iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

The Persevere pre-alpha playtest build is really coming along! Here's a sneak peek, the new tower UIs with completed upgrade icons. The playtest build will be releasing in late October. I'll share more info over the coming weeks.

A screenshot from Persevere's pre-alpha build, showing the Flamethrower Turret UI, with stats, upgrade icons, and target priority selection.

A screenshot from Persevere's pre-alpha build, showing the Slow Turret UI, with stats, upgrade icons, and target priority selection.

A screenshot from Persevere's pre-alpha build, showing the Rifle Turret UI, with stats, upgrade icons, and target priority selection.

A screenshot from Persevere's pre-alpha build, showing the Beam Turret UI, with stats, upgrade icons, and target priority selection.

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Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Let me tell you about Thousand Hells! @radiofreelunch.bsky.social with Robin Laws and the rest of the A Sharp team, have delivered an extremely engaging and novel tactical narrative experience, with a unique vision, and excellent writing. Go get it on Steam! store.steampowered.com/app/3794210/...

store.steampowered.com

Save 10% on Thousand Hells: The Underworld Heists on Steam

Recruit your team, choose your path, and descend into hell. Four heroes must overcome the trials of the underworlds in tactical narrative encounters. A new systemic storybook experience blending mytho...

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David Dunham @radiofreelunch.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Tomorrow (11 September) I’ll be holding a Reddit AMA on r/Games to answer questions about my latest game, underworld mythologies and anything else related! (Or King of Dragon Pass, of course.) See you on Friday at 11:00 am PT/2:00pm ET at /r/Games/ (I’ll post a more specific link on the 11th)!

Screen shot from Thousand Hells, with a “Free the Slaves” challenge just started. Three situations are available, and four tiles are below them, which can be played. To the left is the narrative so far, two tile bags, and portraits of the four team members.

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Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

We're back working on Persevere after a beautiful summer break. For me, it was mostly spent sailing on Lough Corrib ❤️. We're working towards a public pre-alpha playtest, targeting a release on October 5th, to get feedback and iterate on the core experience. This is so exciting! More info soon.

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RPS | Wishlist Fallosophy on Steam! @fallosophygame.com · 15/06/2026

Fallosophy is in Steam Next Fest. Getting Over It, but the mountain is a giant pinball table through the history of philosophy. Two buttons. No score. No savers. Just gravity, momentum, and the choice to climb again. Demo updated with bug fixes, QoL improvements, and new music. Play now on Steam

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Outlier @outliersocial.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

If you missed the Steam sign-up window, don't worry! There will be plenty more opportunities to play Kitman in the coming months. Make sure you're following the game on Steam and have server notifications enabled here so you don't miss out store.steampowered.com/app/4186890/...

store.steampowered.com

Kitman on Steam

KITMAN is a 1-4 player job simulator set in the backrooms of a soccer stadium. Run the team by running the locker room. Clean the team’s boots, patch jerseys, mop floors, and when no-one is looking… s...

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Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

Every few weeks I stress test Persevere to ensure that I'm keeping on top of performance and stability. Here's a short video from today's session, pushing the game to extremes, finding and improving problem areas. #strategy #gamedev youtu.be/eokoLz-I9Vo

youtu.be

Persevere - Stress Testing the Tower Defense

YouTube video by Universe or Nothing

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Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

We will be demoing Persevere at @ardan-ie.bsky.social's FìS Game Summit on April 24th. We're busy working on a new, more content complete, build for the event. It will be focused on a station/tower defense level, with all of core tower defense and crew economy gameplay. youtu.be/SZnU5EosQXg

youtu.be

Persevere - Tower Defense Multi-Target Abilities, Husk Damage and Death Animations

YouTube video by Universe or Nothing

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𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞 | 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐦 🌸🐁 @sharpglassgames.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

//✨𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐈𝐏✨// "𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭-𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘚𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩. 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘸𝘦'𝘥 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘪𝘨 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥-𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵."— 𝐀 𝐟𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐕𝐍𝐃𝐞𝐯 ⁣⁣ #indiedev #indiegame #screenshotsaturday

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Sam Redfern @psychicsoftware.com · 23/01/2026

I wrote a blog post about pathfinding and pedestrian simulation: www.psychicsoftware.com/2026/pathfin...

