Panic Department

Good morning. The plot thickens in the submarine. Whodunnit? More Mermaid Mask coming at ya! *:･ﾟ✧ www.twitch.tv/randomrebs/ <3

do not scroll steam next fest if you don't want to be assaulted by ai-generated hoo-hahs and other repellant paraphernalia. check out my list of rec'd steam next fest demos instead. i've gone with nicher titles this go around, so hopefully you find something new!

The latest issue of Edge magazine has something pretty special for us - a 6 page studio profile on SFB Games, covering our 24(!) year history of making games together Huge thanks to @alexspencerdale.bsky.social for making it happen!

There it goes - The Mermaid Mask crosses the 3000 Steam review mark, and only 19 of them are negative! In a complete reversal of The Normal Order Of Things, I still go to the Steam reviews and read a few when I need a pick-me-up. They've been consistently lovely since day 1!

Looking for a slop-free demo to play in the Steam Next Fest? Tearoom of Terror is a murder-mystery cooking game where you manage a tea room frequented by a charming assortment of serial killers, narcissists, and - worst of all - politicians. One lump or two? store.steampowered.com/app/4586560/...

Looking for an ai-free, lovingly hand-made gem of a demo during Steam Next Fest? Tearoom of Terror is a cozy horror game where you make tea & treat for the requests of the townsfolk of Goreytown, while trying to solve a murder. Free now on Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/4586560/...

tearoom of terror demo by @sundewstudios.bsky.social is hereee ~ i died once. have not explored the other ways to die love the drama, the suspense, prepping meals and the characters you meet are 𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 store.steampowered.com/app/2669710/...

Local friends Circle A have a brilliant game on Kickstarter now and whatever your sort of thing it's absolutely your sort of thing, so you should probably back it. www.kickstarter.com/projects/cir...

Last chance! ⌛ Sign up for our FREE race awareness training, kicking off at 10am (BST) tomorrow. Build a strong foundation in allyship, better understand how behaviour can land, and gain the confidence to take your first steps as an ally. 💚 www.ticketsource.com/safe-in-our-...

My inbox has been flooded with #steamnextfest demos that are made with GenAI and coded with LLMs. 😭 🙏 Please link your games that use neither! I'm looking to stream some on my #twitch! #nextfest #indiegames #twitchstreamer

Giving a bit of a SPOOKIER vibe a try with "Tearoom of Terror" 👀, courtesy of our friends over at @panicdepartment.bsky.social! www.twitch.tv/rudydootdoo

We have a message from Tizzy! You better listen, because the amount of bribery it took to get him here was ridiculous. We're still negotiating his demands, and frankly, he's getting a little too powerful... 📌 tinyurl.com/CozyDark 📌 tinyurl.com/CADTwitch

Happy Wednesday! We're trying to solve a mystery in The Mermaid Mask today! But first... marbles! Big thanks to @panicdepartment.bsky.social and SFB Games ( @sfbtom.bsky.social @sfbdim.bsky.social ) for this code! *:･ﾟ✧ www.twitch.tv/randomrebs/ <3

We're hiring! We're looking for a Writer and Narrative Designer to join the Fallen London team at a senior or mid level. This position is permanent, remote, and full time, which for us means 35 hours a week. #GamesJobs

🚨 CREATOR CALLOUT 🚨 Do you love: 🫖 Tea? 🗡️ Murder? ☠️ Mystery? ❤️‍🔥 Rusty Lake, Slay the Princess + Strange Horticulture? Then prepare for ⚡️TEAROOM OF TERROR⚡️ 🔜 Demo coming 🔜 Creator keys available Steam | PC | EN | 🚫 AI | @sundewstudios.bsky.social Apply via link in 🧵

Lastly, a bit of tech art from @sfbtom.bsky.social - Catherine's art has a coloured outline - not immediately possible with 3D, but Tom made a shader that adds it dynamically - taking the colour it's closest to and producing a darker version of it, and then pinching and warping it to look painterly

Are you a UK-based Gaming Creator? Did you about @safeinourworld.org Employee Assistance Program? It cover "a comprehensive range of support and services, including mental and emotional health, financial and life coaching, and more." Stay safe, friends 🫶 safeinourworld.org/news/subsidi...

We have an Itch.io to scratch! Free new demo for people who like: 🎲 Dice-based roguelites 🎲 Visual novels 🎲 Romeo + Juliet Track down Lovers Die on Itch and give it a try. We'd love to know what you think.

Friday chat topic: It's nearly the end of August. Sheesh. What's your current GOTY (or three)? I'm on holiday next week - I need the dopamine+serotonin kickback pls.

🍵LIVE NOW! | The Mermaid Mask | Twitch and Youtube🐍 We've got some suspicions to check out today! Thank you so much to @panicdepartment.bsky.social for the game key! www.twitch.tv/sesurescue youtube.com/live/X8KW253...

🍵LIVE NOW! | The Mermaid Mask | Twitch and Youtube🐍 Let's meet more inhabitants of the submarine! Thank you so much to @panicdepartment.bsky.social for the game key! www.twitch.tv/sesurescue youtube.com/live/j0-UKSA...

