There is a strange sickness in South Africa – in general, people assume that because something is South African, it must be bad. Even when it’s good, people whine that it would be better if made overseas. Well, I’m sick of it! The indie scene in South Africa is growing, and we should support them where we can.
The problem with indies (internationally as well, not just locally) is that they’re hard to find. Many indie developers are one-man teams, or have limited PR ability. Often, fantastic games can fall through the cracks due to lack of promotion. So, I present you with an alphabetical list of South African developers. Be advised – this article will be updated regularly as we receive more information. I will also be doing articles on the specific developers so that you can get more in-depth understanding of the types of games they create, who they are, and how to get hold of their products – links will be updated below.
The Brotherhood Games
Chris Bischoff of the Brotherhood Games seems to have almost single handedly pushed his game, Stasis, through the Kickstarter and Greenlight process. Based in Joburg, you can follow his progress through the Stasis webiste, or follow on twitter.
Lazygamer coverage:
- Stasis lists on Kickstarter
- Stasis hits 75% on Kickstarter
- Stasis needs your support
- Stasis reaches Kickstarter target
- Stasis Greenlit and Kickstarted, but still needs your support
- An impromptu Q&A with Stasis team
Celestial Games
Celestial Games has been around for years, based out of Joburg. They initially came onto the indie scene with Toxic Bunny, a game they have recently given an HD revamp. You can check out their website, like them on Facebook or follow them on twitter for more details about current projects.
Lazygamer coverage:
Dark Faction Games
Dark Faction Games is a small indie based in Kimberley. They are currently working on an Android project – Dark Project. Their website/blog is updated every few weeks, or you can find them on Facebook or twitter.
Deciduous Games
Deciduous Games is a one-man studio from Richard Pieterse in Cape Town. Pieterse has recently started work at Free Lives, but that hasn’t stopped him from releasing his bizarrely fascinating game, Wang Commander. You can follow his blog, or find him on twitter.
Lazygamer coverage
Free Lives
Free Lives are based out of Cape Town and are currently developing Brofroce. Broforce has been Greenlit on Steam and makes all of us a little too giddy. You can find Free Lives online through their website, Facebook or twitter.
Lazygamer coverage:
- Darryn interviews the guys from Free Lives
- Darryn updates us on Broforce
- Broforce gets Greenlit
- Indies at rAge
- Broforce featured at MineCon
Giant Box Games
Giant Box Games is a two man team consisting of Programmer/Designer Dominic Obojkovits and Artist/Designer David Nickerson. Obojkovits is the local developer, while Nickerson hails from Canada. Together, they have made the awesome Pixel Boy, which is currently looking for Greenlight support, so you better go vote. You can find more details on the website, Facebook and twitter.
Lazygamer coverage
QCF Design
QCF Design is an award winning development studio based in Cape Town. The alpha for their game Desktop Dungeon won an IGF award at GDC in 2011; the guys have since been taking the game through Beta towards its release. We are hoping to see the final version of the game any day now. You can find QCF on their website – they also have an official twitter account, but it’s better to follow the developers themselves.
Lazygamer coverage
- Lazygamer discovers Desktop Dungeons
- Lazygamer talks to QCF
- Mac version for Desktop Dungeons
- Desktop Dungeons wins IGF award
- Be in a videogame
- Desktop Dungeon goes Beta
- Indies at rAge
- Desktop Dungeons Releasing 7 November
- Desktop Dungeons featured at MineCon
- What happened to Desktop Dungeons?
- QCF writes post-release musings
- Desktop Dungeons Review
Lighthouse Games Studio
Lighthouse Games Studio is a local indie focused on making Xbox 360 and mobile games. I actually think their Greed City game sounds genius – it’s like Monopoly but uses your real world check-ins to help you become a property tycoon. You can check out their website, Facebook and twitter.
Lazygamer coverage
Luma Arcade
Luma Arcade is a Portland-based company with offices in Joburg. They are primarily a mobile game studio, with games for Android and iOS including Bladeslinger and The Harvest. You can browse through their website, or find them on Facebook, twitter and YouTube.
Made with Monster Love/The Funtastic
A one man studio from Cape Town, Made with Monster Love have made games such as Toward the Light and Cadence. You can find Peter at his funky blog, The Funtastic, or his official website. Also, he has twitter.
Lazygamer coverage
Manikin Games
Proudly Capetonian, Manikin Games is best known for developing Silhouette, a two player, turn-based game about killing your friend. You can check out their website, or find them on twitter.
Lazygamer coverage:
Polymorph
Technically, Polymorph is an app studio more than an indie game studio – they specialize in mobile development. However, they made a game and you can get it for iOS, so I suppose that makes them indie developers. You can check out Polymorph’s website, or find them on Facebook and twitter.
Lazygamer coverage:
Red Dot Lab
With a playable demo debuted at rAge, Red Dot Lab is breaking out on the indie scene. Their game, Blazin’ Aces, is planned for mobile release. You can find them on their website and on twitter.
Lazygamer coverage:
Retro Epic
Retro Epic is an indie development studio that also makes games and prototypes for third parties. Their latest game, A Day in the Woods, was a big hit at rAge. You can find them through their website, on Facebook, twitter and YouTube.
