Learn more about our studio culture, origin story, and how we do our best to thrive with mental health as a priority! #gamedev

PANEL ANNOUNCEMENT📢 Miko Charbonneau | prettysmart games In this post mortem, Miko talks about how the prettysmart team ensured healthy communication and a joyful post-launch experience between them and their players, when releasing their retro horror deckbuilder, THE SPIRIT LIFT.

Minor Update to THE SPIRIT LIFT! Increased discoverability of evidence, new cards and other secrets. Plus we added accessibility and content notes to our Steam page. store.steampowered.com/news/app/172...

When we asked our lead artist Audrey Twigg to design the trauma cards, she knew just what to do! After all, we were living so many of these feelings! Check out THE SPIRIT LIFT: store.steampowered.com/app/1727590/... #indiegame #screenshotsaturday #gamedev #horrorgames

You probably figured out that Mossferatu was a parody of Nosferatu, but is that the only name reference you found in THE SPIRIT LIFT? 🧐 #indiegame #withacharacternamedIndy #whoisagamer

We’re halfway through #DownloadForCharity! Here’s streamer fr0zenunicorn realizing that The Spirit Lift demo (by @prettysmart.bsky.social) ended right when she was getting into it 😅 Still time to discover great games and support underrepresented game developers 👇 buff.ly/NBm7LX8 #IndieDev

THUNDER’s chaos? The random stops? The “what is THAT?!” energy? Yeah… that’s all based on our dogs and cats 😄 They “help” during dev (by doing nothing 🤣) - and still shape the game the most. #gamedev #indiegame #dog

I do this all the time, even with early prototypes. It helps me guess how big the budget and design/content needs will be. (Comment from @catacalypto.bsky.social's amazing thread of game tips, go check it out!) #gamedev #mathisyourfriend #evensimplemath

Our latest free blog post is up, with info about the @igdafoundation.org charity bundle on Steam and more indie game recs! Special topic this time is figure skating games, inspired by the World Figure Skating Competition! www.patreon.com/posts/march-... #indiegames

THE SPIRIT LIFT just hit 100 reviews! 🎉 🎉 🎉 Thanks everyone, we're so lucky to have such a lovely group of players! store.steampowered.com/app/1727590/... #horror #indiegame

Look back at this moment, some day I will release my own found footage movie

We built a physical found footage set for the release date announcement of THE SPIRIT LIFT! Check out this early camera block in. Turned out much different in the end! store.steampowered.com/app/1727590/... #indiegame #screenshotsaturday #gamedev #horrorgames

THE SPIRIT LIFT is 20% off in the Steam Spring Sale! store.steampowered.com/app/1727590/... And we've made a post of our fave games we recommend that are also discounted! www.patreon.com/posts/153461... #indiegames

Hey #roguelike #deckbuilder devs! We'd like to build a starter pack so people can find our games easier. Other than our buddies @nozomugames.com and @arcaneeats.bsky.social who else is out there? Reply with the bluesky account you want to add, we'll get as many as we can! #gamedev #indiegame

Hi #WhatAGameDevLooksLike! I'm Miko, a game designer, writer and studio lead! Started out with my Ph.D. on dance games, designed AR/VR for the launch of HoloLens, designed for Minecraft Bedrock, now I run @prettysmart.bsky.social. I'm also available for VR/horror game design consulting! #gamedev

Inspired by our recent chat with @honestindies.bsky.social, we've made a free Patreon post recommending our favorite titles from the @wingsfund.me Women's Day Sale! www.patreon.com/posts/152733... Only a few more days to pick up these amazing games on discount! #indiegames #gamedev #steamsale

Only a few days left in the Women's Day Sale! We've wishlisted so many titles, the selection this year is incredible! store.steampowered.com/sale/womensd...

Celebrating our women-led team with the #WomensDaySale! Our retro ghostpunk deckbuilder is on sale, has a major update, and we're streaming the dev team playing together! store.steampowered.com/app/1727590/... Thanks @wingsfund.me for making it happen! #indiegame #InternationalWomensDay #IWD

I love our team! In the broadcast for this sale, we discuss our different play strategies, so much fun! (And we also share behind the scenes tidbits and compare all the characters to Winnie the Pooh characters for some reason) store.steampowered.com/app/1727590/... #gamedev #indiegame

THE SPIRIT LIFT is 20% off for the Women's Day Sale! Thanks @wingsfund.me for running the event! And we've just released LIFT LEVELS! An advanced difficulty mode for you thrill seekers! Check it out here along with a live stream of our team playing the game! store.steampowered.com/app/1727590/...

