Description

Toronto-based micro-studio working on independent, carefully crafted pixel art games mixing old-school presentation with modern design. A fine blend of super cute pixels and dark occult secrets.

History

Early History

Located in the snowy wastes of Toronto, Canada, Spooky Squid Games was founded in late 2008 by pixel artist and game designer Miguel Sternberg with developer Andrij Pilkiw rounding out the team with his programming prowess. The studio originally formed to create a prototype for Guerrilla Gardening: Seeds of Revolution, a militant stealth gardening game . After releasing several well regarded free games they produced the studio’s first commercial game in 2012, They Bleed Pixels, a 'lo-fi gothic' platformer beat'em up available on Steam. Andrij’s latest game projects can be found at his new venture, Havelock Games.

Recent

Artist Alina Sechkin joined up in 2015 to lend her pixel pushing talents. Together with Miguel, they’ve created Russian Subway Dogs, a systemic arcade game inspired by the real life stray dogs of the Moscow Metro. Russian Subway Dogs is out now for Windows, Mac and Linux.

Upcoming and Latest Releases

Spooky Squid Games is currently working on bringing our existing games to console. They Bleed Pixels - Nintendo Switch™ - Oct 22nd, 2020. Russian Subway Dogs - PS Vita - July 20th, 2021- One of the final games released on the system! Russian Subway Dogs - Playstation 4 and Xbox One - July 28th, 2023.

Projects

Videos

They Bleed Pixels - Nintendo Switch Launch Trailer — YouTube

They Bleed Pixels - Nintendo Switch Announcement Trailer — YouTube

Russian Subway Dogs - Launch Trailer — YouTube

Russian Subway Dogs - Console Announcement Trailer — YouTube

They Bleed Pixels - Crimson Update trailer — YouTube

They Bleed Pixels - Launch Trailer — YouTube

Images

Awards & Recognition

  • "Official Selection Indie MEGABOOTH PAX West" Russian Subway Dogs, 2017 and 2018
  • "Official Selection Gamescom Indie Arena Booth 2017" Russian Subway Dogs, 2017
  • "Official Selection for Comics Vs Games at TCAF " Russian Subway Dogs, 2017
  • "Game Informer's Best Indie Games of GDC" Russian Subway Dogs, 2017
  • "Official Selection for Fantastic Fest Fantastic Arcade" Russian Subway Dogs prototype version, 2012
  • "Official Selection for Fantastic Fest Fantastic Arcade" They Bleed Pixels, 2011

Selected Articles

  • [Russian Subway Dogs is] a frenetic, well-balanced and responsive arcade eat-em-up with a satisfying core loop and enough funkiness to set it apart. Watch out for exploding vodka bottles and subway bears!
    Danielle Riendeau, ZAM
  • They Bleed Pixels will make you feel like a magician with a gamepad.
    James Cunningham, Hardcore Gamer
  • Between its challenging platforming, unique save system and simple yet satisfying combat, They Bleed Pixels is an easy recommendation.
    Richard Mitchell, Joystiq
  • Gothic brutality shines brightly throughout this blocky, blood-soaked indie platformer.
    Nathan Meunier, IGN
Russian Subway Dogs
More information about Spooky Squid's latest project, Russian Subway Dogs! russiansubwaydogs.com.
They Bleed Pixels
More information about Spooky Squid's debut project, They Bleed Pixels! theybleedpixels.com.