Devi Serene
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deviserene.bsky.social
Devi Serene
@deviserene.bsky.social
2.3K followers 630 following 480 posts
Gina Markey 💕 She/Her 🏳️‍🌈 Queer 🐺 UI Dev

The solodev of Welsh-mythology inspired JRPG: Toward Dawn 👱🏻‍♀️❤️🐺 https://store.steampowered.com/app/3140160/Toward_Dawn/

Worked on Jurassic World Evolution 3, Warhammer AoS: Realms of Ruin, Elite Dangerous.
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deviserene.bsky.social
Toward Dawn will be featured in Yogcasts Tiny Teams @tinyteamsfest.bsky.social! Take a look at all the other awesome indie games in this showcase too!

Fancy learning about some Welsh mythology while playing a JRPG, then give this solo dev's demo a try! 🐺💕🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

store.steampowered.com/app/3140160/...
TinyTeams2025 07/08 - 14/08 Toward Dawn Official Selection
July 31, 2025 at 6:36 PM
deviserene.bsky.social
One of the Skits in Toward Dawn mentions Carys and Bleddyn keeping a Monster Codex of sorts - and that is now making its way in game!

A bestiary to help explain the original Welsh myths behind many of the creatures, all delivered in universe by the characters!

#gamedev #indiegame #rpg
The enemy codex displaying Idwal, a party member and optional fight. In the notes: {Idwal}: Carys... did you draw this picture of me? {Carys}: To commemorate our duel! It was... Bestiary of the Bwbachod, with pronunciation and in world descriptions: {Carys}:A bwbach is a house-goblin, the name derives from our word for scarecrow - it does have quite the appetite for corvids. {Bleddyn}:Small, annoying and a friend of cats. A fan of stealing food too. Can't think of anything worse. Trician entry. An original monster combining a cerberus and Ci Annwn. [idwal]There are Ampyrian stories of a three-headed dog that guards the gates of the underworld. I wonder if some tales can overlap. [carys]Does each head have their own thoughts? Their own desires? If I pet one, would the others get jealous? [bleddyn]Please don't pet our foes.
July 9, 2025 at 3:36 PM
deviserene.bsky.social
Super cool! Toward Dawn is my Welsh Mythology RPG 🐺✨

I made this to share my love of the culture as well as sharing my passion for turn based combat and customisation!
Idwal casts a fire spell in turn based combat screenshot of Toward Dawn. The movement and traversal The dialogue scenes, inspired by GBA Fire Emblems.
July 5, 2025 at 10:45 AM
deviserene.bsky.social
Toward Dawn is on sale for the weekend! Nows a good chance to get some Welsh Mythology goodness!

I solo developed a game to show a culture I love, create a unique battle system and maybe add a bit of werewolf love too. 🐺💕

🔽
store.steampowered.com/app/3140160/...

#gamedev #indiegame #solodev
Turn based battle rpg, Idwal is casting a fire spell Explore the Annwn, and other places inspired by Welsh Mythology Optional romance with Bleddyn the Gwyllgi werewolf Customise your battle experience!
June 21, 2025 at 1:20 PM
deviserene.bsky.social
#PitchYaGame

Toward Dawn has:
🐲 Welsh mythology
✨ A ~10 hour story
⚔️ Turn-Based Combat inspired by Grandia/Phantasy Star
🐺 Optional werewolf romance
🎮 Full controller/SteamDeck support
💾 Demo save you can into the full game

▶️ Steam:
store.steampowered.com/app/3140160/...

#gamedev #indiedev #rpg
June 6, 2025 at 11:32 AM
deviserene.bsky.social
This patch for Toward Dawn adds some new cards to the optional minigame, as well as new opponents throughout the main story. 🐺🃏✨

#indiegame #gamedev #rpg #cardgame
May 29, 2025 at 1:47 PM
deviserene.bsky.social
The opening depicts Carys at her lowest (so far), bargaining for her life.

The rest of the story reflects upon her fears and regret, as well as her growth through gaining her own agency. What is strength, and how can it be wielded?

#gamedev #indiegame #rpg
The red robed priestess is in battle against a hunter. Her name is Carys and she says: "Please... You want this jewel, right? Just let me go..."
May 27, 2025 at 1:47 PM
deviserene.bsky.social
For the opening of Toward Dawn, I wanted to get into the action along right away, in the middle of Carys' escape.

While the battle is for story, integrating Tonwen's death, it also subtly showcases the Flux combo and damage stalling enemy speed mechanics. ✨

#gamedev #indiegame #rpg
Carys casts Flux on the hunter, defeating him, while Tonwen is defeated. The background shows a forest at night.
May 26, 2025 at 12:03 PM
deviserene.bsky.social
If you're interested in a retro style RPG set in a world inspired by Welsh Mythology, then check out Toward Dawn! 🐺✨️

store.steampowered.com/app/3140160/...
Dialogue scene with portraits inspired by Fiee Emblem GBA style Upgrade your characters to change their roles! Explore the Annwn and other aspects of Welsh mythology Battle in strategic combat inspired by Phantasy Star 4 and Grandia!
May 24, 2025 at 9:30 PM
deviserene.bsky.social
The UI in my game.

