iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Truer words were never spoken: it has changed SO MUCH since you played it last year. All those updates have unambiguously made it better... but if I'm honest, I'll always be a little sad that online co-op didn't end up making sense here. Maybe the next one. 😉

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

I pushed the button! Buy SOLARFLARE today, and tell me what difficulty you could clear, and how, so I can loudly congratulate you (and then maybe quietly nerf it a little bit). store.steampowered.com/app/3941030/... We have a cute #axolotl with goggles, maybe that helps? #pixelart #indiedev

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

OK FINE I guess I'm totally out of touch with the rest of humanity, I lost 0 to 4, I accept the results of this #election.

Simon BEGRUDGINGLY assigning the Creature SFX instead of the Mech SFX to the Conduit

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Wow, this will be my last post before release! As your weekly activity, settle a debate: Matt says this first guy is a #monster and the latter a #robot, and I think the opposite. Please side with me, I don't think he'll see this post. #roguelike #autobattle #pixelart #indiedev #screenshotsaturday

This thing is OBVIOUSLY A ROBOT and it's about to shoot electricity.

This ninja is OBVIOUSLY A PERSON with a hella-rad scarf and double plasma swords.

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

SOLARFLARE is finally releasing on May 27! If you'd like to play a rebellious #axolotl obliterating megacorp #robots about 60k different ways, give it a look. 🔊Behold, this expertly-scored new trailer!🔊 store.steampowered.com/app/3941030/... #roguelike #autobattle #indiedev #screenshotsaturday

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Bubblegum the #axolotl has emerged into meatspace, to urge you to wishlist SOLARFLARE, which is *checks notes* a thrilling byte-sized #roguelike #autobattler in a sci-fi dystopia. Fight and die to unlock Upgrades, experiment to find broken builds, and obliterate the megacorp's #bots! Wishlist now!

A axolotl plushy wearing goggles and sitting on a pipe

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

It is time! I have solemnly sworn to press "Release" on May 27, rain or snow, God help me. If you'd like to play a rebellious #axolotl obliterating megacorp #robots ~60K different ways, this one's for you. store.steampowered.com/app/3941030/... #roguelike #autobattle #indiedev #screenshotsaturday

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

In other news, I've updated the build on @itch.io (swarmforge.itch.io/solarflare-p...) to match what I demoed at #cigs2025. The full release is on Steam (store.steampowered.com/app/3941030/...), but that older prototype will be free on itch forever. It's, um, VERY different.

swarmforge.itch.io

SOLARFLARE Preview by Swarmforge

Play solo or team up with a friend, experiment to find broken builds, and defend your planet from the megacorp's bots.

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

Continuing baby steps with #DaVinciResolve this week. Last week we saw lots of characters dying, so this week let's see them winning! #roguelike #autobattle #pixelart #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

This week, we're wrestling with #DaVinciResolve! So please enjoy this montage of player characters being obliterated in a variety of methods and locations. #roguelike #autobattle #pixelart #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 18/04/2026

Continuing the series of bots from last week, we have this quite-sharp Cyberninja. TBH with the armor I'm not sure if he's made of meat, and I'm afraid to ask. Art by @wurmfud.itch.io #roguelike #autobattle #pixelart #ninja #gamedev #screenshotsaturday

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

Everyone stop what you are doing, I have a fresh shipment of vicious robots to peruse. This is the Tank! He chases and pushed you around the map painfully. Maybe too painfully actually, I just died, nerfs inc. Art by @wurmfud.itch.io #roguelike #autobattle #pixelart #gamedev #screenshotsaturday

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

As a player, I'm never happy to receive incomplete information. But if a game tells you everything in advance, it feels front-loaded and hollow. So, now I'm telling you less about future locations. You're welcome! #roguelike #autobattle #pixelart #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

🔊Help I can't stop dragging the slider back and forth to change the layered track from high-intensity to low-.🔊 www.instagram.com/mkgameaudio/ knocked this out of the park, you should hire him too. #vgm #roguelike #autobattle #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

Here's a new retro-Final-Fantasy-style death animation, for your viewing enjoyment. Now that I see it in context, I see I'll need to speed the rotation up just a smidge, OH WELL, SENDING IT. #roguelike #autobattle #pixelart #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

I've been annoyed that, while trying to balance SOLARFLARE, it was always either too hard for newbies or too easy for veterans. I'm embarrassed that it took me this long to remember the obvious solution: a Difficulty setting. #roguelike #pixelart #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday #autobattle

