Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Chao

Ludipe @ludipe.bsky.social · Aug 19

I wrote an Intro to Puzzle Design article🧩

This covers the usual points I discuss with people who are working on their first puzzle game. Given how some concepts can be quite abstract, I think a written piece allows everyone to digest it at their own pace.
www.ludipe.com/2025/08/18/i...

Intro to Puzzle Design – Ludipe

www.ludipe.com

4 67 190

Reposted by Chao

Alan Hazelden / Draknek & Friends @draknek.bsky.social · Aug 8

We're excited to announce that applications are open for the Draknek New Voices Puzzle Grant 2025 🎉

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 28th
More info 👇
grants.draknek.org

2 280 320

Reposted by Chao

Alan Hazelden / Draknek & Friends @draknek.bsky.social · Jul 17

Draknek & Friends Official Podcast Episode 32 featuring @chao-c.bsky.social is out now! Topics include the development of the game, designing a sokoban with movable stages, and the Draknek New Voices Puzzle Grant.
pod.link/1777156468

Draknek & Friends Official Podcast

Join Alan and Syrenne from Draknek & Friends as they talk to developers of some of their favorite puzzle games, shedding light onto how games get made and the people behind them!

pod.link

1 5 11

Reposted by Chao

Thinky Games @thinkygames.com · Jun 11

Watch Joe play this cute sokoban about a bear on a mission to collect apples!
www.youtube.com/watc...

Kiko the bear makes the cutest noises in this apple-collecting sokoban! (Kiko's Apple Adventure)

Kiko's Apple Adventure was released during the Thinky Direct and to kick-off the Cerebral Puzzle Showcase, so we just had to try it out. Turns out, it's a super cute and interesting sokoban game! The goal of each puzzle is to push the apples on to rafts, and you'll also use those rafts to navigate a

www.youtube.com

1 2

Reposted by Chao

IndieGameADay @indiegameaday.bsky.social · Jun 10

Kiko's Apple Adventure⁣ by @chao-c.bsky.social, a sokoban puzzle game [PC]

Kiko the bear has one goal: bake the biggest apple pie ever! Send apples home on rafts and outsmart the lands and critters in your way.

#indiegame

Kiko sleeps, waiting to begin a puzzle with two rafts and two apples on ice bricks

Kiko looks at a hole in the ground that leads to a separate thin island with rafts on the left and right. Two apples are on the top left and bottom right corners of the slightly larger island Kiko is on.

3 7

Chao @chao-c.bsky.social · Jun 6

Hello #PitchYaGame!

Kiko's Apple Adventure 🍎 is a cute puzzle game where you push apples onto floating rafts and trick your goofy enemies!

🧩 bite-sized puzzles
🐻 cartoony graphics
🎵 playful sounds
🍎 apple pie

Kiko released 1 week ago on Steam and itch!
store.steampowered.com/app/2916300/...

5 13

Reposted by Chao

🏳️‍⚧️ Alexandra Merideth Erin [she/her] @alexandraerin.com · Jun 5

My visual processing is so busted today. Until I read the description, I thought the bear on a raft was a three-armed cyclops with floppy ear, a wild mane of red hair, and tiny nub horns like a giraffe's ossicones, flailing around with its head above the water

Chao @chao-c.bsky.social · May 29

There's a 15% launch discount runs for 2 weeks unitl June 12th :)
store.steampowered.com/app/2916300/...

Save 15% on Kiko's Apple Adventure on Steam

Join Kiko the bear rafting through diverse islands, pushing apples onto rafts to solve puzzles. Cleverly dealing with enemies, for a fun and cozy apple pie adventure!

store.steampowered.com

1 9

Reposted by Chao

Bogi Takács / SONG OF SPORES coming Nov 2025! @bogiperson.bsky.social · Jun 5

Just tried out this cute puzzle game earlier today, only had a chance to play for about 15mins, but enjoyed it!

I really like how it combines sliding puzzle with classic box pushing. You have to put the apples on the rafts, where the apples are box-pushing and the rafts are sliding. Very satisfying

Chao @chao-c.bsky.social · May 29

There's a 15% launch discount runs for 2 weeks unitl June 12th :)
store.steampowered.com/app/2916300/...

Save 15% on Kiko's Apple Adventure on Steam

Join Kiko the bear rafting through diverse islands, pushing apples onto rafts to solve puzzles. Cleverly dealing with enemies, for a fun and cozy apple pie adventure!

store.steampowered.com

1 1 5

Chao @chao-c.bsky.social · Jun 4

Only one day left!

I have 2 small cozy puzzlers in Cerebral Puzzle Showcase 🧩

🍎 Kiko's Apple Adventure
🦊 Animal Planner

1 1

Reposted by Chao

Cerebral Puzzle Showcase (2026 TBA) @puzzleshowcase.bsky.social · May 29

The #CerebralPuzzleShowcase is live on @steampowered.com now! Come join a celebration of the puzzle genre!

💸 300+ incredible puzzle games + discounts
🧩 50+ demos to try
📦 Exclusive showcase bundles
📺 4 days of livestreams

store.steampowered.com/sale/Cerebra...

