknek & Friends
Draknek & Friends business and news from across the web.
Dittori Announced With Steam Demo Available NowBlookerstein Games and Draknek & Friends announced Dittori, a new puzzle game featuring space-manipulating mechanics where players can split objects to exist in two places at once. A demo for the game is available now on Steam, showcasing its ancient temple setting and handcrafted puzzles.- Thinky Direct 2026 Spotlights More Than 40 Upcoming Puzzle Games, World Premieres, New Demos, Launch Dates, and Major UpdatesThinky Games presented its second annual puzzle-focused showcase, Thinky Direct 2026, featuring over 40 upcoming puzzle games. The event included world premieres, new demos, launch dates, and updates on titles like Escape Academy 2: Back 2 School and Dittori. The showcase also launched the Cerebral Puzzle Showcase on Steam in partnership with Draknek & Friends.
- Thinky Direct Returns May 28 With More Than 40 Puzzle Game Announcements and RevealsThe Thinky Direct, a showcase for puzzle and cerebral games, will return on May 28, featuring over 40 announcements including world premieres, new demos, and release dates. The event will be broadcast on YouTube, Twitch, and Steam and will also kick off the Cerebral Puzzle Showcase, a week-long event with puzzle game demos and discounts on Steam.
BFI announces recipients of IBD awards, launches new funding stream for UK devsThe BFI has announced recipients for its International Business Development awards and launched a new funding stream for UK game developers' marketing efforts, following an increase in its UK Global Screen Fund budget. Dlala Studios and Newfangled Games are among five independent studios receiving grants ranging from £50,000 to £200,000 to support international growth and IP development. A new Video Games Release funding stream offers up to £50,000 for marketing, promotion, and localization costs.
Fans of Portal and first-person puzzlers will definitely want to check out He Who WatchesHe Who Watches is an upcoming gravity-defying puzzle game developed by Bobby Vanden and published by Draknek and Friends. Players will navigate a labyrinth by shifting blocks and traversing walls and ceilings, utilizing a unique perspective-based mechanic. The game features over 100 levels and is expected to take 10-15 hours to complete, with a demo available on Steam.- Draknek & Friends to Publish Mind-Bending Puzzle Game He Who WatchesDraknek & Friends will publish He Who Watches, an innovative first-person puzzle game from solo developer Bobby Vanden (Danga Games), in 2026 for PC via Steam, priced at $20. Players navigate a labyrinth by defying gravity to solve over 120 spatial puzzles. The game features a unique twist on the Sokoban genre and is expected to take 10-15 hours to complete.
Hidden Gems of Game Design Vol 45This article highlights several underappreciated games, including the puzzle game Spooky Express, the genre-bending Jail Dice: Roll to Break, the challenging roguelike shmup Rick Henderson, and the flawed but ambitious MMO Champions of Regnum. Each game is presented with its unique mechanics and appeal, encouraging readers to discover these hidden gems.