Angela Swain and Mariam Mollaghaffari join Aaron Kardell on Hey, Good Game to share how two longtime friends turned a nostalgic obsession with wordplay into Silly Little Games—a vibrant, human-crafted daily puzzle experience.

Angela (a flight attendant with a journalism background) and Mariam (an architect with design chops) break down the collaborative, scrappy spirit behind their Rebus-style puzzle game Silly Little Codes. From hand-drawing hundreds of clever puzzles in Figma to battling bad developers and solving design challenges (including a keyboard that nearly derailed their launch), the duo talks candidly about their indie journey—complete with frog-fueled editing fights and dream expansions into physical card games.

The episode explores how Angela and Mariam are navigating indie game development without coding skills, what they've learned from BlueSky and social media outreach, and why they’ve stayed committed to handcrafted design in an AI-saturated market. They also tease upcoming games under the Silly Little Games umbrella and share honest insights about self-funding, monetization plans, and growing a community of puzzle lovers.

🧩 Games & Favorites Mentioned

• Silly Little Codes (Angela & Mariam's daily puzzle game)
• Backgammon (Mariam’s nostalgic favorite, tied to her Iranian heritage)
• Bingo and Spoons (Angela’s family-friendly picks)
• Architecture as Tetris (Mariam compares architectural design to the game)

🔗 Website & Socials

• Website: https://www.playsillylittlegames.com
• Instagram, Threads, TikTok, BlueSky: @playsillylittlegames
• Note: Not on Reddit (permanently banned 😅)

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• (00:00) - Introduction to the Podcast and Guests
• (01:42) - Favorite Games and Nostalgic Memories
• (05:09) - The Origin Story of Angela and Mariam's Friendship
• (07:47) - Creating Silly Little Games: The Initial Idea
• (11:57) - Designing and Collaborating on Puzzles
• (30:14) - Challenges in Developing the Digital Game
• (32:02) - Starting Over: The Struggles of Development
• (32:46) - Keyboard Woes: A Major Setback
• (33:59) - Finding the Right Developer
• (34:54) - Balancing Passion and Practicality
• (39:59) - Monetization and Future Plans
• (49:25) - Challenges with Social Media and Promotion
• (01:02:15) - Looking Ahead: New Games and Growth

Check out our brainy games:

Sumplete - https://sumplete.com
Squeezy - https://imsqueezy.com/
Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.com
Mathler - https://mathler.com
Crosswordle - https://crosswordle.com
Sudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.com
Hitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.com
Wordga - https://wordga.com

From Haunted Pixels to Conservation: Peter Lazarski on Art, Accessibility, and Indie Game Grit

Indie developer and visual artist Peter Lazarski—aka Imaginary Monsters—joins Nate to explore his creative evolution from childhood horror obsessions to crafting cult-favorite lo-fi games like Halloween Forever and Deathstate. Known for his pixelated gothic aesthetic and offbeat charm, Peter shares how games like Earthbound shaped his visual language and love for physical editions.

The conversation touches on Peter’s iterative design process, how he blends art with mechanics, and why accessibility and emotional tone matter in indie games. He also unpacks the ethos behind his newest project, Don’t Kill the Bats—a whimsical but meaningful game raising awareness for bat conservation.

Peter reflects on developing under an alias, building community through mentorship, and finding creative purpose in strange, spooky spaces.

Check out Peter's Resources:
https://imaginarymonsters.com

https://imaginarymonsters.shop

https://twitch.tv/imaginarymonsters

https://discord.gg/imaginarymonsters

🎮 Favorite Games Mentioned:

• EarthBound (SNES) – Peter’s all-time favorite
• Tactics Ogre (Re-release) – Currently playing
• Persona 5 – Currently playing
• F-Zero, Super Mario World – Childhood favorites
• Commander Keen, DOOM, Wolfenstein – Early PC gaming
• Monster Party (NES) – Referenced for sprite interpretation
• Metroid II (Game Boy) – Admired for its enemy art in the manual
• Ayuda Mort – ZX Spectrum-style indie game that influenced Halloween Forever
• Castlevania – Referenced as a typical “bat enemy” game
• Splatterhouse – Mentioned as a game style he’d love to try
• Rolling Stock – Mentioned earlier as a favorite (possibly in a different episode or cut)

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• (00:00) - Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
• (01:41) - Peter Lazarski's Gaming Preferences
• (02:15) - Early Gaming Influences and Inspirations
• (04:42) - The Impact of Earthbound and Physical Game Editions
• (13:36) - The Evolution of Halloween Forever
• (18:04) - Challenges and Iterative Development
• (23:56) - Art and Mechanics in Game Design
• (26:44) - Nostalgia and Artistic Style
• (28:59) - Visual Exploration and Prototyping
• (30:36) - The Evolution of Imaginary Monsters
• (33:14) - Navigating the Alias
• (39:48) - Community and Mentorship
• (43:54) - Design Philosophy and Accessibility
• (48:38) - Introducing 'Don't Kill the Bats'
• (50:54) - Connecting with Imaginary Monsters
• (52:21) - Conclusion and Farewell

Check out our brainy games:

Sumplete - https://sumplete.com
Squeezy - https://imsqueezy.com/
Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.com
Mathler - https://mathler.com
Crosswordle - https://crosswordle.com
Sudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.com
Hitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.com
Wordga - https://wordga.com

Award-winning artist, animator, and game designer Michael Frei joins Nate and Joseph to share his creative journey from apprentice construction draftsman to co-founder of Zurich’s Playable, the indie studio behind critically acclaimed interactive works like Plug & Play, Kids, and the meditative mortality sim Time Flies.

Michael breaks down his minimalist approach to game design—how stripping away noise can lead to emotional clarity—and explains why humor, absurdity, and interaction are central to his artistic voice. He reflects on transitioning from animation to games, his fascination with weird player dynamics, and why making something personally meaningful matters more than chasing trends.

Frei also shares lessons from testing, iterating, and publishing across platforms, as well as advice for aspiring indie creators navigating simplicity, success, and staying creatively grounded in a crowded market.

Check out Michael Frei's Resources:
https://michaelfrei.io/
https://x.com/panic
https://bsky.app/profile/michaelfrei.io
https://www.instagram.com/michaelfrei10/

Games Mentioned:
FIFA - Michael's favorite game to play
Glider
Not About Us
Plug and Play
Time Flies
Windowsill
Feet Ahead

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• (00:00) - Introduction to the Podcast
• (00:22) - Meet Michael Frei: The Minimalist Game Designer
• (01:11) - Michael's Gaming Preferences and FIFA
• (02:45) - The Origin of 'Time Flies'
• (04:42) - Early Inspirations and Programming
• (06:04) - From Construction Draftsman to Animation
• (08:49) - Transition to Interactive Art and Games
• (14:20) - Principles of Minimalist Game Design
• (15:55) - Animation Style and Player Interaction
• (18:12) - Defining Success and Monetization in Games
• (21:22) - User Testing and Feedback
• (22:51) - The Iterative Process of Animation
• (23:11) - The Creative Journey Behind 'Cars'
• (25:13) - Designing for Different Consoles
• (27:59) - Advice for Aspiring Indie Game Developers
• (30:26) - The Art of Drafting and Line Art
• (34:01) - Inspiration and Influences
• (40:38) - The Making of 'Time Flies'
• (43:13) - Where to Find More About the Creator

Check out our brainy games:

Sumplete - https://sumplete.com
Squeezy - https://imsqueezy.com/
Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.com
Mathler - https://mathler.com
Crosswordle - https://crosswordle.com
Sudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.com
Hitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.com
Wordga - https://wordga.com