Tom Francis
@pentadact.com
Designer/writer/coder on Gunpoint, Heat Signature, and Tactical Breach Wizards. More on those and other things I write or do or be: https://www.pentadact.com/
Accidentally summed it up.
February 7, 2026 at 3:23 PM
Accidentally summed it up.
Reposted by Tom Francis
Reposted by Tom Francis
Reposted by Tom Francis
A new website about PC games, from me, @brendyc.bsky.social and @jonhicks.com.
Reader-supported, which means no ads, no guff, and lots of games blogging about delightful things to play. If you liked our work on RPS, we think you'll like @jank.cool.
Reader-supported, which means no ads, no guff, and lots of games blogging about delightful things to play. If you liked our work on RPS, we think you'll like @jank.cool.
January 27, 2026 at 1:00 PM
A new website about PC games, from me, @brendyc.bsky.social and @jonhicks.com.
Reader-supported, which means no ads, no guff, and lots of games blogging about delightful things to play. If you liked our work on RPS, we think you'll like @jank.cool.
Reader-supported, which means no ads, no guff, and lots of games blogging about delightful things to play. If you liked our work on RPS, we think you'll like @jank.cool.
My eyes are bad but I won't ruin the vibe with a flashlight.
it's @pentadact.com using a photo of the candle on the table to light the menu
January 24, 2026 at 11:32 PM
My eyes are bad but I won't ruin the vibe with a flashlight.
The brains are in the grenades: How enemies think in Tactical Breach Wizards
youtu.be/gEFfBXQAtYE
I'm not going to GDC this year, so here's a little talk for free - on a thing I want to share before I forget how it works.
youtu.be/gEFfBXQAtYE
I'm not going to GDC this year, so here's a little talk for free - on a thing I want to share before I forget how it works.
The brains are in the grenades: how enemies think in Tactical Breach Wizards
YouTube video by Tom Francis
youtu.be
January 22, 2026 at 4:26 PM
The brains are in the grenades: How enemies think in Tactical Breach Wizards
youtu.be/gEFfBXQAtYE
I'm not going to GDC this year, so here's a little talk for free - on a thing I want to share before I forget how it works.
youtu.be/gEFfBXQAtYE
I'm not going to GDC this year, so here's a little talk for free - on a thing I want to share before I forget how it works.
Reposted by Tom Francis
I just woke up from a nap and somehow while I was asleep, everyone on the bus has figured out we are not going to the right place
January 20, 2026 at 1:57 AM
I just woke up from a nap and somehow while I was asleep, everyone on the bus has figured out we are not going to the right place
Day 3 of being woken up by a long, low foghorn-like sound:
It strikes me now that - given I live near the water and the weather has been foggy for 3 days - the explanation for this phenomenon may be closer to hand than previously realised.
It strikes me now that - given I live near the water and the weather has been foggy for 3 days - the explanation for this phenomenon may be closer to hand than previously realised.
January 21, 2026 at 2:49 PM
Day 3 of being woken up by a long, low foghorn-like sound:
It strikes me now that - given I live near the water and the weather has been foggy for 3 days - the explanation for this phenomenon may be closer to hand than previously realised.
It strikes me now that - given I live near the water and the weather has been foggy for 3 days - the explanation for this phenomenon may be closer to hand than previously realised.
I've been running an indie games studio for 15 years now, and it felt like a good time to boil down what I've learned into 4 pieces of advice:
www.pentadact.com/2026-01-08-1...
I hope it's of use, not least because goddamn I forgot how long blog posts take to write.
www.pentadact.com/2026-01-08-1...
I hope it's of use, not least because goddamn I forgot how long blog posts take to write.
January 8, 2026 at 6:02 PM
I've been running an indie games studio for 15 years now, and it felt like a good time to boil down what I've learned into 4 pieces of advice:
www.pentadact.com/2026-01-08-1...
I hope it's of use, not least because goddamn I forgot how long blog posts take to write.
www.pentadact.com/2026-01-08-1...
I hope it's of use, not least because goddamn I forgot how long blog posts take to write.
