Rob Manuel
@robmanuel.bsky.social
Indie Game Person of Interest.
Strategy / Marketing / Biz Dev / Events
(Prev: IGN, Indie MEGABOOTH, Geek & Sundry, Gametrailers, X-Play)
I talk about indie games, board games, tRPGs, and other assorted experiences. (He/Him)
Strategy / Marketing / Biz Dev / Events
(Prev: IGN, Indie MEGABOOTH, Geek & Sundry, Gametrailers, X-Play)
I talk about indie games, board games, tRPGs, and other assorted experiences. (He/Him)
Pinned
Rob Manuel
@robmanuel.bsky.social
· Sep 19
Indie Game Discovery
docs.google.com
The Game Discovery Spreadsheet for this year has been (mostly) finished with games you need to be at least familiar with coming out.
Let me know if there's anything missing or if you have any questions.
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Let me know if there's anything missing or if you have any questions.
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Reposted by Rob Manuel
oh shit this sounds cool. queer & BIPOC writers encouraged to apply btw
feels like a job for the great @yoshiyoshitani.bsky.social tbh
feels like a job for the great @yoshiyoshitani.bsky.social tbh
Hey you! Are you a TTRPG writer staring at discourse on bluesky??? Would you rather be writing for a game? I want to pay you (at $0.20/word) to write for a zine month project!
I'm seeking folks interested in folk stories and examining power structures in storytelling!
I'm seeking folks interested in folk stories and examining power structures in storytelling!
How I Heard It Guest Writer Application
First Pancake Studios is seeking guest writers for our upcoming TTRPG How I Heard it (Free Ashcan Available Here). How I Heard it is a GM-less storytelling game played around a campfire. Players take ...
docs.google.com
January 17, 2026 at 12:21 AM
oh shit this sounds cool. queer & BIPOC writers encouraged to apply btw
feels like a job for the great @yoshiyoshitani.bsky.social tbh
feels like a job for the great @yoshiyoshitani.bsky.social tbh
Reposted by Rob Manuel
Breaks my heart to share this, but today is my last day at The Verge and I am looking for work! I'd really like to stay in video games, preferably in some kind of journalistic capacity but I can do PR/Marketing and maybe even a lil Narrative Design. Please get in touch!
www.ashparrish.com
www.ashparrish.com
Ash Parrish
www.ashparrish.com
January 16, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Breaks my heart to share this, but today is my last day at The Verge and I am looking for work! I'd really like to stay in video games, preferably in some kind of journalistic capacity but I can do PR/Marketing and maybe even a lil Narrative Design. Please get in touch!
www.ashparrish.com
www.ashparrish.com
Reposted by Rob Manuel
Announcement: STEAM DEMO OUT NOW!
The early dungeons of Forbidden Solitaire are now open to those bold - or foolish - enough to explore them.
How badly do you wish to live forever? 👁️🩸
👇👇👇
store.steampowered.com/app/3414580/...
Please wishlist and share - thank you!
#indiedev
The early dungeons of Forbidden Solitaire are now open to those bold - or foolish - enough to explore them.
How badly do you wish to live forever? 👁️🩸
👇👇👇
store.steampowered.com/app/3414580/...
Please wishlist and share - thank you!
#indiedev
January 16, 2026 at 4:27 PM
Announcement: STEAM DEMO OUT NOW!
The early dungeons of Forbidden Solitaire are now open to those bold - or foolish - enough to explore them.
How badly do you wish to live forever? 👁️🩸
👇👇👇
store.steampowered.com/app/3414580/...
Please wishlist and share - thank you!
#indiedev
The early dungeons of Forbidden Solitaire are now open to those bold - or foolish - enough to explore them.
How badly do you wish to live forever? 👁️🩸
👇👇👇
store.steampowered.com/app/3414580/...
Please wishlist and share - thank you!
