Mairi Spaceship Nolan 🚀✨ (she/her)
@mairispaceship.com
🕹️ Puzzle Game Designer #boardgames #videogames
✍️ Escape Industry News & The Escape Roomer
🧩 TERPECA & ER Champ UK Ambassador
🏢 Studio Manager @ Draknek, Director @ HEFT & others
mairispaceship.com
✍️ Escape Industry News & The Escape Roomer
🧩 TERPECA & ER Champ UK Ambassador
🏢 Studio Manager @ Draknek, Director @ HEFT & others
mairispaceship.com
Pinned
Hi I'm Mairi👋
I'm a puzzle designer, writer and overenthusiastic escape room enthusiast in the UK. I work on and cover things like:
🔒Escape Rooms
🎮Video Games
🎲Board Games
🗺️Treasure Trails
And sometimes also do ambassador and mentorship stuff in the puzzle space too 💞
www.mairispaceship.com
I'm a puzzle designer, writer and overenthusiastic escape room enthusiast in the UK. I work on and cover things like:
🔒Escape Rooms
🎮Video Games
🎲Board Games
🗺️Treasure Trails
And sometimes also do ambassador and mentorship stuff in the puzzle space too 💞
www.mairispaceship.com
LOVE
Incredible aura on my my most recent roll of film.
Kodak Ultramax 400, Olympus XA.
feat. @mairispaceship.com and @edsibley.bsky.social
Kodak Ultramax 400, Olympus XA.
feat. @mairispaceship.com and @edsibley.bsky.social
February 16, 2026 at 10:50 AM
LOVE
Reposted by Mairi Spaceship Nolan 🚀✨ (she/her)
Dissimulation is out now! It's a short rule discovery dungeon crawling puzzle game.
It's by me & @m-enderbug.bsky.social, will take about 20 minutes to play, is totally free, and can be played with a MIDI Controller or normal inputs!
👉 amicableanimal.itch.io/dissimulation
#IndieDev #Free #Puzzle
It's by me & @m-enderbug.bsky.social, will take about 20 minutes to play, is totally free, and can be played with a MIDI Controller or normal inputs!
👉 amicableanimal.itch.io/dissimulation
#IndieDev #Free #Puzzle
Dissimulation by Amicable Animal, Menderbug
A rule discovery puzzle playable on a Launchpad Pro MK3
amicableanimal.itch.io
February 12, 2026 at 4:46 PM
Dissimulation is out now! It's a short rule discovery dungeon crawling puzzle game.
It's by me & @m-enderbug.bsky.social, will take about 20 minutes to play, is totally free, and can be played with a MIDI Controller or normal inputs!
👉 amicableanimal.itch.io/dissimulation
#IndieDev #Free #Puzzle
It's by me & @m-enderbug.bsky.social, will take about 20 minutes to play, is totally free, and can be played with a MIDI Controller or normal inputs!
👉 amicableanimal.itch.io/dissimulation
#IndieDev #Free #Puzzle
Wooohooo look at my cofounder go! Endlessly proud of Kate and the work we're doing at Studio HEFT ✨
www.pocketgamer.biz/7457399/
www.pocketgamer.biz/7457399/
“There is still significant work to be done - particularly at leadership level”
...
www.pocketgamer.biz
February 12, 2026 at 12:06 PM
Wooohooo look at my cofounder go! Endlessly proud of Kate and the work we're doing at Studio HEFT ✨
www.pocketgamer.biz/7457399/
www.pocketgamer.biz/7457399/
Reposted by Mairi Spaceship Nolan 🚀✨ (she/her)
Referring to sticky toffee puddings as 'STPs' is my new favourite thing.
“I’ve reviewed over 50 sticky toffee puddings” is an incredibly powerful way to begin a video
February 11, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Referring to sticky toffee puddings as 'STPs' is my new favourite thing.
Reposted by Mairi Spaceship Nolan 🚀✨ (she/her)
Seventh #EdJam26 update! Errors are now shown in the game world, not just on the Launchpad. That means the game is now playable with mouse and keyboard up to the same point as the game was at the jam!
