iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Ethan Clark

Dan DiIorio @trampolinetales.com · 30/09/2026

📢 NEW GAME ANNOUNCEMENT!!! Category Connections is a chill puzzle game where you sort 3,000 things into 100 categories. No timers, no stress, just a big grid of things for you to organize. Perfect for a rainy afternoon. Coming to Steam and Mobile in 2027. Wishlist now! CategoryConnections.com

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Reposted by Ethan Clark

Fabian Fischer @ludokultur.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Topdeck Automat releases November 16! 🚨 This might just be your new auto-battler obsession! 👀 Combine hundreds of cards, infinitely stackable modules and the unique abilities of 30 different characters into crazy chain-reaction builds! 💥 👉 Wishlist now: store.steampowered.com/app/4321920/...

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Ethan Clark @ethanclark.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

PSA to devs making a game in Godot engine: Godot publishes recommended/minimum specs for their games, so if you're not sure what to put as the minimum specs for your game, you can just use what they have! (More intense games might need more RAM/CPU) docs.godotengine.org/en/stable/ab...

docs.godotengine.org

System requirements

This page contains system requirements for the editor and exported projects. These specifications are given for informative purposes only, but they can be referred to if you're looking to buil...

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Ethan Clark @ethanclark.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

And it's a well deserved achievement!

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Ethan Clark @ethanclark.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Merch Store progress report: the test stickers I ordered arrived! I was worried about the quality since these were the (slightly) cheaper "kiss cut" option but they seem to be in perfect condition. I'll move forward with these!

A sticker of Steve from N Step Steve and the protagonist of Bee Magic applied to my laptop.

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Reposted by Ethan Clark

Bobby Vanden @danga.games · 02/09/2026

HE WHO WATCHES IS OUT NOW! Please go check it out if you are at all interested in puzzle games. It is a banger (self certified) and something that I really put my heart into. Day one reviews go so freaking far, if you like the game please do leave a review! I even narrated a trailer for it 😬

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Nuvo Facto @nuvofacto.com · 02/09/2026

Nuvo Facto is making a merch store! Want to pay for cool merch? Want to get paid to make cool merch? Head to the link below and fill out the forms! nuvofacto.com/announcement...

An image of Steve from 5/N Step Steve looking at a webpage of the Nuvo Facto Merch Store offering a sticker of himself.

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Robin Ward @eviltrout.com · 21/08/2026

I wrote up tips for saving and loading games durably in Godot. It's stuff I wish I'd known before shipping games on PC: eviltrout.com/blog/2026-08...

eviltrout.com

Tips for Saving Game Data in Godot

How we made save games in The Roottrees are Dead and The Incident at Galley House resilient to full disks and failing hard drives.

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Ethan Clark @ethanclark.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Been doing UI programming/design lately. One thing I've noticed is that a key factor in UI readability is putting "gaps" between the elements to make them readable.

A settings menu for the audio where there's a bunch of gray rectangles all smushed together.

Now the gray rectangles have space between them, making it clear they are meant to be volume sliders.

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Reposted by Ethan Clark

Draknek & Friends @draknek.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

We're excited to announce that applications are open for the Draknek New Voices Puzzle Grant 2026 🎉 The grant will award $15,000 to five thinky puzzle game developers from all over the world, and a year's mentorship with genre veterans. Deadline: September 27th More info 👇

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Ethan Clark @ethanclark.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

I playtested an early version of this a few years back. From that early version alone, I can give this the Ethan Seal Of Approval.

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Ethan Clark @ethanclark.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Now is a good of a time as any to say this: I agree with this thread, and if you're even remotely interested in the game, I'd recommend reading it through to the end if you haven't already (cw: politics, will make you feel sad).

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Ethan Clark @ethanclark.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

I never doubted @smestorp.bsky.social's ability to make a good game, but I'm blown away by how good 868-BACK is. I'm 40 hours in, and the game *still* feels as surprising as when I first booted it up.