#indiedev
Reposted by Rob Manuel
Horror fans! There's a game called Without a Dawn, which I released last May, that I 100% believe deserves more attention. It's a small, unique, thought-provoking experience made with love and hard work: store.steampowered.com/app/3145620/... Thanks for checking it out! 💚
#horror #indiegame #gamedev
#horror #indiegame #gamedev
January 16, 2026 at 10:10 AM
Horror fans! There's a game called Without a Dawn, which I released last May, that I 100% believe deserves more attention. It's a small, unique, thought-provoking experience made with love and hard work: store.steampowered.com/app/3145620/... Thanks for checking it out! 💚
#horror #indiegame #gamedev
#horror #indiegame #gamedev
Reposted by Rob Manuel
Something positive: Spry Fox is spinning out of Netflix. We are independent (once again!) and preparing to launch Spirit Crossing.
We wrote up a little blog post musing about this wild adventure. Worth sharing the good news.
spryfox.com/a-16-year-ol...
We wrote up a little blog post musing about this wild adventure. Worth sharing the good news.
spryfox.com/a-16-year-ol...
A 16-year-old baby is born! Miracles do happen.
After three years under the Netflix umbrella, Spry Fox is once again a fully independent studio. As a studio, we’ve managed to somehow survive countless industry upheavals and release a whole lot o…
spryfox.com
January 15, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Something positive: Spry Fox is spinning out of Netflix. We are independent (once again!) and preparing to launch Spirit Crossing.
We wrote up a little blog post musing about this wild adventure. Worth sharing the good news.
spryfox.com/a-16-year-ol...
We wrote up a little blog post musing about this wild adventure. Worth sharing the good news.
spryfox.com/a-16-year-ol...
Reposted by Rob Manuel
Another interview from me on GR+ with Outerloop about Dosa Divas! Very excited to play it this year❤️🔥 www.gamesradar.com/games/rpg/do...
Dosa Divas is an RPG where you solve every problem with cooking: "Everything is themed around flavor profiles, including attacks and enemy weaknesses"
Big in 2026 | We pull up a chair with Outerloop's Chandana Ekanayake to chat about how the studio's upcoming cooking RPG is a fresh take on the genre.
www.gamesradar.com
January 15, 2026 at 10:35 PM
Another interview from me on GR+ with Outerloop about Dosa Divas! Very excited to play it this year❤️🔥 www.gamesradar.com/games/rpg/do...
Reposted by Rob Manuel
Titanium Court now has a Steam page. Go Wish List.
My promise to you: This will be one of the most fun and rewarding games you play this year.
My promise to you: This will be one of the most fun and rewarding games you play this year.
Titanium Court on Steam
A surreal strategy game for clowns and criminals.
store.steampowered.com
January 15, 2026 at 5:58 PM
Titanium Court now has a Steam page. Go Wish List.
My promise to you: This will be one of the most fun and rewarding games you play this year.
My promise to you: This will be one of the most fun and rewarding games you play this year.
Big Hops - A great 3D platformer with collectables and smart mechanics. (5 Reviews)
Pathologic 3 - Time traveling adventure where you need to save people in the past to clear your name. (4 reviews)
Code Violet - 12 reviews
May appeal to you is that you touch on what's great out there.
Pathologic 3 - Time traveling adventure where you need to save people in the past to clear your name. (4 reviews)
Code Violet - 12 reviews
May appeal to you is that you touch on what's great out there.
January 15, 2026 at 5:33 PM
Big Hops - A great 3D platformer with collectables and smart mechanics. (5 Reviews)
Pathologic 3 - Time traveling adventure where you need to save people in the past to clear your name. (4 reviews)
Code Violet - 12 reviews
May appeal to you is that you touch on what's great out there.
Pathologic 3 - Time traveling adventure where you need to save people in the past to clear your name. (4 reviews)
Code Violet - 12 reviews
May appeal to you is that you touch on what's great out there.
Reposted by Rob Manuel
oh geez I can't believe Blippo+... this is... what if Meow Wolf distilled their energy into an electronic crystal or something. I hope it wins an IGF or BAFTA or whatever it needs for every "help I'm bored with games wah" person to play it and shut up store.steampowered.com/app/3323850/...