Lazygamer coverage:
Retro Future
These guys are behind the insanely difficult and fun zX – Hyperblast. In fact, zX is currently going for Steam Greenlight and needs your support – go vote! Find Retro Future on twitter and YouTube.
Lazygamer coverage:
Rogue Moon Studios
The studio behind System Crash, Rogue Moon Studios is only available on their website and twitter.
Lazygamer coverage:
RuneStorm
Although they are mostly focused on Rooks Keep, I’m seriously interested in Viscera Cleanup Detail from RuneStorm. With a new tie-in with Shadow Warrior, these guys are making me laugh and creating cool games. You can check them out online through their website, twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
Lazygamer coverage:
Screwy Lightbulb
South African team Screwy Lightbulb has built the game The Maker’s Eden and are looking to get it Greenlit. You can get more info on this first-person slideshow style point and click game by checking out their website, Facebook or twitter.
SIJO Studios
A digital media company based in Cape Town, SIJO studios focuses on making games and apps, best known for Khumba The Game. You can check them out on DeviantArt, Pinterest, Facebook and twitter.
Team Devil
Based out of Cape Town, is the team behind Xbox Live indie game Ninja Crash. Unfortunately, the XBLIG isn’t available in SA, so we can’t show them support by downloading the game. However, be sure to check out their website and follow on twitter and Facebook for more news and updates.
Tasty Poison Games
Hailing from Cape Town, Tasty Poison is a mobile game development house with a range of games including Dig! and Pocket RPG. They have a pretty and colorful website, or you can find them on Facebook, twitter and YouTube.
Lazygamer coverage
Thoopid
Want to feel silly? Say Thoopid out loud. These guys make games for mobile – their first game is Snailboy, which is ridiculously pretty. They are a new bunch based out of Cape Town, and they can be found on their website, Facebook, twitter and YouTube.
Lazygamer coverage:
Tuism
Joburg local Steven Tu is making waves in the indie scene. His game, Bear Chuck, was a big hit at rAge, and he was recently featured on Xbox South Africa’s indie podcast. You can find his website, Facebook and twitter.
Lazygamer coverage:
I’m sure plenty of people will be dissatisfied with this list – there will be those I have left out by mistake, or a lack of information. Please feel free to comment below or contact us directly so that we can update the list with the omission.
Last Updated: October 15, 2013
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was reviewed on PC |
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 15, 2013 at 13:37
Steven Tu is an end-level boss! Republic of Cape Town represent!!
But overall, that’s a meaty list of local developers and each one’s bringing something new to the table.
Anyone know if Gareth “NakedNinja” Fouche is close to releasing his RPG?
Fair usage John
October 15, 2013 at 14:06
RCT yo!
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 15, 2013 at 14:13
RCT fo’ life!
TiMsTeR1033
October 15, 2013 at 15:08
That’s right Roller coaster Tycoon for life!!
Vampyre Squirrel
October 15, 2013 at 15:47
BWAHAHAHAHAHA! BOOM!
NecroRince
October 15, 2013 at 14:32
Manikin Games FTW!
Alien Emperor Trevor
October 15, 2013 at 14:47
Now if only you could win at one of their games. BOOM!
NecroRince
October 15, 2013 at 15:01
You shut up! I was instructed by William to let the peasants win!
Alien Emperor Trevor
October 15, 2013 at 15:10
What’s your primary gaming platform again… PEASANT?
TiMsTeR1033
October 15, 2013 at 15:13
Sexbox!
Alien Emperor Trevor
October 15, 2013 at 15:16
So that’s what you two are really doing over voice chat when “playing GTAV” O_o
TiMsTeR1033
October 15, 2013 at 15:20
You’re just jealous!
http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/148/c/8/sexbox_logo_by_sxmaxchine.jpg
NecroRince
October 15, 2013 at 15:49
The one with GTAV! BOOM!
Alien Emperor Trevor
October 15, 2013 at 16:01
Never heard of it.
BacchusZA
October 15, 2013 at 14:15
Heh I refer you to Rogue Moon Studios in the article above :;)
I’m not sure how close to release he is right now, but he mentioned something about hoping to get the “latest build out this evening” on twitter earlier. That’s a paraphrase from memory by the way, so don’t shoot me if I’m wrong / take that as any kind of official info, cause I’m old, & forgetful, and shit, and get easily confused about stuff 😛
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 15, 2013 at 14:34
Rogue Moon Studios is his? Sweeett!!! I didn’t know that, but I’m pretty keen to see scars of war! SCARS OF WAR!!
NecroRince
October 15, 2013 at 14:41
Did you say Manikin Games? Good Nana!
TiMsTeR1033
October 15, 2013 at 15:07
MANIKIN GAMES!!
FlintZA
October 16, 2013 at 08:47
Rogue Moon is Gareth/NN’s studio. He shifted focus from his RPG to doing a CCG (System Crash) which is aaaaalmost done.
NecroRince
October 15, 2013 at 14:27
Nice one Zoe! You did it in the end 🙂
Axon1988
October 15, 2013 at 15:04
I know the guy behind the art and the guy behind the sound in Retro Epic. Shame that the company is really a shell of what it used to be.
Shaun Trennery
October 15, 2013 at 20:55
Be sure to add Lighthouse Games to your list http://xna4.blogspot.com/
Stefan
March 23, 2014 at 01:10
You forgot about Cape Of Good Games. http://www.cogg.co.za