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Reposted by Ethan Clark

Star Victoria Power | Slide20XX @slide20xx.com · 02/07/2026

what's up ya'll, there is a very sophisticated hack going around now that has made it's way into the game audio space, hit one very prominent games-adjacent internet composer, and has gotten one of my friends If someone asks you to play minecraft, do not, that is not your friend, that is a hacker

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Reposted by Ethan Clark

Dan DiIorio @trampolinetales.com · 28/05/2026

📢 OUT NOW!!! 🔎 What's the Password? is a minimalistic puzzle game where you decode 4-digit passwords. Featuring over 100 puzzles! Steam store.steampowered.com/app/4095490 iOS apps.apple.com/us/app/whats... Android play.google.com/store/apps/d...

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Ethan Clark @ethanclark.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Fun fact: 6 months ago, someone messaged me because they thought Genshin Impact was copying my game. My response was as follows:

Someone asked: "how do u feel about the, uh, similarities"
I reply: "I don’t mind.
It’s a concept you could independently reinvent. (And maybe they did, who knows?)
TBQH (To be quite honest) at the risk of sounding too egotistical, if they copied N Step Steve more closely it would be better than it is."

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Reposted by Ethan Clark

Hayden Scott-Baron @docky.games · 23/05/2026

Please recommend a good homepage for a creator. I’ll do one too. Please repost.

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Reposted by Ethan Clark

Patrick Traynor @cwpat.me · 06/05/2026

I made a small 1-level puzzle game about recursive bubbles! A variation on the mechanics of Patrick's Parabox, COCOON, Recursed, etc. I wanted to explore letting you easily visualize and modify the nested structure of rooms. Hope you enjoy! :) patrickgh3.itch.io/bubble-sort

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Reposted by Ethan Clark

Dr. Travis Faas @meanderingleaf.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

My local game dev community helps make a zine, I think the most recent issue is fantastic. indyindies.itch.io/indy-indies-...

indyindies.itch.io

Indy Indies Zine Issue 4 by indyindies

Play in your browser

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Ethan Clark @ethanclark.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Keep an eye out for my next monthly blog post. It's dropping in less than 24 hours and is definitely the wildest blog post I've written.

The chef from Pixar's Ratatouille reading a note, but edited to put the "eye looking" emoji over his eyes.

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Ethan Clark @ethanclark.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

Sometimes when writing a Steam review, I worry that it's too short or isn't well written. But then I think "As a developer, would I mind if a review is too short?" and the answer is "generally, no."

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Ethan Clark @ethanclark.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

Mixed feelings on this one. On the one hand, I'm sure that there's a lot of effort put into this game over the course of years by passionate developers. On the other hand, Level 5's attitude on GenAI tools make it hard for me to be excited for this.

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Reposted by Ethan Clark

Nuvo Facto @nuvofacto.com · 30/03/2026

The character artist for Parallel Dungeons just released a really fun game! (also, I wrote about ten lines of code for it.) In addition, people who own Parallel Dungeons can get a 10% discount on Jamhouse using the bundle we just launched.

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Ethan Clark @ethanclark.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

I've been meaning to draw more, so I forced myself to sketch out a silly comic. It's also set in the 5/N Step Steve universe because why not.

Cat 1: Soooooorrrryyyy, but I can't afford to pay you for the work you did.
Cat 2: WHAT? You said Tencent was backing this!
Cat 1: I said "ten cents" was backing this. Heh heh... heh?
Cat 1 starts sweating.
A newspaper article with Cat 1's face reads "Local cat sentenced to 5 days of Puzzle solving. 'wordplay no excuse for fraud!' says judge."

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Reposted by Ethan Clark

Nuvo Facto @nuvofacto.com · 23/03/2026

Artist's first episode has been added to the free demo of Parallel Dungeons: epicpikaguy.itch.io/parallel-dun... In addition, the full game is 20% off on Steam right now as part of the Spring sale.

epicpikaguy.itch.io

Parallel Dungeons Demo by Ethan Clark (EPICPIKAGUY)

The parallel universe roguelike

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Ethan Clark @ethanclark.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

Pleased to announced that I am adding DLSS 5 to 5 Step Steve!

