Oliver Joyce (Lair of the Leviathan)
@oliverjoyce.bsky.social
Owner, Whiskeybarrel Studios. Currently working on Lair of the Leviathan. Creator of the Swords and Sandals series. Grizzled game dev greybeard.
November 14, 2025 at 5:21 AM
Pro tip when you launch a game. You're gonna get *so many* key requests - ignore them all. Straight into the bin, report them as junk. They're 99.9999% scammers and key resellers.
Any streamer/reviewer worth their salt will buy the game or be one that *you* contacted.
#gameDev
Any streamer/reviewer worth their salt will buy the game or be one that *you* contacted.
#gameDev
November 12, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Pro tip when you launch a game. You're gonna get *so many* key requests - ignore them all. Straight into the bin, report them as junk. They're 99.9999% scammers and key resellers.
Any streamer/reviewer worth their salt will buy the game or be one that *you* contacted.
#gameDev
Any streamer/reviewer worth their salt will buy the game or be one that *you* contacted.
#gameDev
The trumpets ring out, the arena gates open the heralds call your name. Destiny awaits, gladiator!
(Actually releases later today, in my infinite wisdom I messed up my timing on these countdown pics)
(Actually releases later today, in my infinite wisdom I messed up my timing on these countdown pics)
November 11, 2025 at 9:34 PM
The trumpets ring out, the arena gates open the heralds call your name. Destiny awaits, gladiator!
(Actually releases later today, in my infinite wisdom I messed up my timing on these countdown pics)
(Actually releases later today, in my infinite wisdom I messed up my timing on these countdown pics)
As the hours dwindle, the pressure intensifies. The anticipation of battle and brimstone weighs heavy on the heart of every gladiator.
November 10, 2025 at 9:50 PM
As the hours dwindle, the pressure intensifies. The anticipation of battle and brimstone weighs heavy on the heart of every gladiator.
Gladiators from beyond the stars shall also join the battle, wielding powerful armour-shredding weapons on their way to glory and fortune.
November 9, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Gladiators from beyond the stars shall also join the battle, wielding powerful armour-shredding weapons on their way to glory and fortune.
There is courage and honour to be found amidst the horrors of the arenas ... small mercies shown, acts of generosity ... lives spared.
The Gladiae Ultratus will reveal the true nature of the gladiator.
The Gladiae Ultratus will reveal the true nature of the gladiator.
November 8, 2025 at 9:44 PM
There is courage and honour to be found amidst the horrors of the arenas ... small mercies shown, acts of generosity ... lives spared.
The Gladiae Ultratus will reveal the true nature of the gladiator.
The Gladiae Ultratus will reveal the true nature of the gladiator.
As the Gladiae Ultratus prepares to open its mighty gates, creatures with the blackest hearts in the realm also prepare their campaigns of reckless hate and death.
⚔️You are forewarned, the arena will not be merciful.
⚔️You are forewarned, the arena will not be merciful.
November 7, 2025 at 9:27 PM
As the Gladiae Ultratus prepares to open its mighty gates, creatures with the blackest hearts in the realm also prepare their campaigns of reckless hate and death.
⚔️You are forewarned, the arena will not be merciful.
⚔️You are forewarned, the arena will not be merciful.
A throng of abominations now flock to the arena. Beast men from the deserts. Gelatinous cubes from towers of sorcery. Skeletons from beyond the grave...
All yearning for the glory of gladiatorial combat!
All yearning for the glory of gladiatorial combat!
November 6, 2025 at 9:48 PM
A throng of abominations now flock to the arena. Beast men from the deserts. Gelatinous cubes from towers of sorcery. Skeletons from beyond the grave...
All yearning for the glory of gladiatorial combat!
All yearning for the glory of gladiatorial combat!
Gladiators, the countdown begins! Dust off those old sandals, for the distant rumble of battle harkens.
store.steampowered.com/app/2116620/...
store.steampowered.com/app/2116620/...
November 5, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Gladiators, the countdown begins! Dust off those old sandals, for the distant rumble of battle harkens.
store.steampowered.com/app/2116620/...
store.steampowered.com/app/2116620/...
Swords and Sandals III Redux is part of the October Steam Next Fest!
Since 2006, the only game that allows you to fall asleep willingly in the middle of a battle, and proud of it.
( Also ... bloody hell, there are a lot of games in the festival this time round! )
#NextFest
Since 2006, the only game that allows you to fall asleep willingly in the middle of a battle, and proud of it.