ICYMI @edwyntiong.com joined me on my Twitch! Here's the full interview cut from the VOD! Chatting with Edwyn was siiiiick, but he was also sick. 🤒 So thanks for toughing it out and chatting voice acting, The Mermaid Mask, and woodchippers! Please show this vid some love! 🥹 youtu.be/7Hc9uSuywNM

Detective Grimoire and Sally are back, solving a strange murder case!

The Mermaid Mask (our new murder-mystery detective adventure game) comes out TODAY!

Reading the Mermaid Mask reviews:

🍵LIVE NOW! | The Mermaid Mask | Twitch and Youtube🐍 We finished Tangle Tower last week so now we're heading to The Mermaid Mask! Thank you so much to @panicdepartment.bsky.social for the game key! www.twitch.tv/sesurescue youtube.com/live/HClERcO...

The Mermaid Mask hits the high seas with a perfect score! SFB Games delivers an incredible point-and-click murder mystery packed with clever deduction mechanics, fantastic voice acting, and a hilarious submarine full of colorful suspects.

"The Mermaid Mask has shot to the top of my personal list for detective games." Read David's full 10/10 review here: thegamingoutsider.com/2026/08/05/t...

Heyo! The Game Dev studio Gears for Breakfast where I work is hiring 2 new roles: "Gameplay Designer" & "Gameplay Programmer" - This is a fully Remote studio and we've been doing this for 14 years with great success! Good luck on your applications! gearsforbreakfast.bamboohr.com/careers/ #GameDev

🔴LIVE with #TheMermaidMask by @panicdepartment.bsky.social #NewRelease #TwitchAffiliate www.twitch.tv/umbratalupus

Excited to be 🔴 LIVE 🔴 with #MermaidMask 🏴‍☠️ by SFB Games!! Also big thanks to @panicdepartment.bsky.social for coordinating this #giveaway 🎁 Join me 💓 twitch.tv/meztermind 💓 - #IndieGame 🏴‍☠️ #DetectiveGame 🏴‍☠️ #PuzzleGame 🏴‍☠️ #StoryRich

Today's a bit of a thinker: We've got EARLY ACCESS to The Mermaid Mask thanks to @panicdepartment.bsky.social 🔑 Come check out the first 2 chapters w/ me in the latest Detective Grimoire game! Afterward, we'll see how far we can get in BLOODLETTER! 🔗 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗶𝗼 ⟢ #vsky #vtuber #twitch #youtube #live ⟣

IT'S FINALLY HERE! The Mermaid Mask has OFFICIALLY released, which means we're continuing yesterday's investigation! 🧜‍♀️ Thank you again to @panicdepartment.bsky.social for the game key 🔑 🔗 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗶𝗼 ⟢ #vsky #vtuber #twitch #youtube #live ⟣

Don't miss The Mermaid Mask if you enjoy Point and Click mystery adventures! Here are my thoughts after finishing the game, big thank you and shoutout to @panicdepartment.bsky.social for sending me a key to check out the game. #sfbgames #indiegames #themermaidmask youtu.be/RPV6jUwAzYg

📝 Review 🎮 The Mermaid Mask 💻 Développeurs : @sfbdim.bsky.social @sfbtom.bsky.social  🔗 https://store.steampowered.com/app/1696770/The_Mermaid_Mask/ 🎁 Clé offerte par @panicdepartment.bsky.social  #game #detective #adventure #puzzle #pointandclick  #interactivefiction #visualnovel #supernatural

Everything in The Mermaid Mask comes together to create one seriously compelling whodunnit packed with charm, wit and driven by a memorable cast of characters.

Still want a key? Drop us a line on the link below and we shall see what we can rustle up 😉 forms.gle/x4xMwMvdKvAL...

7/16: Thursday will be the long-awaited release date for the next mystery in the Detective Grimoire series in The Mermaid Mask by @sfbdim.bsky.social @sfbtom.bsky.social! We played the demo and finished Tangle Tower earlier this year, so I am plenty excited for this adventure!

The Mermaid Mask review: A captivating undersea mystery

REVIEW: The Mermaid Mask A brilliant sequel in the Detective Grimoire series that continues SFB Games' trademark top quality writing and puzzle design. It's a point and click mystery game that blends beautiful art and expressive performances. For fans of deduction games, it's a must play.

Detective Grimoire's new case, The Mermaid Mask, is its best yet—a murderer reveal that tops Tangle Tower, plus puzzles like twisting a pig's face into numbers. SFB Games nailed the ending this time.

The Mermaid Mask Review: A Deep Dive into Murder and Mystery https://gamertino.com/reviews/the-mermaid-mask-review-a-deep-dive-into-murder-and-mystery

!!! The Mermaid Mask got another 9/10, from Shacknews! www.shacknews.com/article/1500...

With memorable puzzles, eye-catching animations, and a spirited voice cast, I admire the way the story was told just as much as the story itself in The Mermaid Mask. Our review: gameinformer.com/review/the-m...

We're hearing from early reviews that this is the best Detective Grimoire game yet! It's never too late to hit us up for a key 😆 gameinformer.com/review/the-m...