Reposted by Tom Francis
My post-layoff professional hiatus has come to an end and I'm looking to rebuild my contact book. If you're in need of:
✏️ Fiction! Produced entirely by my human brain and hands!
🧙♂️ Narrative design, worldbuilding or creative direction!
🎺 Comms, bizdev or marketing support!
...then get in touch!
✏️ Fiction! Produced entirely by my human brain and hands!
🧙♂️ Narrative design, worldbuilding or creative direction!
🎺 Comms, bizdev or marketing support!
...then get in touch!
January 5, 2026 at 12:14 PM
My post-layoff professional hiatus has come to an end and I'm looking to rebuild my contact book. If you're in need of:
✏️ Fiction! Produced entirely by my human brain and hands!
🧙♂️ Narrative design, worldbuilding or creative direction!
🎺 Comms, bizdev or marketing support!
...then get in touch!
✏️ Fiction! Produced entirely by my human brain and hands!
🧙♂️ Narrative design, worldbuilding or creative direction!
🎺 Comms, bizdev or marketing support!
...then get in touch!
Goddamn, I only just saw the Resetera thread for @breachwizards.bsky.social has the best strap I've seen in all our coverage: www.resetera.com/threads/tact...
Rites in Tight Spaces.
Rites in Tight Spaces.
Tactical Breach Wizards |OT| Rites in Tight Spaces OT
Release Date: August 22, 2024
Developer: Suspicious Developments Inc
Publisher: Suspicious Developments
Platform: Steam (Demo available)
Steam Deck Compatibility: Playable
Price: $19.99
ABOUT
From th...
www.resetera.com
January 1, 2026 at 12:29 AM
Goddamn, I only just saw the Resetera thread for @breachwizards.bsky.social has the best strap I've seen in all our coverage: www.resetera.com/threads/tact...
Rites in Tight Spaces.
Rites in Tight Spaces.
Love this bit, when your Christmas License to Indulge has expired but your New Year's Obligation to Live Sensibly hasn't started yet.
Feels like a loophole.
Feels like a loophole.
December 31, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Love this bit, when your Christmas License to Indulge has expired but your New Year's Obligation to Live Sensibly hasn't started yet.
Feels like a loophole.
Feels like a loophole.
I'll add: if the other game is out, that's a gift.
You get to play a finished version of your idea, see how it feels, how it sold, and what everyone thought of it? That's incredibly powerful information to make something that builds on it.
You get to play a finished version of your idea, see how it feels, how it sold, and what everyone thought of it? That's incredibly powerful information to make something that builds on it.
Any time you work on anything, you are going to hit those "UH OH" moments where your stomach drops as you see a similar project that makes yours feel derivative and uninteresting and doomed to fail.
That's normal! Regroup, adapt, persevere! Your perspective has value!
That's normal! Regroup, adapt, persevere! Your perspective has value!
Reposting with alt text because I felt it too important no to share
December 22, 2025 at 7:21 AM
I'll add: if the other game is out, that's a gift.
You get to play a finished version of your idea, see how it feels, how it sold, and what everyone thought of it? That's incredibly powerful information to make something that builds on it.
You get to play a finished version of your idea, see how it feels, how it sold, and what everyone thought of it? That's incredibly powerful information to make something that builds on it.
Reposted by Tom Francis
This season, give yourself the gift of giving us less money:
🧙♂️ Tactical Breach Wizards is 35% off!
store.steampowered.com/app/1043810/...
🕵️ Gunpoint is 75% off!
store.steampowered.com/app/206190/G...
🚀 Heat Signature is 75% off!
store.steampowered.com/app/268130/H...
🧙♂️ Tactical Breach Wizards is 35% off!
store.steampowered.com/app/1043810/...
🕵️ Gunpoint is 75% off!
store.steampowered.com/app/206190/G...
🚀 Heat Signature is 75% off!
store.steampowered.com/app/268130/H...
Save 35% on Tactical Breach Wizards on Steam
In Tactical Breach Wizards, you lead a team of renegade wizards in kevlar through turn-based battles to unravel a modern conspiracy plot. Combine their unique spells in clever ways, or rewind time to ...
store.steampowered.com
December 18, 2025 at 6:13 PM
This season, give yourself the gift of giving us less money:
🧙♂️ Tactical Breach Wizards is 35% off!
store.steampowered.com/app/1043810/...