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Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

I am still a bit overwhelmed by the reaction to Persevere at the @imirt.bsky.social AGM. It was so far beyond any expectation I had, the positivity and energy people had for the pitch, and the demo, just, wow. Getting a little emotional now even thinking about it. #indiedev @ardan-ie.bsky.social

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Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

I will be doing the first pitch of Persevere at the @imirt.bsky.social AGM in just over an hour, as part of the IndieDev program (shout out to @ardan-ie.bsky.social also!). This marks the end of our IndieDev period, and the start of our road to release! Exciting! docs.google.com/presentation...

docs.google.com

Persevere_PitchDeck_ImirtAGM

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Sam Redfern @psychicsoftware.com · 20/01/2026

"A Gothic Masterpiece That Dares to Be Different" -- Expert Game Reviews The Necromancer's Tale is discounted by 20% this week. Check it out if you like good (un)wholesome fun, dabbling in the dark arts and raising the dead. store.steampowered.com/app/1315320/...

store.steampowered.com

Save 20% on The Necromancer's Tale on Steam

A story-rich gothic RPG. Master the rituals of an ancient spellbook. Raise an undead army to march against your enemies. Commune with the realm of the dead & struggle with your descent into madnes...

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Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

I've completed the first draft of the Persevere game pitch deck, which has been written for our publisher funding round. I will be presenting at the IMIRT AGM next week! Feedback is very welcome! #gamedev #indiedev docs.google.com/presentation...

docs.google.com

Persevere_PitchDeck_WorkingDraft

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Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · 14/01/2026

Work on Persevere's pitch deck continues. Here is the final draft of the Art Direction slide. Writing a deck really is a useful tool for re-focusing your understanding of your game #gamedev #indiedev #narrative #strategy #simulation #pitchdeck

Persevere's Art Direction slide. It states that Persevere's goals include having a strong, immediately recognizable visual identity, and a stylized painterly sci-fi aesthetic that remains grounded.

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Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

Work on Persevere's pitch deck continues. Here is the final draft of the Core Loop slide, and the first draft of the Market Opportunity slide (there will be a separate Market Analysis slide with metrics). #gamedev #indiedev #narrative #strategy #simulation #pitchdeck

The final draft of the core loop slide for Persevere's pitch deck.

The first draft of the market opportunity slide for Persevere's pitch deck.

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Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · 11/01/2026

I'm working on the pitch deck for Perservere, our narrative strategy game. This is the most technical slide in the pitch deck. It's designed to show our competence, how well we have considered the design and the moment-to-moment gameplay of the player. I'd love to hear feedback on it. #gamedev

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davetheallthing.com @davetheallthing.com · 27/12/2025

Neat write up of @psychicsoftware.com's The Necromancer's Tale here: medium.com/@Froswald/th...

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Psynwav @psynwav.bsky.social · 20/12/2025

Axyz is a fantastic puzzle game based on the PS1 classic Kula World (Roll Away). One of the rare 'indie homages to an old game' that understands what made the original fun and builds on it in a smart way. Highly recommend!

store.steampowered.com

Save 30% on Axyz on Steam

Axyz is a retro gravity switching puzzle game that asks the player to use their environmental and spatial awareness to beat every level. Soak in the vaporwave, switch gravity, collect tapes, and more ...

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PAUL CONWAY @doomcube.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

The Séance of Blake Manor has been nominated for Best Art Direction in the @thinkygames.com Awards!

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Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

Here's the first draft of the "Ballistics" train carriage for Persevere, our narrative strategy game. When added to your train, it gives you access to basic projectile towers. Train cars aren't just for tower defense though, there will be cars for research, medical, training, scouting, and more.

