Tom Betts
LightNews LightNews
banner
tomnullpointer.bsky.social
Tom Betts
@tomnullpointer.bsky.social
5.2K followers 480 following 1.9K posts
UK Indie Game Dev - Recently "The Horror At Highrook"
A clockwork-card narrative-board game
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2836860/The_Horror_at_Highrook/
Previously "Into The Pit", BigRobot, Phd in the digital sublime
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
tomnullpointer.bsky.social
Tom Betts @tomnullpointer.bsky.social · May 1
After about 2 years my strange
clockwork-cosmic-horror-narrative-card/boardgame
Is released! Proud of this one, hope it does well enough for me to keep exploring this unique and exciting avenue of game dev.
highrookhorror.bsky.social The Horror At Highrook - Out Now! @highrookhorror.bsky.social · May 1
🌜The House is finally open 🌛

The Horror at Highrook is an occult card-crafting RPG
🕯️Uncover the dark secrets of Highrook Manor
🌙Manage your team of investigators
🔥Summon Ancient Demons

www.youtube.com/watch?v=drjG...

store.steampowered.com/app/2836860/...
The Horror At Highrook - Release Trailer
YouTube video by tomnullpointer
www.youtube.com
Reposted by Tom Betts
increpare.bsky.social
store.steampowered.com/app/3831080/... Oeuf demo released! Enjoy! #OeufGame
Oeuf on Steam
3D physics-platformer where you are an egg! Roll, hop and slide your way back home.
store.steampowered.com
February 10, 2026 at 3:20 PM
Reposted by Tom Betts
beacondev.bsky.social
Chuffed to wake up to a @rockpapershotgun.bsky.social article on AETHUS! 😍

Less than a month to go until launch now, and creators and press are playing the game!

www.rockpapershotgun.com/a-former-roc...
A former Rockstar dev is making a Satisfactory-style survival game about doomed expeditions on a strange planet
Aethus is "Satisfactory through the eyes of Diablo", in the eyes of this critic, who has now been turned into plant food.
www.rockpapershotgun.com
February 10, 2026 at 11:17 AM
Reposted by Tom Betts
brunodias.bsky.social
I'm still looking for full-time or contract work – I'm a narrative design generalist with credits on multiple shipped titles. I focus on taming the complexity of narrative systems, writing prose, and leading narrative teams.

brunodias.dev/bio
Bio
Bruno Dias is a game designer and writer. Previous credits include Where the Water Tastes Like Wine, Neo Cab, and Pathologic 2.
brunodias.dev
February 6, 2026 at 1:30 AM
tomnullpointer.bsky.social
Hey Internet Brain.. Im researching for my upcoming game and wondered if folk had any tops for films I should check out. Im looking for brutalist/80s era tower block type settings with an element of evil corp/sinister events.
As an example, Ive got stuff like Alphaville, Constantine, Die Hard etc
February 6, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Reposted by Tom Betts
zaratustra.bsky.social
February 6, 2026 at 10:53 AM
tomnullpointer.bsky.social
Local indie dev pals Canteen just announced their new thing! Looking forward to seeing where they go with this one!
February 6, 2026 at 12:24 PM
tomnullpointer.bsky.social
Hmm let me just fix that for you... "Its is important to assume that every game company CEO has investements/pals who are desperately trying to make bank on AI."
February 6, 2026 at 11:21 AM
Reposted by Tom Betts
eizebasa.baby
This watermark graffiti by street artist Mathieu Tremblin is, like, the best thing ever.
A photo that appears to have a "gettyimages" watermark but the watermark is actually painted directly on the bridge.
January 29, 2026 at 8:47 PM
Reposted by Tom Betts
aftermath.site
Meet the unconventional publishers trying to unfuck the games industry: aftermath.site/indie-game-pub...
the outersloth logo, which depicts a large blue sloth resting on the earth
February 4, 2026 at 6:48 PM
Reposted by Tom Betts
tigershungry.co.uk
London & London commutable playful folks… the CAR BOOT CASINO will soon be opening its doors once more!

If you’ve a homebrew card or bluffing game you’d be up for showcasing & running a table then drop me a line
oldee timey painting of a spaniel dog in a fancy room. They have playing cards in their paw, a poker visor and a smoking pipe
February 4, 2026 at 4:24 PM
Reposted by Tom Betts
strangesignals.bsky.social
Over at GamesIndustry.biz, @lewispackwood.bsky.social named The Horror at Highrook as one the best games of 2025.

"...if there's one game I haven't been able to stop thinking about, it's The Horror at Highrook by Nullpointer Games..."

www.gamesindustry.biz/the-best-gam...
The best games of 2025 | Year in Review
The games we played and enjoyed the most, from another spectacularly abundant year.
www.gamesindustry.biz
January 7, 2026 at 9:31 AM
tomnullpointer.bsky.social
Ive been playing "No Rest For The WIcked" and damn it really does tick all the Tom Boxes. exploring, loads of stats and builds, a bit grindy, some stylish art, characters and lighting. Its UX and explanations are a bit janky at points, but its still in EA.
February 1, 2026 at 9:34 PM
Reposted by Tom Betts
moomanibe.bsky.social
Hey yall. As you've seen here - unfortunately a large portion of the ivy road team was laid off today, myself included. We're all looking for work! Gonna do a quick thread about those who were laid off today and why you should hire them:
ivyroadgames.bsky.social Ivy Road @ivyroadgames.bsky.social · 10d
While we've gotten affirming feedback on Engine Angel, pitching unfortunately hasn't been successful. As a result, we've had to make the hard decision to lay off five team members. Each of these devs are incredible: if you have a place on your team, or know someone hiring, please keep them in mind!⬇
January 31, 2026 at 12:52 AM
Reposted by Tom Betts
fellowtraveller.games
We’re so excited to announce our Story-Rich Showcase!