🕵️ Gunpoint is 75% off!
store.steampowered.com/app/206190/G...
🚀 Heat Signature is 75% off!
store.steampowered.com/app/268130/H...
🧙♂️ Tactical Breach Wizards is 35% off!
store.steampowered.com/app/1043810/...
🕵️ Gunpoint is 75% off!
store.steampowered.com/app/206190/G...
🚀 Heat Signature is 75% off!
store.steampowered.com/app/268130/H...
This is absolutely batshit, and I'm so glad I was able to capture the effect on video, because I was feeling completely insane. Full story in the alt text.
Anyone know what's going on here?
Anyone know what's going on here?
December 15, 2025 at 7:24 AM
This is absolutely batshit, and I'm so glad I was able to capture the effect on video, because I was feeling completely insane. Full story in the alt text.
Anyone know what's going on here?
Anyone know what's going on here?
It was only a few months in, but our next game was feeling like it might be a long, hard, and not super fun road to make.
So I started tinkering with something else, and it clicked much faster, and we like it more, so we're switching!
More thoughts, and a little glimpse:
youtu.be/GYJGmX5iGbw .
So I started tinkering with something else, and it clicked much faster, and we like it more, so we're switching!
More thoughts, and a little glimpse:
youtu.be/GYJGmX5iGbw .
Why we're switching projects
YouTube video by Tom Francis
youtu.be
December 12, 2025 at 5:56 PM
It was only a few months in, but our next game was feeling like it might be a long, hard, and not super fun road to make.
So I started tinkering with something else, and it clicked much faster, and we like it more, so we're switching!
More thoughts, and a little glimpse:
youtu.be/GYJGmX5iGbw .
So I started tinkering with something else, and it clicked much faster, and we like it more, so we're switching!
More thoughts, and a little glimpse:
youtu.be/GYJGmX5iGbw .
Apps are always asking me 'mute? block? report? don't recommend? downvote?' when the only option I want or need is "Imagine I am your grand vizier and I have yelled "ENOUGH!" without explanation."
November 29, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Apps are always asking me 'mute? block? report? don't recommend? downvote?' when the only option I want or need is "Imagine I am your grand vizier and I have yelled "ENOUGH!" without explanation."
Omw to tell the headstrong protagonist to drop it, he's out of his depth. Reckon that should do the trick.
November 19, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Omw to tell the headstrong protagonist to drop it, he's out of his depth. Reckon that should do the trick.
Dug into the buildcraft of Slice & Dice - what works about it and what's weird:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1Eh... .
www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1Eh... .
Buildcraft in Slice & Dice
YouTube video by Tom Francis
www.youtube.com
November 14, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Dug into the buildcraft of Slice & Dice - what works about it and what's weird:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1Eh... .
www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1Eh... .
Turning up Rain Sounds For Sleep 10 Hours so I can hear it over the rain outside.
November 10, 2025 at 3:58 AM
Turning up Rain Sounds For Sleep 10 Hours so I can hear it over the rain outside.
For about another 21 hours all our games are suspiciously cheap:
🕵️ Gunpoint is 80% off! store.steampowered.com/app/206190/G...
🚀 Heat Signature is 80% off! store.steampowered.com/app/268130/H...
🧙♂️ Tactical Breach Wizards is 40% off! store.steampowered.com/app/1043810/...
🕵️ Gunpoint is 80% off! store.steampowered.com/app/206190/G...
🚀 Heat Signature is 80% off! store.steampowered.com/app/268130/H...
🧙♂️ Tactical Breach Wizards is 40% off! store.steampowered.com/app/1043810/...
Save 40% on Tactical Breach Wizards on Steam
In Tactical Breach Wizards, you lead a team of renegade wizards in kevlar through turn-based battles to unravel a modern conspiracy plot. Combine their unique spells in clever ways, or rewind time to ...
store.steampowered.com
November 8, 2025 at 8:59 PM
For about another 21 hours all our games are suspiciously cheap:
🕵️ Gunpoint is 80% off! store.steampowered.com/app/206190/G...