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 20/12/2025

Another new biome: the Tower. I like the blue lines in the background but I'll be honest, I don't actually know what they are. Other towers? An elevator shaft? Extremely slow laser beams? Art by @fervirgames.bsky.social. #roguelike #pixelart #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday #autobattle

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 14/12/2025

Implemented a new biome this week: The Station™™™. The transparent panes of glass, and the scrolling background, were both last-minute additions; do they work for you? Art assets courtesy of @fervirgames.bsky.social. #roguelike #pixelart #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday #autobattle

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 07/12/2025

This week, I made a combat log! See it in the lower-right of the screen. It was surprisingly tricky to get the right scrolling behavior out of #Unity. #roguelike #autobattle #pixelart #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 22/11/2025

HMM what's that empty space in the middle there? (also, great work; let's call this today's #screenshotsaturday post) #autobattle #roguelike #pixelart #gamedev #indiedev

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 16/11/2025

This week, playing around with limiting the number of distinct Upgrades you can buy in a run. As Matt declared, "limitations are the something something of creativity." #roguelike #autobattle #pixelart #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 08/11/2025

OK no more graphs/spreadsheets, time for more #pixelart. I need a simple icon that can appear inline text, to represent Barrier, a status effect that reduces damage taken. It should probably look a like a shield, right? Two candidates: #roguelike #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday #autobattle

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 01/11/2025

More #gamedesign this week! I think I want a LOT of these because scrolling through long lists looking for synergy is joy. #roguelike #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday #autobattle

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

Y'all like pairwise matching #graphs? Here's a pairwise matching graph. I'm standardizing status effects so they can easily interact in interesting ways, and trying to match each Discipline to a few status effects to strengthen theming. #roguelike #autobattle #gamedev #gamedesign

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

Happy #ScreenshotSaturday! You guys liked the last round of "Guess what this icon means", even though no one won, so let's do it again. The hypothetical winner gets a very cool sticker (next time you go to an event I print stickers for that is). #roguelike #autobattle #pixelart #gamedev

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 11/10/2025

If you like poring through a bunch of different abilities to find explosive synergies, you probably like ✨filters✨. Me too! #roguelike #autobattle #pixelart #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 05/10/2025

oops here's the less distorted version

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 05/10/2025

Happy #ScreenshotSaturday! Let's play a round of "Guess what this icon means"! The winner gets a very cool sticker (next time you go to an event I print stickers for). #roguelike #autobattle #pixelart #gamedev

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

Greetings, #PitchYaRogue. Would you like to defend your planet from megacorp bots? ⚙️Combine 20+ (or 80+?) varied upgrades to make a busted build ⚔️Fight through 25 #roguelike levels 🤖Be a #robot or a 🦊 #foxperson or a 🪨 #lithoid Wishlist SOLARFLARE now! store.steampowered.com/app/3941030/...

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

I'm playing around with an #autobattle version of SOLARFLARE, and I guess this is why Backpack Battles has Fatigue. #roguelike #pixelart #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 14/09/2025

Showing SOLARFLARE off at #CIGS2025 was validating and all, but the collective effort of 100 playtesters have generated, let's see, about 10000 Trello cards. Thanks anyways! See you guys at #CIGS2026, and maybe also #CIGS2027 and #CIGS2028, probably.

Two people at a table, playing SOLARFLARE. A sign between them says "CO-OP | TURN-BASED | ROGUELIKE".

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

Bubblegum generously volunteered to be featured on a sticker. Drop by our booth at #CIGS2025 tomorrow, play one run, and take them home with you! Oh, but Bubblegum says not buy more than 2 ranks of Sniper, that's a rookie mistake. #axolotl #roguelike #turnbased #coop #pixelart #gamedev

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 23/08/2025

It was a long, long checklist, but we're on Steam now! store.steampowered.com/app/3941030/... If, like me, you enjoy most #coop #turnbased #roguelikes, I suspect you'll enjoy this too. Wishlist today, and find out! #pixelart #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 17/08/2025

If you're wondering why I'm editing a trailer, it's because SOLARFLARE will have a booth at Chicago Indie Game Showcase (CIGS), hosted by @indiecitygames.org, on 9/6! Stop by, fight robots with a friend, and tell me which character is your favorite (it's Bubblegum) and why (they're an #axolotl).

Flyer for Chicago Indie Game Showcase, listing all the games and sponsors.

Bubblegum the axolotl is only murderous when they need to be, which is frequently.

