Paper Rogue

Dear lovers of passive aggression, I made something for you. No need to swing a sword at goblins anymore. Just kick a poisonous mushroom at them, it turns into a cloud, and the cloud does the rest. Wishlist on Steam, link in bio 😜 #indiegames #indiedev #roguelike #dungeoncrawler #gamedev #devlog

How does a paper goblin bleed? Enemies in my game used to bleed like they were in a shooter, which felt wrong. Now they bleed like they're made of paper. Watch the before and after. And remember, if it bleeds, we can kill it 😉 #indiedev #devlog #dungeoncrawler #roguelike #indiegames #gamedev

In a hand-drawn world realistic fire looks more fake than the drawing does. So I drew the flames by hand instead. The goblin volunteered to demonstrate 😀 Wishlist on Steam, link in bio #indiegame #indiedev #gamedev #devlog #roguelike #dungeoncrawler #indiegames

I'm making a first-person roguelike where you smash a goblin with a mace, watch the hand-drawn stars spin off his skull, and then finish him with a poisoned mushroom for dessert. It's called Paper Rogue. Would you play this, my dear sadists? #indiegames #roguelike #dungeoncrawler #gamedev

The fire in Paper Rogue used to be realistic, and it always bugged me. So I redrew it. Now you can put it out with water, which is also hand-drawn. Or skip the fire, bonk the goblin on the head, and watch him get the full cartoon stars treatment #indiegame #gamedev #roguelike #dungeoncrawler #rpg

When it came time to add magic to Paper Rogue, I needed a spellbook. So I went to a flea market and bought a real one. Set up a green screen at home, filmed my own hands opening it, and dropped that shot straight into the game! #indiegames #gamedev #indiegame #dungeoncrawler #devlog #rpg

My paper goblins used to die boring, they just fell flat like cards. So I fixed that, now they burst into scraps of paper. Also gave them an animation, and my sound guy added screams. So, want to go kill a goblin? #indiegame #indiedev #roguelike #rpg #dungeomcrawler #indiegames #devlog

Here's how poison works in my game. You drink it from a bottle and it starts eating your health, with a red flash to remind you what a genius you are. The healing potion works the same way: smash the bottle, walk in the puddle, top yourself back up. #indiegames #gamedev #roguelike #dungeoncrawlel

I want to say a huge thank you to everyone for the kind words and support ❤️ And I'm sorry I can't reply to every comment personally - there are just too many! You are amazing! P.S. And yes, there are five words, not four.

Devs are terrified to post their games because someone will show up and go "looks like a shit game." Years of work killed in 4 words. But you know what helps me? The thing my 4yo son always says when he's upset: ok, I don't care. #indiegame #indiedev #roguelike #indiegames #rpg #dungeoncrawler

Found the November 25 build of my game. 8 months old, from before the paper concept existed 😀 How do you like my old skeletons? Wishlist on Steam, link in bio #indiedev #roguelike #gamedev #unrealengine5 #dungeoncrawler #indiegames #rpg #indiegame

I added a kick to my game without thinking about how much of the room you can actually kick 😅 This is the fun of an immersive sim. I didn't plan half of this, and players are going to find things themselves. Wishlist on Steam, link in bio #indiegames #indiedev #roguelike #gamedev #immersivesim

I finally understand why the goblins in my game want me dead. This guy is burning, poisoned, getting kicked and dropped onto spikes. He's earned the right to hate me. See those chains on the wall? Nobody needs them. I added them for the atmosphere of a torture chamber 😀 #indiegames #gamedev #rpg

I added bleeding to my game. If it bleeds, we can kill it, can't we? #indiegames #roguelike #gamedev #indiedev #unrealengine5 #dungeoncrawler #steamgames #indiegames #rpg #devlog

I built my goblins to react to sounds. Let's throw something into an empty corridor. The enemies are slurping and grumbling like: what was that? Guys. It was a bottle. Calm down. It really works! Is Paper Rogue an immersive sim now? Wishlist on Steam, link in bio #indiegames #gamedev #roguelike #rpg

When I showed the puddle mechanic, people said water's useless, not even a real potion. I sat down and coded something for you. In Paper Rogue water puts out fire. Now the only fire hard to put out is the one in the replies 😂 #indiegames #gamedev #roguelike #rpg #dungeoncrawler #devlog

Some people hate getting close to enemies in dungeon crawlers. In Paper Rogue, there's a way around that. The bow keeps you at distance, and if something gets through -- kick it away and shoot again 🏹 #gamedev #indiegamedev #indiegames #devlog #dungeoncrawler #rpg #roguelike #dungeongame

