Echoes Within Games
Emotional indie games by a solo dad dev.
Built late at night after my daughter falls asleep.
Who am I?
Hi, I’m Daniel – a dad on a solo gamedev journey from Czechia. I’m building my first full game from scratch while juggling family life and a day job. No team, no funding – just curiosity, persistence, and a lot of learning-by-doing.
My goal is simple: create games that leave a small echo in your mind long after you close them. Warm, slightly melancholic, personal experiences with heart.
Current project: Sappy – Emotional Survival System
Sappy is a 2D top-down game where the world itself reacts to the main character’s emotions. When Sappy feels sad, the environment becomes heavier, colder and harder to navigate. When he’s happier, the world opens up and new possibilities appear.
- Top-down 2D exploration with a focus on atmosphere and mood
- World that visually changes based on Sappy’s emotional state
- Hand-drawn art, tilemaps and character animations made by me
- Built in Unity as my first “from zero” game project
It’s a game about accepting every part of ourselves – even the sad and angry parts – and learning to work with them instead of hiding them.
Devlog & journey
I’m documenting the whole process: sketches, failed prototypes, new mechanics, shader experiments, small breakthroughs and big doubts. If you enjoy watching someone learn in public and slowly shape a game over time, you’re in the right place.
- Regular devlogs here on itch.io
- Short daily reels & timelapses on Instagram
You’re early – and that genuinely means a lot. Feedback, comments, even a simple follow help me stay motivated and push this project closer to release.
Blog posts
Follow & contact
🌐 Website:
echoeswithingames.com
📷 Instagram: @tata_solo_gamedev (devlog + art process)
Thanks for stopping by and sharing this journey with me. ✨
