Ian Caisley
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iancaisley.bsky.social
Ian Caisley
@iancaisley.bsky.social
740 followers 1.4K following 390 posts
Indie game dev and designer (game and graphic). Check out my current project, Shimmershoal, a retro-style cozy RPG: https://iancaisley.itch.io/shimmershoal

Other places I do things:
trippingwhale.com
caisley.design
Posts Replies Media Videos
iancaisley.bsky.social
New enemy just dropped! (You will hate them)

What do you think they do?

Wishlist Shimmershoal: s.team/a/3637900

#gamedev #solodev #indiedev #indiegames #cozygame #cozygames #jrpg
September 23, 2025 at 12:00 AM
iancaisley.bsky.social
Very gratifying experience today watching an old friend really enjoy playing Shimmershoal. Can't wait for more people to see what I've been cooking. 🌴

Wishlist Shimmershoal: s.team/a/3637900

#gamedev #solodev #indiedev #indiegames #cozygame #cozygames #jrpg #screenshotsaturday
August 24, 2025 at 4:53 AM
iancaisley.bsky.social
Meet the Monsters of the South Shore!

Wishlist Shimmershoal: s.team/a/3637900

#gamedev #solodev #indiedev #indiegames #cozygame #cozygames #jrpg #screenshotsaturday #lore #worldbuilding #monsters
Shimmershoal, a Cozy Island Adventure. Meet the Monsters - South Shore: The South Shore may be picture perfect, but it isn't without danger. Giant crabs are slow, but pack a wallop, and the colorful lizards here can disorient prey with their hypnotic movements. Rumor has it something much bigger lurks off shore, too... Ornery Crab, Frilly Devil, ???
August 9, 2025 at 9:32 PM
iancaisley.bsky.social
I worked with a colorblind friend to improve the #accessibility of this puzzle. Waaaay better!

The lesson is you should avoid be using color alone to signify a state change.

Wishlist Shimmershoal: s.team/a/3637900

#gamedev #solodev #indiedev #indiegames #cozygames #jrpg #screenshotsaturday
July 27, 2025 at 12:52 AM
iancaisley.bsky.social
#PitchYaGame

Shimmershoal: A Cozy Island Adventure
🌞Cozy Retro-Style JRPG
🌴Relaxing Vibe, Deep Gameplay
🎶Bossa Nova Soundtrack
🦊One of the main characters is a cute fox

Wishlist Shimmershoal: store.steampowered.com/app/3637900/...

#gamedev #solodev #indiedev #indiegames #cozygame #cozygames #jrpg
June 6, 2025 at 4:58 PM
iancaisley.bsky.social
(3/3) The new ones are by a creator in the RPG Maker community called Thalzon. My process is to take their original painted sprites, make any modifications I want, and then run it through a post-processing flow to give it the pixel look I'm using. Really loving the results! Here's the original crab.
June 5, 2025 at 10:40 PM
iancaisley.bsky.social
(2/3) You can see the old versions here. I should have known, honestly. They have a bit of that "AI sheen" to them, don't they? Also, the crab has the wrong number of legs. 🤦‍♂️
June 5, 2025 at 10:40 PM
iancaisley.bsky.social
(1/3) As a #solodev, I rely on stock assets for some parts of Shimmershoal. This bit me, though, when I recently learned the enemies I was using were created with AI 😑. I'm pleased to say I've now found even better replacements!

#gamedev #solodev #indiedev #indiegames #cozygame #cozygames #jrpg
June 5, 2025 at 10:40 PM
iancaisley.bsky.social
Any shortcut unlock fans out there? #gamedev #solodev #indiedev #indiegames #cozygame #cozygames #jrpg

Wishlist Shimmershoal: store.steampowered.com/app/3637900/...
May 22, 2025 at 4:05 AM
iancaisley.bsky.social
Working on some puzzle stuff tonight. (WIP footage. 🛠)

Wishlist Shimmershoal: store.steampowered.com/app/3637900/...

#gamedev #solodev #indiedev #indiegames #cozygame #cozygames #jrpg #screenshotsaturday #puzzle #puzzles
May 18, 2025 at 6:10 AM
iancaisley.bsky.social
Updated trailer! Shimmershoal is a cozy tropical #jrpg I'm solo-developing right now. Wishlist now on Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/3637900/...

#wishlistwednesday #trailer #indiedev #gamedev #solodev #cozygames #cute #fantasy #tropical #femaleprotagonist #fox #exploration #anime
May 7, 2025 at 4:37 PM
iancaisley.bsky.social
Check out the world map for Shimmershoal! I've been calling the game a micro open world, because while small it is densely packed with content.