Going to add a final couple of things like an end screen and I'll have a test build!
Going to add a final couple of things like an end screen and I'll have a test build!
February 6, 2026 at 5:15 PM
Seventh #EdJam26 update! Errors are now shown in the game world, not just on the Launchpad. That means the game is now playable with mouse and keyboard up to the same point as the game was at the jam!
Going to add a final couple of things like an end screen and I'll have a test build!
Going to add a final couple of things like an end screen and I'll have a test build!
I don't always rave about films but damn "My Father's Shadow" was phenomenal and I need everyone to stop what they're doing and go see it. Excellent debut feature from Akinola Davies Jr. Tender and dreamlike as Aftersun, but steeped in a tense time of political upheaval.
February 9, 2026 at 4:03 PM
I don't always rave about films but damn "My Father's Shadow" was phenomenal and I need everyone to stop what they're doing and go see it. Excellent debut feature from Akinola Davies Jr. Tender and dreamlike as Aftersun, but steeped in a tense time of political upheaval.
Reposted by Mairi Spaceship Nolan 🚀✨ (she/her)
Give me the license. I've never played Neopets, but I understand it at least as well as the current people.
February 7, 2026 at 9:25 PM
Give me the license. I've never played Neopets, but I understand it at least as well as the current people.
New sci-fi DND campaign! New sci-fi DND campaign!!! 🚀
February 8, 2026 at 12:09 AM
New sci-fi DND campaign! New sci-fi DND campaign!!! 🚀
Reposted by Mairi Spaceship Nolan 🚀✨ (she/her)
Reposted by Mairi Spaceship Nolan 🚀✨ (she/her)
Did the Thinky Awards inspire you to try out some of the amazing nominees and winners? Then go check out the Thinky Awards Steam event where a bunch of them are on sale!
The 3rd Annual Thinky Awards
A celebration of the very best thinky games released over the past year! Discover the winners and the runners-up in each category.
store.steampowered.com
February 4, 2026 at 7:42 PM
Did the Thinky Awards inspire you to try out some of the amazing nominees and winners? Then go check out the Thinky Awards Steam event where a bunch of them are on sale!
Reposted by Mairi Spaceship Nolan 🚀✨ (she/her)
Check out these upcoming games that were selected by the Draknek New Voices grant!
thinkygames.com/news/the-upc...
thinkygames.com/news/the-upc...
The upcoming games being funded by the Draknek New Voices grant in 2026 · Thinky Games
For the third time the Draknek New Voices grant program, lead by designer/publisher Alan Hazelden, is putting money behind some promising up-and-coming thinky games from underrepresented developers.
thinkygames.com
January 27, 2026 at 8:02 PM
Check out these upcoming games that were selected by the Draknek New Voices grant!
thinkygames.com/news/the-upc...
thinkygames.com/news/the-upc...
The District line is such a silly line for getting anywhere you need to go but the vibes onboard are always immaculate 🤌
February 4, 2026 at 2:46 PM
The District line is such a silly line for getting anywhere you need to go but the vibes onboard are always immaculate 🤌
It was really lovely being interviewed by the folks at Womenize about fun game development stuff 👏
Womenize! - Inspiring Stories is our weekly series featuring inspirational individuals from games and tech. For this edition, we talked to Mairi Nolan, Director of Play at Studio Heft. @mairispaceship.com
Read about Mairi here:
www.womenize.net/2026/02/04/m...
Read about Mairi here:
www.womenize.net/2026/02/04/m...