Steve from 5 Step Steve on the left, with "DLSS OFF". The "DLSS ON" version on the right looks noticeably worse. (this is a joke post

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Reposted by Ethan Clark

zaratustra @zaratustra.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

Parallel Dungeons is a very original take on the roguelike genre, give it a shot

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Reposted by Ethan Clark

Nuvo Facto @nuvofacto.com · 15/03/2026

Version 1.3 of Parallel Dungeons brings a new character: Artist! All four of his episodes are now available to everyone who owns the game. Players who don't own the game will be able to play the first Artist episode in the soon to be updated demo. store.steampowered.com/news/app/405...

store.steampowered.com

Parallel Dungeons - New fighter: Artist - Steam News

Version 1.3

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Ethan Clark @ethanclark.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

The new update for Parallel Dungeons is done, but I need some more time to test and release it. Kind of awkward as we're now at the point where I said I was going to be taking a break, but I guess things like this happen.

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Ethan Clark @ethanclark.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

New blog post, in which I talk about the upcoming new character for Parallel Dungeons. Also, how I made a "you can't lose" ability balanced. nuvobloggo.medium.com/monthly-blog...

nuvobloggo.medium.com

Monthly Blog Post: March 2026

“Bob, there’s a bog post on Medium dot com!”

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Ethan Clark @ethanclark.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

The Ace Attorney series is in such a weird spot right now. Capcom is still supporting and promoting it, the audience for it is definitely still there, but we haven't gotten a new (non remake) game in years.

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Ethan Clark @ethanclark.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

I feel this, and my advice for marketing is as follows: become the kind of person that is an uptick in the quality of life for as many people as possible. Then people might want to play your game.

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Ethan Clark @ethanclark.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

Seems like we'll need to get really good at recycling electronic components.

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Reposted by Ethan Clark

Jes the human @jesthehuman.itch.io · 09/02/2026

The No ICE in Minnesota Charity Bundle has officially LAUNCHED! There are 1,439 games to discover for a $10+ donation to Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota! Purchase the bundle here: itch.io/b/3484/no-ic...

graphic that says no ice in Minnesota itch.io charity bundle

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Ethan Clark @ethanclark.bsky.social · 08/02/2026

I got an email, apparently from a streamer, asking me for a key for Parallel Dungeons to review. It linked to a Twitch channel, so I went to it, and...

I did not ask you to send me a gamecode, its a bot doing it, sorry

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Ethan Clark @ethanclark.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

Jamhouse finally got a Steam page! Let's gooooooooo!

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Ethan Clark @ethanclark.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

Bad news: Notepad++ was hacked for a solid period of time and there's a chance you might have an infected copy. You might want to update. notepad-plus-plus.org/news/hijacke...

notepad-plus-plus.org

Notepad++ Hijacked by State-Sponsored Hackers | Notepad++

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Ethan Clark @ethanclark.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

Doing some organizational work for my "review one game a day" challenge. I plan on keeping this going until I run out of Steam games that I want to leave a positive review on. Which... might take a while. But I think that's a good thing!

UNREVIEWED GAMES (i.e. games I have yet to review): 198

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Ethan Clark @ethanclark.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

New daily challenge: Writing a positive Steam review for an indie game I like. Day 1: Gentoo Rescue by @jagriff.bsky.social store.steampowered.com/app/2830480/...

This is a very well designed puzzle game about taking a simple premise and gradually expanding it into a very intricate system of things that interact with each other in fun and unique ways. The puzzles are on the harder side, but there's a very well thorough hint system for them. There's a lot of "meta" elements to the puzzles as well, and that aspect is pretty well done too. Just a solid game all around.

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Ethan Clark @ethanclark.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

I legitimately wanted to play Highguard, but I keep getting an error whenever I try to start a match. The tutorial was pretty neat though! There's a nice, subtle painterly look to the whole thing, which *might* just be a result of my low graphics settings, but still.

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Reposted by Ethan Clark

Nuvo Facto @nuvofacto.com · 26/01/2026

I am proud to announce that Parallel Dungeons releases on January 30th!

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