Save 20% on Blippo+ on Steam
Blippo+ is a live-action, off-cable TV simulator. Channel-surf the stars and discover the staticky, radical world of Planet Blip through its soaps, sitcoms, news, weather, and talk shows. But don’t to...
store.steampowered.com
January 15, 2026 at 2:04 AM
oh geez I can't believe Blippo+... this is... what if Meow Wolf distilled their energy into an electronic crystal or something. I hope it wins an IGF or BAFTA or whatever it needs for every "help I'm bored with games wah" person to play it and shut up store.steampowered.com/app/3323850/...
Reposted by Rob Manuel
HEY HEY it's NEWS 'O CLOCK.
'EARTH MUST DIE' is coming out on the 27th of Jan, which is alarmingly soon!
Please pop over here and wishlist it, and do share if you're able. Thank you.
store.steampowered.com/app/3639780/...
'EARTH MUST DIE' is coming out on the 27th of Jan, which is alarmingly soon!
Please pop over here and wishlist it, and do share if you're able. Thank you.
store.steampowered.com/app/3639780/...
January 14, 2026 at 5:02 PM
HEY HEY it's NEWS 'O CLOCK.
'EARTH MUST DIE' is coming out on the 27th of Jan, which is alarmingly soon!
Please pop over here and wishlist it, and do share if you're able. Thank you.
store.steampowered.com/app/3639780/...
'EARTH MUST DIE' is coming out on the 27th of Jan, which is alarmingly soon!
Please pop over here and wishlist it, and do share if you're able. Thank you.
store.steampowered.com/app/3639780/...
Reposted by Rob Manuel
I got to record a podcast with @pushinguproses.bsky.social and @mattaukamp.bsky.social about the best games of 2025, and of course I immediately start talking about Bruce Campbell.
Episode 77 - 2025 Games of the Year with Casey Explosion!
YouTube video by Save Your Game
www.youtube.com
January 14, 2026 at 4:37 PM
I got to record a podcast with @pushinguproses.bsky.social and @mattaukamp.bsky.social about the best games of 2025, and of course I immediately start talking about Bruce Campbell.
What if Dark Souls but you're a silly little guy - youtu.be/mhAOUns4Drk?...
Stonemachia - Release Date Trailer
YouTube video by Stonemachia
youtu.be
January 14, 2026 at 8:32 PM
What if Dark Souls but you're a silly little guy - youtu.be/mhAOUns4Drk?...
Reposted by Rob Manuel
If you're fans of games like Sea of Stars, Clair Obscur, Octopath, Mario RPG, this is for you. www.gamesradar.com/games/rpg/do...
Dosa Divas is an RPG where you solve every problem with cooking: "Everything is themed around flavor profiles, including attacks and enemy weaknesses"
Big in 2026 | We pull up a chair with Outerloop's Chandana Ekanayake to chat about how the studio's upcoming cooking RPG is a fresh take on the genre.
www.gamesradar.com
January 14, 2026 at 7:59 PM
If you're fans of games like Sea of Stars, Clair Obscur, Octopath, Mario RPG, this is for you. www.gamesradar.com/games/rpg/do...
Reposted by Rob Manuel
My most personal editorial yet, Hank: Drowning on Dry Land, is a comic book-inspired tale about alcoholism that reminded me of someone I loved, but never really knew.
Hank Drowning on Dry Land Portrays How You Don’t Have As Much Time As You Think - Pixelbytegaming
Hank Drowning on Dry Land is a comic book-inspired indie that reminded me of my grandfather and his disease. CW: Death, Alcoholism On September 9, 2002, my grandfather died of cirrhosis. He had been r...
pixelbytegaming.com
January 14, 2026 at 3:59 PM
My most personal editorial yet, Hank: Drowning on Dry Land, is a comic book-inspired tale about alcoholism that reminded me of someone I loved, but never really knew.
There needs to be a games media version of Dropout -- or at least more executives who understand the business like Sam. youtu.be/BhiqAttMqck?...