Mairi Nolan – Womenize! – Inspiring Stories - Womenize! Action Program
Womenize! Action Program Mairi Nolan – Womenize! – Inspiring Stories
www.womenize.net
February 4, 2026 at 12:38 PM
It was really lovely being interviewed by the folks at Womenize about fun game development stuff 👏
Reposted by Mairi Spaceship Nolan 🚀✨ (she/her)
Happy Thinky Awards day everyone! There are so many AMAZING games up for awards! You can see the full list and all the details on where to watch here ahhh✨ thinkygames.com/events/awards/
Thinky Awards 2025: The 3rd Annual Thinky Awards · Thinky Games
We're celebrating the very best thinky games of 2025 in the latest Thinky Awards.
thinkygames.com
February 4, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Happy Thinky Awards day everyone! There are so many AMAZING games up for awards! You can see the full list and all the details on where to watch here ahhh✨ thinkygames.com/events/awards/
Cerebral Puzzle Showcase is coming back! 🎉
We're excited to announce that the Cerebral Puzzle Showcase will be returning this summer!
📅 Thurs May 28th - Thurs June 4th
If you have a #puzzlegame you'd like to be considered, please submit it directly here:
www.cerebralpuzzleshowcase.com
The deadline for submissions is 23:59 PDT Mar 31
📅 Thurs May 28th - Thurs June 4th
If you have a #puzzlegame you'd like to be considered, please submit it directly here:
www.cerebralpuzzleshowcase.com
The deadline for submissions is 23:59 PDT Mar 31
Cerebral Puzzle Showcase
Cerebral Puzzle Showcase is a celebration of the most wonderful puzzle games available on Steam, organized by Draknek & Friends.
www.cerebralpuzzleshowcase.com
January 30, 2026 at 5:19 PM
Cerebral Puzzle Showcase is coming back! 🎉
Reposted by Mairi Spaceship Nolan 🚀✨ (she/her)
Hot off the heels of Kate Booth winning an Aurora Women in Games award, Studio HEFT are up for consideration for @ukieofficial.bsky.social's prestigious Rising Star award!
If you're a Ukie member, please consider giving us your vote! (and best of luck to the other mega talented teams!) 💙💛🩷
If you're a Ukie member, please consider giving us your vote! (and best of luck to the other mega talented teams!) 💙💛🩷
January 27, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Hot off the heels of Kate Booth winning an Aurora Women in Games award, Studio HEFT are up for consideration for @ukieofficial.bsky.social's prestigious Rising Star award!
If you're a Ukie member, please consider giving us your vote! (and best of luck to the other mega talented teams!) 💙💛🩷
If you're a Ukie member, please consider giving us your vote! (and best of luck to the other mega talented teams!) 💙💛🩷
I am actually so mad that "solving crimes in european country estates" is not a real job I can have 😡
January 23, 2026 at 11:40 PM
I am actually so mad that "solving crimes in european country estates" is not a real job I can have 😡
It's been an absolute honour working on Wax Heads and LOOK! I am immortalised in the game!! 🤩💖✨
Look at all these amazing and talented people that worked on Wax Heads 🥹♥️🔥🙌🎵😭 @rothiotome.bsky.social @ginaloughlin.com @mairispaceship.com @yourkyotowife.bsky.social @mattjohnss.bsky.social @balazsronyai.bsky.social and Javi
(working on the credits and thought why wait to say how thankful I am♥️)
(working on the credits and thought why wait to say how thankful I am♥️)
January 23, 2026 at 10:05 PM
It's been an absolute honour working on Wax Heads and LOOK! I am immortalised in the game!! 🤩💖✨
Reposted by Mairi Spaceship Nolan 🚀✨ (she/her)
NEW: I spoke to Jonathan Blow about his ambitious new puzzle game and why it took ten years to make. Then, days after the announcement, three designers came out denouncing Blow for his views on Trump (pro), vaccines (anti), and more. Here's the whole messy story: www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
A Controversial Video-Game Designer Returns With a New Game and More Controversy
The announcement of ‘Order of the Sinking Star’ was met with criticism over the political views of its creator Jonathan Blow
www.bloomberg.com
January 22, 2026 at 9:45 PM
NEW: I spoke to Jonathan Blow about his ambitious new puzzle game and why it took ten years to make. Then, days after the announcement, three designers came out denouncing Blow for his views on Trump (pro), vaccines (anti), and more. Here's the whole messy story: www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
Every month for the last 5 or so years I've been drafting the Escape Industry Newsletter! Anyway, January 2026's is now live :)
escapeindustry.com/issues/janua...
escapeindustry.com/issues/janua...