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Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · 13/12/2025

I recorded a dev log for Persevere, giving an introduction to how crew traits are used to generate personality profiles, and how those personality profiles are used in our narrative scripts to fill roles, and adjust behaviour, within the story. youtu.be/0IDsIvnasz0 #narrative #strategy #gamedev

youtu.be

Persevere Dev Log - Trait/Personality System Introduction

YouTube video by Universe or Nothing

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PAUL CONWAY @doomcube.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

This is cool. The Séance of Blake Manor made GameSpots 10 Best games of the Year list! We're up there with some big games. www.gamespot.com/gallery/game...

gamespot.com

GameSpot's 10 Best Games Of 2025

We've tallied the votes, debated the games' merits, and chosen our top 10 games of the year.

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Sam Redfern @psychicsoftware.com · 12/12/2025

The Necromancer's Tale is Mortismal's favourite indie RPG of 2025. This means a lot to me, Mortismal being a very in-depth RPG reviewer with high standards! Well done @unfetteredmuse.bsky.social @zgpope.bsky.social @michaelthomet.com @davetheallthing.bsky.social Damir and all the voice actors! :-)

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Sam Redfern @psychicsoftware.com · 08/12/2025

The Necromancer's Tale is in the #ChooseWiselyFestival this week, celebrating branching narrative games where choices matter! Thanks @studioephua.bsky.social for hosting! 20% discount this week... time to dabble in the occult and raise an undead army 💀💀💀💀💀 store.steampowered.com/app/1315320/...

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Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

The Necromancers Tale made quite the impression on Mortismal Gaming. He chose it as his indie game of the year! @psychicsoftware.com youtu.be/pbdmvGXStTI?...

youtu.be

My Personal 2025 Game Awards

YouTube video by Mortismal Gaming

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Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

I played the ~30 minute Deathwish Bloom build at IndieDev. I can honestly say that I have never connected to a narrative in any game as quickly and deeply as I did with it. It's still in my head. I have a strange ache looking at the screenshots, I have unfinished business there.

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Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · 06/12/2025

In the early hours of yesterday morning, we completed the prototype of Persevere, our narrative strategy game. I'd like to introduce you to it! Starting with arriving on the level with your train, containing five crew, who we'll get to, and a Ballistics train car. #gamedev #screenshotsaturday

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Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · 06/12/2025

Our fellow IndieDev team RPS has launched the Steam page for Fallosophy. Make sure to wishlist it, it's really damn good, and they will be releasing a demo in a few weeks!

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Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

I love how the tactical system in Thousand Hells is coupled with the narrative scripting system. This is really exciting work. I hope you do a deep dive on this, or perhaps a talk, at some point @radiofreelunch.bsky.social

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Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · 30/11/2025

In Persevere, your crew gain Stressors, from the environment in combination with their Traits. The Stress of each character adds to the Strain of the crew, and Strain leads to narrative Crisis events. Here is a first look at a Crisis event in the Persevere prototype! www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShSu...

youtube.com

Persevere - Crisis Narrative Dialogue

YouTube video by Universe or Nothing

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⚔️ Blanksword ⚔️ @blanksword.bsky.social · 28/11/2025

Demonschool is such an ambitious labor of love and the fact that it only received like 250-ish reviews at this point is nuts, go get this game and play it! And leave a review after you've had a great time or I'll GET YOU

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Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

Working on the last elements of the Persevere #IndieDev prototype, the focus now is on exposing the crew simulation to the player; here is the crew person profile popup. Stress is gained from Stressors, and contributes to the Strain on the crew, which leads to crisis events. #gamedev #narrative

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Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

As well as working on the final Persevere IndieDev prototype build, we're also preparing for the IndieDev wrap event being hosted by @ardan-ie.bsky.social next week. As part of that, we've created a graphic for a pull-up banner, which I am loving. #indiedev #gamedev #stategy #narrative #prototype

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Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · 23/11/2025

We are doing the final content and polish pass for Persevere's prototype. He's a sneak peek at the locomotive, and the crew leaving to it collect resources... More media soon! #screenshotsaturday #gamedev #strategy #narrative

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Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · 03/11/2025