( Also ... bloody hell, there are a lot of games in the festival this time round! )
#NextFest
October 13, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Swords and Sandals III Redux is part of the October Steam Next Fest!
Since 2006, the only game that allows you to fall asleep willingly in the middle of a battle, and proud of it.
( Also ... bloody hell, there are a lot of games in the festival this time round! )
#NextFest
Since 2006, the only game that allows you to fall asleep willingly in the middle of a battle, and proud of it.
( Also ... bloody hell, there are a lot of games in the festival this time round! )
#NextFest
The demo for Swords and Sandals III Redux will be unleashed upon the Steam Next Fest in mere hours...
Prepare to unleash hell one more time, gladiator!
Prepare to unleash hell one more time, gladiator!
October 13, 2025 at 10:02 AM
The demo for Swords and Sandals III Redux will be unleashed upon the Steam Next Fest in mere hours...
Prepare to unleash hell one more time, gladiator!
Prepare to unleash hell one more time, gladiator!
October updates from the Lair of the Leviathan, including NPCs in towns, customized armour, dungeon fog and a 'gather your party' screen.
Long way to go yet but we're making vast strides on our classic Gold Box style RPG.
store.steampowered.com/news/app/275...
Long way to go yet but we're making vast strides on our classic Gold Box style RPG.
store.steampowered.com/news/app/275...
Lair of the Leviathan - Updates from the Lair : October '25 - Steam News
NPCs in towns! Dungeon fog! Gather your party! ... and more.
store.steampowered.com
October 5, 2025 at 9:12 AM
October updates from the Lair of the Leviathan, including NPCs in towns, customized armour, dungeon fog and a 'gather your party' screen.
Long way to go yet but we're making vast strides on our classic Gold Box style RPG.
store.steampowered.com/news/app/275...
Long way to go yet but we're making vast strides on our classic Gold Box style RPG.
store.steampowered.com/news/app/275...
Sturdy those sandals, gladiators...
Swords and Sandals III Redux drops this November. Crank up the sound and watch the bone crushing Official Trailer below!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=czJO...
Swords and Sandals III Redux drops this November. Crank up the sound and watch the bone crushing Official Trailer below!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=czJO...
Swords and Sandals III Redux Official Trailer
YouTube video by Whiskeybarrel Studios
www.youtube.com
October 4, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Sturdy those sandals, gladiators...
Swords and Sandals III Redux drops this November. Crank up the sound and watch the bone crushing Official Trailer below!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=czJO...
Swords and Sandals III Redux drops this November. Crank up the sound and watch the bone crushing Official Trailer below!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=czJO...
Gladiators, its the Steam Autumn Sale! Big discounts on all Swords and Sandals games from now until October 7th.
There's never been a time to return to the arena.
store.steampowered.com/franchise/wh...
There's never been a time to return to the arena.
store.steampowered.com/franchise/wh...
September 30, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Gladiators, its the Steam Autumn Sale! Big discounts on all Swords and Sandals games from now until October 7th.
There's never been a time to return to the arena.
store.steampowered.com/franchise/wh...
There's never been a time to return to the arena.
store.steampowered.com/franchise/wh...
Enter the arena, gladiators. The DEMO for Swords and Sandals III Redux is now live on Steam!
store.steampowered.com/app/2116620/...
#turnBased #indiegames
store.steampowered.com/app/2116620/...
#turnBased #indiegames
Swords and Sandals 3 Redux on Steam
A legend returns! The beloved classic Swords and Sandals 3 is back, re-forged in glory! Step back into the Gladiae Ultratus once more and prepare to take on the greatest gladiators in all Brandor. It'...
store.steampowered.com
September 10, 2025 at 2:55 AM
Enter the arena, gladiators. The DEMO for Swords and Sandals III Redux is now live on Steam!
store.steampowered.com/app/2116620/...
#turnBased #indiegames
store.steampowered.com/app/2116620/...
#turnBased #indiegames
Reposted by Oliver Joyce (Lair of the Leviathan)
Oh shit, it's been a month since we launched This Week in Videogames, the website!