🚀 Heat Signature is 80% off! store.steampowered.com/app/268130/H...
🧙♂️ Tactical Breach Wizards is 40% off! store.steampowered.com/app/1043810/...
🕵️ Gunpoint is 80% off! store.steampowered.com/app/206190/G...
🚀 Heat Signature is 80% off! store.steampowered.com/app/268130/H...
🧙♂️ Tactical Breach Wizards is 40% off! store.steampowered.com/app/1043810/...
Reposted by Tom Francis
It’s time for this starship to take flight - Generation Exile has launched in Steam Early Access and is available right now!
store.steampowered.com/app/2963240/...
store.steampowered.com/app/2963240/...
November 4, 2025 at 6:30 PM
It’s time for this starship to take flight - Generation Exile has launched in Steam Early Access and is available right now!
store.steampowered.com/app/2963240/...
store.steampowered.com/app/2963240/...
Reposted by Tom Francis
Tactical Breach Wizards is 40% off in today's Daily Deal! The cheapest the wizards have ever allowed us to price them.
To celebrate, we've added a community missions pack, featuring some great ones players have made since launch.
store.steampowered.com/app/1043810/... .
To celebrate, we've added a community missions pack, featuring some great ones players have made since launch.
store.steampowered.com/app/1043810/... .
Save 40% on Tactical Breach Wizards on Steam
In Tactical Breach Wizards, you lead a team of renegade wizards in kevlar through turn-based battles to unravel a modern conspiracy plot. Combine their unique spells in clever ways, or rewind time to ...
store.steampowered.com
November 2, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Tactical Breach Wizards is 40% off in today's Daily Deal! The cheapest the wizards have ever allowed us to price them.
To celebrate, we've added a community missions pack, featuring some great ones players have made since launch.
store.steampowered.com/app/1043810/... .
To celebrate, we've added a community missions pack, featuring some great ones players have made since launch.
store.steampowered.com/app/1043810/... .
Reposted by Tom Francis
I almost can't believe this but the game we've been working on for a, uh, frightening long time now is launching into Steam Early Access NEXT WEEK!
November 4th, 9am PT
Wishlistin' plz and thank: store.steampowered.com/app/2963240/...
November 4th, 9am PT
Wishlistin' plz and thank: store.steampowered.com/app/2963240/...
Generation Exile on Steam
You are aboard humanity’s first and final generation ship, a last-chance expedition now teetering on the rim of collapse. One step at a time you must rebuild society and the ship’s fragile ecosystems ...
store.steampowered.com
October 31, 2025 at 7:36 PM
I almost can't believe this but the game we've been working on for a, uh, frightening long time now is launching into Steam Early Access NEXT WEEK!
November 4th, 9am PT
Wishlistin' plz and thank: store.steampowered.com/app/2963240/...
November 4th, 9am PT
Wishlistin' plz and thank: store.steampowered.com/app/2963240/...
This is great to read. Letting players turn off permadeath in Heat Signature was sacrilege, design-wise, but trivial effort-wise - so we did it.
Hearing how much it let someone truly click with the game really shows the value of letting people engage with your stuff on their own terms.
Hearing how much it let someone truly click with the game really shows the value of letting people engage with your stuff on their own terms.
With huge apologies to @pentadact.com , I have written about #heatsignature , the best space heist stealth murder gadget hacking tactical puzzle game ever made:
open.substack.com/pub/affectio...
open.substack.com/pub/affectio...
Heat Signature: The Definitive Review
Always. Be. Crashbeaming. Glitchtrapping. Shotgunning. Wrenching. Subverting (extreme range, self-charging)
open.substack.com
October 27, 2025 at 5:38 PM
This is great to read. Letting players turn off permadeath in Heat Signature was sacrilege, design-wise, but trivial effort-wise - so we did it.
Hearing how much it let someone truly click with the game really shows the value of letting people engage with your stuff on their own terms.
Hearing how much it let someone truly click with the game really shows the value of letting people engage with your stuff on their own terms.