I made a new feature for my indie roguelike. Goblins can now pick up and throw things at you — barrels, crates, whatever's nearby. Is that too cruel? My wife says yes. I shipped it anyway... #indiegames #gamedev #devlog #roguelike #rpg #dungeoncrawler

Goblins in my dungeon don't just show up. They set up mannequins and practice. So you're not fighting monsters but something that trained for this. Wishlist Paper Rogue on Steam, link in bio. #roguelike #dungeoncrawler #gamedev #indiedev #unrealengine5 #steamwishlist #steamgames #rpg #gaming #rpg

Show me a game where you smash a flask on a monster's head. I'm serious. In Paper Rogue, a health potion is also a weapon. Wishlist on Steam, link in bio #indiegames #indiegamedev #gamedev #roguelike #rpg #dungeoncrawler #indiegame #devlog #dungeongame #gamingthreads

I reworked the opening of Paper Rogue: if you open doors fast enough, you'll meet your first monster in 40 seconds. Ready for a demo? So am I. Just 3 jobs standing between me and a launch date 🤣 At least the game moves faster than I do now #roguelike #indiedev #dungeoncrawler #gamedev #indiegames

Did I accidentally make the backrooms but with goblins? Asking for a friend. And yes, you can wishlist Paper Rogue on Steam, link in bio #backrooms #roguelike #indiegame #gamedev #indiedev #dungeoncrawler #backroomshorror

After 8 months of dev on Paper Rogue, an indie roguelike, this is one of our favourite rooms in our game. Meet a cute mouse who asks you for cheese. She is absolutely starving, so there is no choice for you.... Die! #indiegames #roguelike #rpg #dungeoncrawler #indiedev #gamedev #indiegame #devlog

I'm making Paper Rogue, a hand-drawn indie roguelike. This is month 3 vs month 8. Record everything & you won't believe the difference. Wishlist on Steam, link in bio #roguelike #rpg #dungeoncrawler #devlog #indiegames #indiedev #gamedev #indiegame

The enemies of Paper Rogue, ranked by how annoying they are. Mouse — annoying but fair. Goblin — thinks he's tough. Goblin with a sling — ruins everything from a safe distance. Giant Mushroom — doesn't think much but still kills you. Which one is your least favourite? #indiegames #roguelike #rpg

I noticed something while playtesting. On level 1 players are reckless. On level 5 they stop and start reading every item description. They save the good potions, don't want to waste. Turns out the scariest mechanic is having something to lose. #roguelike #gamedev #indiedev #indiegames #devlog #rpg

The gear you need is always guarded by something that wants you dead. I had to kill 2 goblins to take the plate mail and the full helm. But in my dungeon the reward and the next problem always arrive together. Wishlist Paper Rogue on Steam, link in bio. #roguelike #rpg #dungeoncrawler #indiegames

I probably shouldn't show you this. It's how the demo ends, and nobody has played it yet. You escape the dungeon, and a hooded figure is waiting to tell you it was just the test. He asks you to follow him deeper. The question is whether you'll say yes. #indiegames #gamedev #rpg #roguelike #devlog

In my dungeon anything can come at you. Especially the mushrooms which I put on the 4th level of my game. A dungeon stops being scary the moment you can predict it, and nothing kills the mood faster than an enemy you already understand. #indiegames #roguelike #rpg #dungeoncrawler #indiegame #devlog

This is the last level of the Paper Rogue demo. You go down the stairs and find a dying goblin. Give it him a healing potion and he tells you a lot. First time when you get a key not for killing something, but for helping it. #indiegames #gamedev #roguelike #rpg #dungeoncrawler #steamgame #devlog

How to kill 3 goblins in 20 seconds? 1) Swing the mace at the head 2) When you hear the click, your stamina is gone. Drink a health potion 3) Back to swinging. Three heads, done! Wishlist on Steam, link in bio. #indiegamedev #gamedev #roguelike #rpg #dungeoncrawler #goblins #devlog #indiegames

The deadliest thing in my dungeon is a chest. By the time you realise it hits at all, you've already opened it. You walked up expecting potions, gear, and that confidence is exactly what the mimic was counting on! Here's a fight: #indiedev #roguelike #rpg #dungeoncrawler #indiegame #mimic #devlog

Our sound designer spent ages explaining how he reverses and processes speech for the goblin voices. Then we heard them die, and that was just his voice grunting. Paper Rogue goblins are voiced by a 70s New Zealand rock musician. We're very proud! #indiegames #roguelike #devlog #gamedev