Hank Green interviews Dropout’s Sam Reich on the business of subscription comedy | Decoder
YouTube video by Decoder with Nilay Patel
youtu.be
January 14, 2026 at 6:08 PM
There needs to be a games media version of Dropout -- or at least more executives who understand the business like Sam. youtu.be/BhiqAttMqck?...
Reposted by Rob Manuel
Since my Metroid guide was new to a lot of people, I figure I'd reshare my old Hand-Drawn Zelda guide. It's a fully illustrated guide to the first Zelda, complete with dungeon maps, and tied together in a storybook presentation. It's also free!
January 14, 2026 at 2:28 PM
Since my Metroid guide was new to a lot of people, I figure I'd reshare my old Hand-Drawn Zelda guide. It's a fully illustrated guide to the first Zelda, complete with dungeon maps, and tied together in a storybook presentation. It's also free!
Reposted by Rob Manuel
I launched a new, free Substack over the weekend and I plan on having something new there at least once a week.
Right now you can find my @nosmallgames.bsky.social inspired list of 30 upcoming indies that I’m anticipating: open.substack.com/pub/honestin...
Right now you can find my @nosmallgames.bsky.social inspired list of 30 upcoming indies that I’m anticipating: open.substack.com/pub/honestin...
30 More Most Anticipated Indie Games of 2026(ish)
Adding 30 more indies to the amazing list that No Small Games created.
open.substack.com
January 12, 2026 at 6:34 PM
I launched a new, free Substack over the weekend and I plan on having something new there at least once a week.
Right now you can find my @nosmallgames.bsky.social inspired list of 30 upcoming indies that I’m anticipating: open.substack.com/pub/honestin...
Right now you can find my @nosmallgames.bsky.social inspired list of 30 upcoming indies that I’m anticipating: open.substack.com/pub/honestin...
Reposted by Rob Manuel
✨I'm launching my newsletter TOMORROW! Sign up to get tips on freelancing in the games industry!✨
It's uh, very scary writing stuff to the public like this but I think it's super important that we talk openly about money, rates, and anything to help us survive financially
tinyurl.com/djudvmmz
It's uh, very scary writing stuff to the public like this but I think it's super important that we talk openly about money, rates, and anything to help us survive financially
tinyurl.com/djudvmmz
Newsletter — Hi! I'm Neha
www.nehapatelaudio.com
January 14, 2026 at 1:59 AM
✨I'm launching my newsletter TOMORROW! Sign up to get tips on freelancing in the games industry!✨
It's uh, very scary writing stuff to the public like this but I think it's super important that we talk openly about money, rates, and anything to help us survive financially
tinyurl.com/djudvmmz
It's uh, very scary writing stuff to the public like this but I think it's super important that we talk openly about money, rates, and anything to help us survive financially
tinyurl.com/djudvmmz
TR-49 - Official Release Date Trailer
YouTube video by IGN
www.youtube.com
January 12, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Reposted by Rob Manuel
Big Hops uses a fun, joyful, and colourful world to invoke a sense of adventure waiting to be explored. Using your frog abilities is always a blast and provides some of the best traversal available in a modern 3D platformer.
Review: www.consolecreatures.com/big-hops-rev...
Review: www.consolecreatures.com/big-hops-rev...
January 12, 2026 at 5:09 PM
Big Hops uses a fun, joyful, and colourful world to invoke a sense of adventure waiting to be explored. Using your frog abilities is always a blast and provides some of the best traversal available in a modern 3D platformer.
Review: www.consolecreatures.com/big-hops-rev...
Review: www.consolecreatures.com/big-hops-rev...
Reposted by Rob Manuel
Thanks for writing us up for Kotaku, @ethangach.bsky.social! Learn more about why our founders decided to go indie: kotaku.com/mothership-i...
Mothership Is A New Website About Gender And Games Which Feels Like A Radical Thing To Launch In 2026 But Shouldn't Be - Kotaku
Founded by ex-Polygon editors, it's for her, them, and even him
kotaku.com
January 10, 2026 at 3:06 PM
Thanks for writing us up for Kotaku, @ethangach.bsky.social! Learn more about why our founders decided to go indie: kotaku.com/mothership-i...
