Notes from making the games. 2026-08-25T00:00:00Z https://reefpirategames.com/devlog Reefpirate 2026-08-25T00:00:00Z https://reefpirategames.com/devlog/victory-is-near

After a long trail of prototypes, this is the game I've stuck with long enough to maybe push a full release out into the world.

<p>After a long trail of prototypes, this is the game I've stuck with long enough to maybe push a full release out into the world.</p> <p>Right now I'm wrestling with two questions: how to teach the game, and how punishing it should be. I like games that beat me up. I learn, I get beat up some more, and eventually I find my way to that sweet, sweet Victory screen.</p> <p><img src="https://reefpirategames.com/img/shot-report.png" alt="The end of run report after a victory" loading="lazy" decoding="async" /></p> <p>But I built this thing. I know its ins and outs by heart, which makes me the one person who can't tell how the balance actually feels. That takes truly fresh players. Can they learn the same lessons I learned while building the mechanics? Should I spell everything out in tutorials, or let the game crush some nerds?</p> <p>That's where you come in. Take at least one run to the end, Victory or Defeat. I want to see how strangers on the internet handle the machine I've made. (And I'd really appreciate if you leave telemetry on in the settings, so I can do some proper analysis.)</p> <p>Some early playthroughs have already come through, and I've just pushed more UI warnings and tutorial text to correct a few of the traps I watched those players fall into.</p> <p>Part of me is happy that nobody has reported a Victory yet. The rest of me is secretly hoping to see one come through. Could it be you?</p> <p>Good luck, have fun!</p>