See these two goblins with slings who are supposed to be guarding the entrance? Both standing on traps! My dungeon is full of surprises — and sometimes the surprise is that your enemies are idiots 🤣 #indiegames #gamedev #rpg #roguelike #dungeoncrawler

In this 30-second clip I'm showing a few mechanics. The main one today: ceiling traps. Most dungeon games train you to watch the floor. Paper Rogue trains you to watch everywhere. Stop the bleeding with a turquoise potion, then deactivate the trap the usual way. #indiegames #gamedev #roguelike #rpg

We keep adding things to Paper Rogue that I desperately want to show you. And every single time I stop myself. Show it now and get more eyes on the game or save it for the demo, so you stumble upon it yourself? I never know the right answer. What would you do? #indiegames #roguelike #rpg #indiegame

Meet my game in 20 seconds. That's Paper Rogue, an indie roguelike where you fight, kick enemies into traps, loot gear, and drink potions off the floor. Turns out heroes have questionable drinking habits 😂 Demo available soon #indiegames #roguelike #gameplay #dungeoncrawler #gamedev #rpg #devlog

In Paper Rogue you never know what's behind the next door. Kill a mouse, kill a goblin. Break a barrel and find sandals. Why are there sandals in a barrel in dungeon? Stop asking questions, you just keep going. Wishlist on Steam, link in bio. #indiegames #indiedev #roguelike #rpg #dungeoncrawler

A volunteer at FÍS Games Summit picked up my game and made it to level 3, further than anyone else at the festival! Here are 55 seconds of Paper Rogue. Thank you, Kiaran. This is why we make indie games. @ardan-ie.bsky.social @imirt.bsky.social #indiegames #roguelike #rpg #dungeoncrawler #indiedev

Paper Rogue was in the demo room at FÍS Games Summit 26. People leaned over my laptop and played it for the first time. Special thanks to Kieran from the volunteers, who made it to level 3 and was killed by a mimic. You almost had it! Thank you Galway game community for making this feel like home.

In Paper Rogue, spilled potion stays on the floor. You can pick it up with an empty bottle and carry it with you. We didn't plan this as a feature. We planned it as a world where things don't disappear when you drop them. Wishlist on Steam, link in bio #indiegames #rpg #roguelike #steamgame

I added a dialogue system to Paper Rogue. Here's the first conversation I had. You open a door and see a cute mouse surrounded by skulls, but that's fine, lots of creatures have hobbies. Dialogue systems reveal character. Turns out she has zero mercy. Say no — look what happens next. #indiegames

Do you remember the Skyrim meme? In Paper Rogue it sounds like this: "I used to be an adventurer like you. Then I broke my leg on a goblin." The notification stays on screen. You can't kick anymore but you finish the goblin with a spear. Wishlist on Steam, link in bio. #indiegames #gamedev #rpg

There are no shops in my dungeon. If you want arrows, you take them from the goblins you kill. Here's what most players don't notice: arrows stay where they land. A chain, a barrel, a wall — anything between you and the target doesn't just block your shot. It saves the goblin's life. #indiegames

I was stressed last week so I added a secret passage. You pull a lever, the wall slides open, and the puddle that was sitting underneath it ends up in the doorway. I have no idea why that detail makes me so happy. #indiegames #gamedev #indiegamedev #roguelike #dungeoncrawler #rpg #indiegame

I started working on sound design. For now the mouse screams like a woman. Somewhere between the code and the engine, a witch moved in. Is this terrifying or should I keep it? #indiegame #roguelike #devlog #rpg #dungeoncrawler #indiegames #indiedev

I spent hours drawing this goblin. He killed me in 12 seconds. There's a specific kind of humiliation that only indie developers know. When your own creation is better at the game than you are. Paper Rogue demo coming soon. Wishlist on Steam, link in bio. #indiegame #rpg #dungeoncrawler #roguelike

There's something genuinely satisfying about organizing your inventory just right. I've always loved games that let you do that. So I made sure Paper Rogue does too. #indiegames #dungeoncrawler #gamedev #indiedev #rpg #roguelike

Most indie devs are terrified of showing bugs. I just posted a video where hundreds of keys fly into a mushroom monster's face, deal zero damage, and he kills us anyway. I have a theory: people don't share perfect gameplay. They share the moment everything went wrong. Demo ships in April. #indiegame

How many ways can you kill a mimic? 1) Bow from a distance, 2) sword face to face, 3) or boot first and spear second. Which one is yours? Paper Rogue demo in April. Wishlist link in bio. #indiegame #indiedev #roguelike #rpg #dungeoncrawler #indiegames