#solodev #indiedev #gamedev #screenshotsaturday #indiegames #cozygames #lore #worldbuilding #maps #inkarnate
A world map for the Shimmershoal Archipelago from the game Shimmershoal. Shows locations such as: Turtle Island, Lonely Island, Blue Hole, North Shore, Shipwreck, Bare Island, Deep Jungle, Seastar Bay, Little Jungle, Boathouse, Far Shore, South Shore, Papaya Island, Mountain Island, and Hine-Nui.
April 12, 2025 at 8:51 PM
iancaisley.bsky.social
I will not be taking questions at this time.

#gamedev #solodev #indiedev #indiegames #cozygames #jrpg #chicken
March 26, 2025 at 5:45 PM
iancaisley.bsky.social
I got the out-of-combat sprite for my custom combat dummies done. :)

#gamedev #solodev #indiedev #indiegames #cozygames #jrpg
March 24, 2025 at 4:32 PM
iancaisley.bsky.social
New title scene is ready! It's got a new background, the updated UI I workshopped the other day, and updated layout. 🌊🌞🌴

#gamedev #indiedev #indiegames #solodev #cozygames #jrpg
March 18, 2025 at 5:42 AM
iancaisley.bsky.social
Check out these new target dummy sprites I made! Special thanks to my friend who suggested the coconut on the head in the armored version.

#gamedev #solodev #indiedev #indiegames #cozygames #jrpg #screenshotsaturday
March 15, 2025 at 11:24 PM
iancaisley.bsky.social
Thanks to everyone who weighed in on my dialog boxes yesterday! I've got a new variation with a bit more contrast, but still with the brighter blue look which I enjoy. I'd love to hear what people think about this one.

#gamedev #solodev #indiedev #indiegames #cozygames #jrpg
March 14, 2025 at 6:47 PM
iancaisley.bsky.social
Trying out a new look for my dialog boxes. Do you like the old look or the new look better?

#gamedev #solodev #indiedev #indiegames #cozygames #jrpg
March 14, 2025 at 1:14 AM
iancaisley.bsky.social
I commissioned these awesome character sprites from @shikashi.bsky.social for Shimmershoal! He was super professional and absolutely nailed what I was going for. Highly recommended if you need a sprite artist.

#solodev #indiedev #indiegames #gamedev #pixelart #cozygames #jrpg
March 11, 2025 at 10:46 PM
iancaisley.bsky.social
(Sound on, plays when you enter the hole)

I hired @goatthroneaudio.bsky.social to make me "the zelda secret sound, but make it bossa nova". He DELIVERED!

*Side bar: if anyone knows hows to make my footage look higher res than this dm me*

#gamedev #indiedev #solodev #indiegames #cozygames #jrpg
March 8, 2025 at 11:33 PM
iancaisley.bsky.social
Very important piece of #gamedev added today. This chicken now appears on a different roof every time you enter this area.

#indiedev #solodev #indiegames #jrpg #cozygames #rpg #retro
Four pictures showing a chicken on different roofs around town.
February 23, 2025 at 8:54 PM
iancaisley.bsky.social
Little trick for the #rpgmaker mz devs out there —

Autotiles with transparent backgrounds can be put on more than one layer, letting you:
👉 put a single tile version of the tile next to a larger group
👉 Layer the same autotile on top of itself (usually works best on plants)
February 17, 2025 at 2:39 AM
iancaisley.bsky.social
Shimmershoal is a cozy #jrpg, but it also has #metroidvania elements like these purple bounce flowers which can only be opened and closed after gaining an ability. Many secrets to find!

#screenshotsaturday #cozygames #indiedev #indiegames #solodev #gamedev
February 9, 2025 at 1:07 AM
iancaisley.bsky.social
People liked sleeping Keke (she's the fox), so here's a little more footage of her when she's awake!

#ScreenshotSaturday #gamedev #indiedev #indiegames #cozygames #jrpg
February 1, 2025 at 9:42 PM
iancaisley.bsky.social
I'm working on things that don't produce good visuals atm, so for #ScreenshotSaturday this week I'm shouting out the awesome promo art of Lani and Keke I commissioned from @spookyspeks.bsky.social! Go show them some love. 😄

#gamedev #indiedev #art #solodev #cozygames
A commissioned piece of promo art for my game Shimmershoal showing the main characters, Lani and Keke. This art was made by @spookyspeks.bsky.social
January 25, 2025 at 10:49 PM