We'd been running this privately for so long that it almost became old hat. It was a shock to get SO much nice, positive feedback (with polite constructive feedback too) I'm very grateful 🙏
thisweekinvideogames.com
We'd been running this privately for so long that it almost became old hat. It was a shock to get SO much nice, positive feedback (with polite constructive feedback too) I'm very grateful 🙏
thisweekinvideogames.com
This Week in Videogames - TWIV
Covering the important things happening in the world of videogames. News, reviews, and insights without ads or filler content.
thisweekinvideogames.com
August 22, 2025 at 8:16 AM
Oh shit, it's been a month since we launched This Week in Videogames, the website!
We'd been running this privately for so long that it almost became old hat. It was a shock to get SO much nice, positive feedback (with polite constructive feedback too) I'm very grateful 🙏
thisweekinvideogames.com
We'd been running this privately for so long that it almost became old hat. It was a shock to get SO much nice, positive feedback (with polite constructive feedback too) I'm very grateful 🙏
thisweekinvideogames.com
Today - a big update post on Lair of the Leviathan. Find out what's been going on in the project and what's next, form dungeon and monster editors to party member chatter and more.
store.steampowered.com/news/app/275...
#gameDev #rpg #turnBased
store.steampowered.com/news/app/275...
#gameDev #rpg #turnBased
Lair of the Leviathan - Updates from the Lair - Steam News
Powerful new editors for dungeons, creating monsters and more...
store.steampowered.com
June 19, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Today - a big update post on Lair of the Leviathan. Find out what's been going on in the project and what's next, form dungeon and monster editors to party member chatter and more.
store.steampowered.com/news/app/275...
#gameDev #rpg #turnBased
store.steampowered.com/news/app/275...
#gameDev #rpg #turnBased
I love to code to chiptunes or Adlib-era music, often soundtracks from old RPGs... it helps me feel like I'm out there questing.
Just discovered this soundtrack from an obscure but amazing JRPG, Sorcerian, and every track is incredible.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gm6...
#gameDev
Just discovered this soundtrack from an obscure but amazing JRPG, Sorcerian, and every track is incredible.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gm6...
#gameDev
PC88: Sorcerian Soundtrack
YouTube video by grad1u52
www.youtube.com
May 20, 2025 at 12:19 AM
I love to code to chiptunes or Adlib-era music, often soundtracks from old RPGs... it helps me feel like I'm out there questing.
Just discovered this soundtrack from an obscure but amazing JRPG, Sorcerian, and every track is incredible.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gm6...
#gameDev
Just discovered this soundtrack from an obscure but amazing JRPG, Sorcerian, and every track is incredible.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gm6...
#gameDev
Sneaky surprise trailer drop! Swords and Sandals III Redux is coming , yo!
April 26, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Sneaky surprise trailer drop! Swords and Sandals III Redux is coming , yo!
I took a week off making Lair of the Leviathan to work on a (not-so) secret Swords and Sandals project. Steam page has been submitted and I'll reveal more in the coming weeks.
This is one for the fans! (And it's not the VR game!)
This is one for the fans! (And it's not the VR game!)
March 28, 2025 at 1:54 AM
I took a week off making Lair of the Leviathan to work on a (not-so) secret Swords and Sandals project. Steam page has been submitted and I'll reveal more in the coming weeks.
This is one for the fans! (And it's not the VR game!)
This is one for the fans! (And it's not the VR game!)
Showing off some cool new module editor work and pixel character customization in Lair of the Leviathan. Check it out!
youtu.be/JGGwB-yLceE
#gameDev #indieDev
youtu.be/JGGwB-yLceE
#gameDev #indieDev
I've never seen any games do pixel characters quite like this!
YouTube video by Whiskeybarrel Studios
youtu.be
March 20, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Showing off some cool new module editor work and pixel character customization in Lair of the Leviathan. Check it out!
youtu.be/JGGwB-yLceE
#gameDev #indieDev
youtu.be/JGGwB-yLceE
#gameDev #indieDev
So cool to see some early media coverage of Lair of the Leviathan already. Feels like something great is starting to brew.
www.gamepressure.com/newsroom/ble...
www.gamepressure.com/newsroom/ble...
Blending East and West - Lair of the Leviathan is a handcrafted open-world RPG that’s going straight on my wishlist
This is the retro RPG I’ve been waiting for. Plus, the Swords and Sandals creator is helping bring it to life!
www.gamepressure.com
February 25, 2025 at 8:23 AM
So cool to see some early media coverage of Lair of the Leviathan already. Feels like something great is starting to brew.
www.gamepressure.com/newsroom/ble...
www.gamepressure.com/newsroom/ble...