I need to stress how much I need more Briar/Garnet content. They are delicious.

Also I cannot stress enough what a delightful game @prettysmart.bsky.social has made. Do it for Briar and her Regen/Purify stacks.

👀👀👀👀

@honestindies.bsky.social 🫶🫶🫶

Spill the tea 🍵 Who do you fancy together in THE SPIRIT LIFT? Here are some of our faves and player callouts! See for yourself by playing the game at store.steampowered.com/app/1727590/... 👀 #valentinesday #videogame #love

@introvertedgamer.bsky.social 🫶🫶🫶🫶

@liliflamingo.bsky.social 🫶🫶🫶

Origin story of this clip: put Shania on to motivate myself and instead got wrecked by my own creations #gamedev

Based on a true story 💅 Get THE SPIRIT LIFT now on Steam! ▶️ store.steampowered.com/app/1727590/... #indiegamedev #itsabop #ilovethe90s

This was SOOO MUCH FUN! Thank you Chris!

Our upcoming breakdown of the 35 tools we built to make our roguelike deckbuilder THE SPIRIT LIFT? Yeah... turns out there were more like 50-60! Stay tuned for the video, I'll probably post on our studio YouTube: www.youtube.com/@PrettySmart... #gamedev #indiegame

The first video episode of the Honest Indies Podcast features @drmikachu.bsky.social of @prettysmart.bsky.social talking about tech fires in grad school, working with her husband, starting the studio, unsolved mysteries in The Spirit Lift and a whole lot more. xoxo Chris youtu.be/Pg4FOLB-3JY?...

@gensuta.itch.io 🫶🫶🫶

@indiegameswtf.bsky.social thank you for the repost!

@kanashika.bsky.social thank you for the repost!

@honestindies.bsky.social 🫶🫶🫶

@introvertedgamer.bsky.social 🫶🫶🫶🫶

If you are one of the 100+ people who has messaged us about localizing THE SPIRIT LIFT, we have your info! We have several urgent tasks before sifting through potential translation partners, but we will get to it! Thank you! Players, tell us what languages you want here: forms.gle/5PwwiRp79oNq...

Happy @bandcamp.com Friday! Support THE SPIRIT LIFT’s composer and sound designer @ryakomusic.bsky.social as well as listen to the full soundtrack of the game! 🎧 ryako.bandcamp.com/album/the-sp... #originalmusic #indiegames

@tryhardguides.bsky.social plays its cards right in its review of The Spirit Lift, the ‘90s retro horror deckbuilder roguelike set in a haunted hotel by @prettysmart.bsky.social . #GamesPR 🃏🏨👹 tryhardguides.com/the-spirit-l...

@amoknight.bsky.social thank you for the repost!

We survived launch week, so Tobias earned himself some pizza! Thanks to our concept artist, @liliflamingo.bsky.social, for this cute picture! We're now on the road to 100 reviews, check out what others are saying about 👻🏨 THE SPIRIT LIFT! #characterdesign #videogames #indiegamedev

We posted a poll! What #gamedev video should we make on our YouTube channel first? Do you want to know about our 30+ previous games? Our 1000 scripts? 27 dev roles? Or 35+ tools? Voting is free for everyone, but I think you have to have a Patreon account: www.patreon.com/posts/149793...

Josh is one of our favorites and was incredible in the 2025 @gdocexpo.com! Catch Josh on 👻🏨 THE SPIRIT LIFT!

🚨 The FINAL DAY is upon us for the LAUNCH SALE on Steam! 🚨 WARNING: Missing out on this may haunt you. Catch 👻🏨THE SPIRIT LIFT while you can at this deal! ▶️ store.steampowered.com/app/1727590/... #newgame #deckbuilder #roguelike

@redannie.bsky.social thank you so much for the repost!

@liliflamingo.bsky.social you’re the best!

Hey Buds! If you haven't checked out The Spirit Lift, I highly recommend you check it out. #indiegames #roguelites #deckbuilders

@thejenya.bsky.social thank you for the repost!!

@introvertedgamer.bsky.social 🫶🫶🫶🫶