‘When a Door Closes, Open A Window’! an interview with Spellgarden Games
The origin of Spellgarden Games is a testimony to the saying: ‘when one door closes, open a window’. After graduating university and working in the games industry during a very unstable time, Zoe and her friends were laid off from their first job.
It’s 2022, off the coat tails of lock down, and with nothing to lose Zoe and her friends created their own game studio, creating the Spellgarden Games studio that we know and love today.
Spellgarden Games knocked it out of the park with their first title release Sticky Business, a shop simulator where you run your own sticker business, amassing success and overwhelmingly positive reviews. The simplicity, sometimes addictive nature of the game mechanics of running a sticker shop, while having incredible diversity and inclusion set a strong foundation of what Spellgarden Games could create.
Now the beloved studio is on the precipice of releasing their third studio game, Thrifty Business.
This week I had the pleasure to speak with Zoe (she/her), Spellgarden Games’ game designer, who lays out her and her friends’ journey within the video game industry.
I learned more about this queer woman-led game studio of five, the interesting game mechanics of Thrifty Business, how they as a team blend different aesthetic interests, and why representation and community are important.
Learn more about the Spellgarden Games team, their journey, and Thrifty Business in this exclusive interview here:
Sometimes in life, we believe the path we are on is the one we’re going to stick to, no pun intended. Having courage to pivot and take a leap of faith, especially when you have nothing to lose, may bring even better opportunities!
Thrifty Business is set to release May 2026 for PC, so wishlist on Steam today!
Check out Spellgarden’s other titles Sticky Business and Ritual of Raven.
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