🔑 Escape Industry News | January 2026
escapeindustry.com
January 16, 2026 at 9:17 AM
Every month for the last 5 or so years I've been drafting the Escape Industry Newsletter! Anyway, January 2026's is now live :)
escapeindustry.com/issues/janua...
escapeindustry.com/issues/janua...
Reposted by Mairi Spaceship Nolan 🚀✨ (she/her)
January 14, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Reposted by Mairi Spaceship Nolan 🚀✨ (she/her)
I've been commissioned to write a piece about games based on real places that changed peoples' perception of that place or had some kind of local impact - are you a dev who made a game like this? Or are you a player who has a story about a game that inspired you to visit somewhere? Let me know!
January 13, 2026 at 1:24 PM
I've been commissioned to write a piece about games based on real places that changed peoples' perception of that place or had some kind of local impact - are you a dev who made a game like this? Or are you a player who has a story about a game that inspired you to visit somewhere? Let me know!
As part of the Draknek New Voices Puzzle Grant I mentored this developer on The Detective's Apprentice last year, and I'm incredibly proud and excited for this game 🤩💖
It scratches a real puzzle itch with complex but incredibly satisfying cases. It's something special and one to watch, for sure.
It scratches a real puzzle itch with complex but incredibly satisfying cases. It's something special and one to watch, for sure.
The Detective's Apprentice demo is out now! Sharpen your deduction skills and uncover Cleo's beginnings, as she solves her first three cases.
Play it now on Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/4159750/...
Play it now on Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/4159750/...
January 12, 2026 at 12:20 PM
As part of the Draknek New Voices Puzzle Grant I mentored this developer on The Detective's Apprentice last year, and I'm incredibly proud and excited for this game 🤩💖
It scratches a real puzzle itch with complex but incredibly satisfying cases. It's something special and one to watch, for sure.
It scratches a real puzzle itch with complex but incredibly satisfying cases. It's something special and one to watch, for sure.
Reposted by Mairi Spaceship Nolan 🚀✨ (she/her)
The Detective's Apprentice demo is out now! Sharpen your deduction skills and uncover Cleo's beginnings, as she solves her first three cases.
Play it now on Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/4159750/...
Play it now on Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/4159750/...
January 10, 2026 at 6:58 PM
The Detective's Apprentice demo is out now! Sharpen your deduction skills and uncover Cleo's beginnings, as she solves her first three cases.
Play it now on Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/4159750/...
Play it now on Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/4159750/...
Reposted by Mairi Spaceship Nolan 🚀✨ (she/her)
We also added a "no AI" clause to our publishing contract and contractor agreements. Some people I've mentioned this to (some who also run studios) have been dismissive, saying that people will just use AI without declaring it, but that's pretty easy IMO: don't work with them if you don't trust them
Not every game company is hopping onboard the AI hype train. Manor Lords publisher Hooded Horse bans gen AI art in its contracts.
"If I sound frustrated, it's because, like, honestly, all this thing has done is made our...
https://kotaku.com/hooded-horse-gen-ai-art-ban-4x-strategy-steam-2000658179
"If I sound frustrated, it's because, like, honestly, all this thing has done is made our...
https://kotaku.com/hooded-horse-gen-ai-art-ban-4x-strategy-steam-2000658179
One Game Publisher Is Pushing Back Against AI Art With Contracts That Ban It: 'It's Cancerous' - Kotaku
Hooded Horse won't work with developers that use gen AI
kotaku.com
January 9, 2026 at 12:05 AM
We also added a "no AI" clause to our publishing contract and contractor agreements. Some people I've mentioned this to (some who also run studios) have been dismissive, saying that people will just use AI without declaring it, but that's pretty easy IMO: don't work with them if you don't trust them