Did I pick Anodyne 2 for this month because I knew that the devs' newest game, Angeline Era, would gets so many IGF noms? No.
Should you join the club to talk about this and other amazing titles? Yes.
Should you pick up Anodyne 1 + 2 and play them no matter what I say? Very much yes!
Should you join the club to talk about this and other amazing titles? Yes.
Should you pick up Anodyne 1 + 2 and play them no matter what I say? Very much yes!
Our January game is Anodyne 2: Return to Dust!
“A one-of-a-kind splicing of PS1 with 16-bit aesthetics and formal conventions, streaked with self-aware humour, sorrow and yearning”
- Eurogamer
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yT6y...
“A one-of-a-kind splicing of PS1 with 16-bit aesthetics and formal conventions, streaked with self-aware humour, sorrow and yearning”
- Eurogamer
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yT6y...
January 11, 2026 at 7:46 PM
Did I pick Anodyne 2 for this month because I knew that the devs' newest game, Angeline Era, would gets so many IGF noms? No.
Should you join the club to talk about this and other amazing titles? Yes.
Should you pick up Anodyne 1 + 2 and play them no matter what I say? Very much yes!
Should you join the club to talk about this and other amazing titles? Yes.
Should you pick up Anodyne 1 + 2 and play them no matter what I say? Very much yes!
Reposted by Rob Manuel
From metroidvanias to cozy life sims to survival horror, 2026 is going to be a huge year for indie games of all genres!
Here are 30 of our most anticipated titles coming out this year 👀
nosmallgames.com/2026/01/30-m...
Here are 30 of our most anticipated titles coming out this year 👀
nosmallgames.com/2026/01/30-m...
30 Most Anticipated Indie Games of 2026
2025 was an incredible year for indie games, and this next one could be even bigger. Here's our list of most anticipated indie games of 2026.
nosmallgames.com
January 11, 2026 at 3:57 PM
From metroidvanias to cozy life sims to survival horror, 2026 is going to be a huge year for indie games of all genres!
Here are 30 of our most anticipated titles coming out this year 👀
nosmallgames.com/2026/01/30-m...
Here are 30 of our most anticipated titles coming out this year 👀
nosmallgames.com/2026/01/30-m...
Happy Pathologic 3 Day to all who celebrate! If this game keeps up with the previous two titles, it's a GOTY contender already.
store.steampowered.com/app/3199650/...
store.steampowered.com/app/3199650/...
Save 20% on Pathologic 3 on Steam
In this psychological horror game, you are a doctor with only 12 days to save a town from a mysterious plague. Make ruthless decisions and diagnose with precision. Shape the town's future and rewrite ...
store.steampowered.com
January 9, 2026 at 10:17 PM
Happy Pathologic 3 Day to all who celebrate! If this game keeps up with the previous two titles, it's a GOTY contender already.
store.steampowered.com/app/3199650/...
store.steampowered.com/app/3199650/...
Reposted by Rob Manuel
Perfect Tides: Station to Station has been nominated for two IGF awards:
-Excellence in Narrative
-Seumas McNally Grand Prize
This is such a tremendous honor, and what a nice hurrah as and the team and the playtesters and I race towards the finish line.
Nomination list: tinyurl.com/2zzt8sw4
-Excellence in Narrative
-Seumas McNally Grand Prize
This is such a tremendous honor, and what a nice hurrah as and the team and the playtesters and I race towards the finish line.
Nomination list: tinyurl.com/2zzt8sw4
January 9, 2026 at 6:40 PM
Perfect Tides: Station to Station has been nominated for two IGF awards:
-Excellence in Narrative
-Seumas McNally Grand Prize
This is such a tremendous honor, and what a nice hurrah as and the team and the playtesters and I race towards the finish line.
Nomination list: tinyurl.com/2zzt8sw4
-Excellence in Narrative
-Seumas McNally Grand Prize
This is such a tremendous honor, and what a nice hurrah as and the team and the playtesters and I race towards the finish line.
Nomination list: tinyurl.com/2zzt8sw4