We're closing in on the completion of the Persevere #IndieDev prototype, 3 weeks remaining! I'll share info then, including how to playtest! In the meantime, here is the final master of the Persevere theme, by our brilliant composer John Vallely. #gamedev #gamemusic www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7nW...

youtube.com

Persevere - Main Theme

YouTube video by Universe or Nothing

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Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · 03/11/2025

Great to see The Necromancer's Tale on Mortismal Gaming's best indie titles of 2025 list! youtu.be/EKHh143e3JI?... @psychicsoftware.com

youtu.be

The Best Indie Games I've Played In 2025

YouTube video by Mortismal Gaming

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PAUL CONWAY @doomcube.bsky.social · 02/11/2025

Vote for Blake Manor 💀

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PAUL CONWAY @doomcube.bsky.social · 27/10/2025

The Seance of Blake Manor is now live on Steam. Check out our launch trailer! www.youtube.com/watch?v=QF8s... #indiegames

youtube.com

The Séance of Blake Manor | Release Trailer

YouTube video by Raw Fury

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PAUL CONWAY @doomcube.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

The Séance of Blake Manor is launching this Monday, October 27th! Just in time for spooky season. #ScreenshotSaturday Wishlist it now. store.steampowered.com/app/1395520/... #indiegames #gamedev

A library with lots of books and a large fireplace

A large room with a balcony on the upper floor.

A misty graveyard. A gravestone with the name Mary is near the viewer. A church is in the background.

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Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

We're half way through the 3 month production of the prototype for our #narrative #strategy #game Persevere (after 8 months or pre-production)! Still plenty to do, but the build is really coming together. youtu.be/Trp_1WUHL4w #gamedev #indiedev

youtu.be

Persevere - IndieDev Prototype Build 1

YouTube video by Universe or Nothing

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Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · 28/09/2025

On September 1st we started production on the prototype of our narrative strategy game Persevere, with the goal of having the first playable build on November 19th. Alongside the prototype, we are building a studio. Today, the studio and game website went live. One step at a time. perseveregame.com

perseveregame.com

Home

Persevere is a narrative strategy game that fuses survival management with tower defense.

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Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · 06/09/2025

We've just started production of the Persevere prototype, after 8 months of (part-time) pre-production. Today we hit a milestone, testing a "full" train (your mobile base) in-game (using mostly placeholder assets). My one concern was if the scale and length would feel right, I call this a success!

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Ardán @ardan-ie.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

We’re excited to announce the 8 teams selected for IndieDev 2025 🎮✨💚 A variety of game prototypes will be explored & each team will be supported with funding of £15,000/€15,000 & a mentorship programme. ardan.ie/games-2/indi...

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Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

I just started playing The Necromancer's Tale, and I am a bit envious of how good the writing is! Go buy it! It's an excellent game from a truly talented independent, and Irish, team.

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Mark Aherne @wiredmark.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

So excited to be part of IndieDev 2025! Our prototype, which will comprise of a single complete level of Persevere, will let us prove out our gameplay, art, writing, and production pipelines. We are so grateful to @ardan-ie.bsky.social, @imirt.bsky.social, and Screen partners, for the opportunity!

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Denman Rooke @denmanrooke.com · 03/07/2025

Romero Games has announced the redundancies of a large amount of staff. If you have been affected and need support, please reach out to me so our union @gwuireland.bsky.social can help support you. Connect with me contact@denmanrooke.com or the union advice centre www.fsunion.org/membership/a...

fsunion.org

Advice Centre | Financial Services Union

If you have a question or are unsure of your rights, if you need support or representation, freephone ROI 1800 81 91 91 NI 0800 358 0071 or email us at advice@fsunion.org If you are unable to call &#8...

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Sam Redfern @psychicsoftware.com · 06/06/2025

The Necromancer's Tale #PitchYaGame - HP Lovecraft meets Disco Elysium in this necromancer origin story. Deep narrative, politics, ghosts, and raising the dead. Releasing July 2025 store.steampowered.com/app/1315320/...

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