46 100

Reposted by Chao

Alex Strook 🐭⚡️SQUEAKROSS @alexstrook.bsky.social · May 29

So many incredible games in this direct, I don't think Ive wishlisted so many games from the same showcase before (Except WG direct 🍰)

my highlights:

868-BACK (I still play 868-HACK on ios)
Kiko's Apple Adventure
Shape Sender Deluxe
Isles of Sea and Sky

Thinky Games @thinkygames.com · May 29

The first ever Thinky Direct was full of so many incredible puzzle games. Here's a recap of all the exciting announcements!
thinkygames.com/direct/
1/22

Thinky Direct · Thinky Games

The first ever Thinky Direct, with exclusive trailers and announcements for some of the most exciting thinky games.

thinkygames.com

1 9 21

Chao @chao-c.bsky.social · May 29

So sweet! Thanks for the help during the development of Kiko!

1

Reposted by Chao

Ludipe @ludipe.bsky.social · May 29

Kiko's Apple Adventure is so cool. A small puzzle game you should really try.

It just released on Steam for 5€.

Chao @chao-c.bsky.social · May 29

🍎 Kiko's Apple Adventure is out NOW! 🎉

Come help Kiko collect apples to make the biggest apple pie ever!

So happy Kiko was included in the amazing Thinky Direct earlier today @thinkygames.com

Thanks everyone for the support! Hope you enjoy the game! Cheers! 🍻

#indiegamedev #puzzlegame #cozygame

1 1 3

Chao @chao-c.bsky.social · May 29

Thank you! Our sound designer will be super happy to hear that, he puts lots of effort on it! I love the sounds as well :)

2

Chao @chao-c.bsky.social · May 29

There's a 15% launch discount runs for 2 weeks unitl June 12th :)
store.steampowered.com/app/2916300/...

Save 15% on Kiko's Apple Adventure on Steam

Join Kiko the bear rafting through diverse islands, pushing apples onto rafts to solve puzzles. Cleverly dealing with enemies, for a fun and cozy apple pie adventure!

store.steampowered.com

1

Chao @chao-c.bsky.social · May 29

🍎 Kiko's Apple Adventure is out NOW! 🎉

Come help Kiko collect apples to make the biggest apple pie ever!

So happy Kiko was included in the amazing Thinky Direct earlier today @thinkygames.com

Thanks everyone for the support! Hope you enjoy the game! Cheers! 🍻

#indiegamedev #puzzlegame #cozygame

1 3 14

Chao @chao-c.bsky.social · May 27

Steam Achievements ✅
Credits Page ✅
Kiko 🍎 is “almost” ready to launch 🚀
Coming May 29th on Steam!

🔗 store.steampowered.com/app/2916300

#indiegame #puzzlegame #cozygame

1 5

Chao @chao-c.bsky.social · May 25

Loving how Kiko speaks so many languages! 🐻 🌍
Kiko's Apple Adventure 🍎 will launch on May 29th with 7 languages supported: English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese, German, Spanish, and French! 🥳

#indiegame #puzzle #cozygame #gamedev

1 2 10

Chao @chao-c.bsky.social · May 20

Great trailer! This is soooooo exciting 🎉

🍎 Kiko will be part of Thinky Direct on May 29! Cheers!

1 1 8

Reposted by Chao

Afterburn @afterburn.games · May 19

Pup Champs, our newest game is out now!

🐶Control a team of soccer-playing dogs,
⚽Pass the ball and score over 100 goals,
🧩For puzzle novices and experts alike,
💬Cute story told through interactive comic books,

Get on Steam, App Store & Google Play: afterburn.games/pup

7 45 140

Chao @chao-c.bsky.social · May 9

New logo for Kiko! A curious bear 🐻 who loves tasty apples 🍎

#indiegame #gamedev #puzzle #cozy

4 8

Reposted by Chao

MaxyLAND @maxyland.bsky.social · May 8

Double Trip is OUT NOW!!

Thanks for the support throughout the development of the game, we hope you enjoy it ❤️

Check it out here: store.steampowered.com/app/3414480/...

#indiedev #gamedev #puzzle #indiegames

1 11 16

Reposted by Chao

Alan Hazelden / Draknek & Friends @draknek.bsky.social · May 8

Announcing Spooky Express!

Plan the train route for the world’s spookiest theme park! Pick up the monsters & drop them at their destinations. But be careful! Don’t let them bite the passengers or you’ll have a grave problem.

store.steampowered.com/app/3352310/...

8 91 210

Chao @chao-c.bsky.social · May 3

Adding new NPCs to my game.🐻Kiko will be happy to meet them🍎
#indiedev #cozygame #puzzlegame

2 7

Reposted by Chao

Thinky Games @thinkygames.com · Apr 28

Here's a roundup of some upcoming sokoban games!
thinkygames.com/feat...

Here are 22 upcoming Sokoban games for fans of box pushing puzzlers · Thinky Games

Do you love a box-pushing puzzle game? Make sure to add these 22 Sokoban games to your wishlist.

thinkygames.com

1 14 24