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 17/08/2025

It's tricky to convey "this game is #co-op" visually, especially when it's #turnbased. I have a white outline that moves to the current player, but think we also need to display the player name above their character's head. Any other suggestions? #roguelike #pixelart #gamedev #screenshotsaturday

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 09/08/2025

This is Fox (no relation). He made equipment for the big armory corp, until SOLARFLARE raided it and he left with them. He likes talking about philosophy, even though his team stopped listening about an hour ago. #foxes #roguelike #turnbased #coop #pixelart #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday

Pixel art fox with wrench and goggles, standing on a shore

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 02/08/2025

This is <UNPRONOUNCEABLE>. She was a subject of the big bioengineering corp, until SOLARFLARE shut the lab down. She is very shy, but knows a lot of jokes. #golem #roguelike #turnbased #coop #pixelart #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 26/07/2025

This is Ed. It was created by the big #robot corp, but they left a security vulnerability in its code that it exploited (oops!), so it left. It sometimes stares at people for a long time, with its massive unblinking iris. #roguelike #turnbased #coop #pixelart #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday

A robot with yellow gloves and a long red scarf, standing on a hex grid.

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 19/07/2025

It's time for SOLARFLARE's July update! I hope you enjoy characters, lore, and detailed statblocks. Details here: swarmforge.itch.io/solarflare-p... #roguelike #turnbased #coop #pixelart #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday

A character sheet with a bunch of different abilities and stats.

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

Goggles make it tough to convey expression! We were aiming for 😱 on the Tech-Fox but this (pic #1) looks a bit like 😀. Do sweat-drops (#2) or dizzy-eyes (#3) help? #conceptart by www.instagram.com/maeribee/ #roguelike #turnbased #coop #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday

A fox wearing overalls and goggles, looking excited

A fox wearing overalls and goggles, looking anxious(?)

A fox wearing overalls and goggles, looking dizzy(?)

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 05/07/2025

Working on UI clarity this week! I needed a white outline to indicate whose turn it is, which surprisingly required #shaders, so... I kinda learned HLSL. There's an unannounced art asset that snuck in, oh well, don't tell anyone. #roguelike #turnbased #coop #pixelart #indiedev #screenshotsaturday

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 29/06/2025

OK, I guess you guys really liked this little guy's #conceptart, so here they are in RESPLENDENT COLOR #pixelart, courtesy of @wurmfud.itch.io. Any suggestions for their name? Currently thinking Bubblegum, for um obvious reasons. #roguelike #turnbased #coop #axolotl #gamedev #screenshotsaturday

Pink axolotl with goggles faces off against robots on a grid, in pixel art.

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

A teeny-tiny fragment of www.instagram.com/maeribee 's #concept-art for SolarFlare's key art. Here, we witness an annoyed lithoid demonstrating the business end of their plasma sword to a very mean #robot. #roguelike #turnbased #coop #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday

An annoyed lithoid demonstrates the business end of their plasma sword to a very mean robot with wheels.

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 15/06/2025

This cutie didn't make it in as one of the starter characters... but they'll be unlockable. #axolotl #conceptart by www.instagram.com/maeribee #roguelike #turnbased #coop #pixelart #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday #OrIsItSunday?

Axolotl wearing a scifi headband, concept art

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 06/06/2025

Hi #PitchYaGame! Would you like to defend your planet from megacorp bots? ⚙️Combine 20+ (or 80+?) varied upgrades to make a busted build ⚔️Fight through 25 #roguelike levels 👥 #coop with your friends (or not) 🤖Be a #robot or a 🦊 #foxperson or a 🪨 #lithoid Follow swarmforge.itch.io/solarflare-p...!

A cyber-fox protected by a swarm of cute drones, protecting him from a spider-bot

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

More #conceptart for #screenshotsaturday, by the inestimable www.instagram.com/maeribee. It's surprisingly hard to make #robots look like protagonists, without making them humanoid! #roguelike #turnbased #coop #gamedev #indiedev

Sketches of two robots: one like a caterpillar and another bipedal.

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

Some aliens are made out of rocks, and that's ok. This concept art brought to you by the magnificent www.instagram.com/maeribee, for #screenshotsaturday ! #roguelike #turnbased #coop #golem #gamedev #indiedev

Concept art of three different alien species (or golems?) made out of rocks

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Swarmforge @swarmforge.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

Drillbots sound very different than cyber-foxes. Observe this nature documentary, with sound on: #roguelike #turnbased #coop #pixelart #robots #gamedev #indiedev #screenshotsaturday (SFX by itch.io/profile/mkga...)

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