Our official showcase runs during the Summer Game Showcase 2026 timeframe, dedicated entirely to story-rich indie games with first looks, reveals, trailers, release dates, and dev-led storytelling 💝

More details soon!
🚶storyrich.games
January 28, 2026 at 11:25 PM
Reposted by Tom Betts
beijingpalmer.bsky.social
9-9-6 was a Chinese term invented mostly to show how depressing and lifeless work culture was; watching softbrained AI guys adopt it as an ideal is ... well, entirely predictable
January 29, 2026 at 8:39 AM
Reposted by Tom Betts
bchezza.bsky.social
Developers and publishers of Fake OS Games, also known as Interface Simulators, Desktop/Phone Sim and Found Device Games - you are invited to apply for our Steam event!

With Cobalt Lane, @jasmo.bsky.social @fbeckpeccoz.bsky.social

👇Apply here!👇
forms.gle/HPv8FPjVGuRn...

#gamedev #indiedev
selection of screen interfaces from various video games
January 27, 2026 at 5:51 PM
tomnullpointer.bsky.social
Dan has been making super enjoyable funny games for as long as I can remember. His new one is just out and features actual humans voice acting, so you dont even need to read!
If you like Brit Wit and a bit of point and clicking check it out!
January 28, 2026 at 9:57 AM
Reposted by Tom Betts
davidmbarnett.bsky.social
No, thanks. How about spending the dosh on some free health screening to catch various conditions early, or going back to teaching creative arts and music in schools, or even financial savviness to kids. Anything but forcing more AI down our gobs.
peterstefanovic.bsky.social Peter Stefanovic @peterstefanovic.bsky.social · 13d
BREAKING: Free AI training will be offered to every adult in the UK, with short courses to teach people how to use simple AI tools effectively in the workplace.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall tells #BBCBreakfast about the scheme
January 28, 2026 at 9:37 AM
Reposted by Tom Betts
psychrift.com
Testing reality-bending visual effects for my game!

#IndieGame #GameDev #IndieDev #Steam #WishlistOnSteam #SteamGame #ActionAdventure #IndieGames #GamingNews #PCGaming #GodotEngine
January 24, 2026 at 8:07 AM
tomnullpointer.bsky.social
New Common Side Effects series?
www.bbc.co.uk/future/artic...

Also, damn that was a great series..
'They saw them on their dishes when eating': The mushroom making people hallucinate dozens of tiny humans
Only recently described by science, the mysterious mushrooms are found in different parts of the world, but they give people the same exact visions.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 23, 2026 at 11:06 AM
Reposted by Tom Betts
ashleygwinnell.bsky.social
ANNOUNCING:

✨ Completely free online events to help #indiedev s get ready for #SteamNextFest! ✨

The festival of the season is just over a month away, and here's what I've got planned for you... 👇
January 22, 2026 at 5:12 PM
tomnullpointer.bsky.social
I've actually never been to this, but most of the talks Ive seen from it are great! If you are doing anything interesting PCGwise maybe see if you could submit something?
everythingproc.bsky.social Everything Procedural Conference @everythingproc.bsky.social · Jan 6
The Call for Speakers is still open, we are very curious to what you have been up to!
everythingproc.bsky.social Everything Procedural Conference @everythingproc.bsky.social · Dec 19
Call for Speakers! We are looking for passionate speakers to deliver a talk during Everything Procedural 2026. Are you excited to share your experiences with an audience? Then we encourage you to submit your proposal: forms.office.com/e/sG6z0eCAyG
#procgen #procedural #gamedev
January 23, 2026 at 10:09 AM
tomnullpointer.bsky.social
Got annoyed recently by marketing agencies astroturfing in specialist interest forums/discords/reddits.

People popping up as new users, posting a screenshot from "their game", asking folk to wishlist, but then unable to tell me anything about the game, or respond to any questions.
January 23, 2026 at 10:03 AM
tomnullpointer.bsky.social
Been checking out GodHusk and I love the idea of so much detail and love being put into a guide-book for a thing/world/game that doesnt exist. I mean I suppose its not too far from a TTRPG campaign book, but it doesnt seem to want to be that.
January 23, 2026 at 8:10 AM
Reposted by Tom Betts
deepcrypt.games
🎙️ Looking for Scottish Gaelic voice actors for paid work on a small indie horror game set in the Highlands.

1 female role (~12 lines)
2 male roles (~5 & ~50 lines)
Remote recording OK.

DMs open or share if you know someone!
Tapadh leibh

#gamedev #horrorgame

store.steampowered.com/app/4224960/...
Highland Trip on Steam
A first-person psychological horror game where you explore the remote Scottish Highlands, gather resources to survive the night, and evade a stalking presence that blurs hallucination and reality. The...
store.steampowered.com
January 16, 2026 at 3:26 PM