I wanted to have a fairy-tale aesthetic for, well, a fairy-tale story. 🐺✨

#gamedev #indiedev #jrpg
The main menu. The book and pages do animate. The character details are on the right hand side, while the selectable buttons are on the left. The Ability tree menu, where the player can upgrade the character's skills. The left hand side shows the abilities / passives, which change the tree on the right hand side. The characters are bookmark tabs on the left, while ability details appear as paper inserts coming out on the right. The battle screen, showing the characters on parchment at the bottom of the screen. When a character's turn is active, the buttons appear beside them, more in line with a modern RPG (persona, expedition 33, etc). The tracker bar at the top also follows the parchment style.
May 23, 2025 at 9:38 AM
deviserene.bsky.social
An unused enemy in Clair Obscur I found in my randomiser.

His animations and abilities worked but no sound for them. I wonder why he didn't make the final cut.
Gustav and Luna vs a Chromatic Mage Cultist. His moves had no sound. He could swipe his big sword or cast explosion magic with his staff. Every round he would give 2 shields + haste + shell to the enemy team.
May 22, 2025 at 4:27 PM
deviserene.bsky.social
I've been working on a randomiser for Clair Obscur Expedition 33, changing up what weapons/pictos you get from enemies, field loot and merchants, which keeps a new start fresh!

Modding is such a fun gateway into gamedev too! ✨
May 20, 2025 at 4:54 PM
deviserene.bsky.social
Toward Dawn has been out for a week! That sure went by quickly.

Some stats for those interested in how a tiny solodev no-budget RPG went. I was expecting 200 sales, so I am very happy to have achieved that! 🐺💕 Thank you for the support everyone, I hope you enjoyed the game and some Welsh mythology!
Visits to Toward Dawn's Steam page over time Number of units sold Wishlists from launch
May 15, 2025 at 3:19 PM
deviserene.bsky.social
Toward Dawn's first Update! Thank you so much for all the lovely feedback!

😶‍🌫️ Steam Cloud saves
➕ New Game+
🐛 Bug and Typo fixes

Read more in the Steam Announcement 🔽
store.steampowered.com/news/app/314...
May 14, 2025 at 8:10 PM
deviserene.bsky.social
Some players have wanted a NewGame+ mode, so I've been looking at implementing it.

I can very much see the appeal of coming back to demolish bosses in one shot! 🐺⚔️😅

#gamedev #indiegame #rpg
May 13, 2025 at 11:42 AM
deviserene.bsky.social
It has been wonderful hearing what everyone thinks of Toward Dawn, thank you for getting it past 10 reviews on Steam!

I've been working on some bug fixes in the meantime. I still can't believe that the game is out there now!
May 12, 2025 at 5:30 PM
deviserene.bsky.social
It's a #TurnBasedThursday, and also Toward Dawn's release day! ✨

Explore a world inspired by Welsh mythology! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿
Pet a Gwyllgi werewolf! 🐺
Experience unique turn-based combat! ⚔️
Cute pixels having lots of emotions! 💕

▶️ store.steampowered.com/app/3140160/...
May 8, 2025 at 3:00 PM
deviserene.bsky.social
A year ago, I left my work because of burn out and depression. Creating Toward Dawn has been a healing process.

I've fallen in love with gamedev and wish I could do it more. I've got a lot to learn but so much to give.

Thank you everyone for supporting me, it has truly meant so much.
May 8, 2025 at 3:00 PM
deviserene.bsky.social
Thank you to the fabulous cast who bring the characters to life!

🐲 Carys - @clearlybrogan.bsky.social
🐺 Bleddyn - @cactusknax.bsky.social
🦌 Idwal - @isaacbirchallvo.bsky.social

You've all been amazing to work with and I wholeheartedly recommend any dev to hire them too! ✨
May 8, 2025 at 3:00 PM
deviserene.bsky.social
I am keeping (and updating!) the demo for Toward Dawn! And you can even transfer a demo save forward to the main game and continue where you left off.

Honestly, I made this game for myself to explore Welsh mythology, but I hope others enjoy it too! 🐺💕✨

Tomorrow's the day!

#gamedev #indiegame #rpg
Toward Dawn Thank you for playing the demo You can continue your playthrough in the main game by loading a demo save file. Screenshot of the full game, showing a demo save that is loadable Loading the demo save, the game continues! Idwal: W-well... I don't know what to expect from such bea- from Gwyllgi.
May 7, 2025 at 3:56 PM
deviserene.bsky.social
For the last year, I've been working on my own turn-based RPG, Toward Dawn! And it's coming out in two days!

It's really allowed me to dive in to Welsh mythology, learn lots of skills and help alleviate my own anxieties. No matter what, I will cherish it. 🐺

#indiegame #solodev #gamedev #rpg #Godot
May 6, 2025 at 1:46 PM
deviserene.bsky.social
Adding a few flourishes to the battle cards. 🐲🐺🦌

#gamedev #indiedev #pixelart
May 5, 2025 at 5:54 PM
deviserene.bsky.social
How it started. How it's going.

#gamedev #indiegame #jrpg
Screenshot depicting a jrpg battle screen with turn based mechanics and placeholder UI. The background is using a tileset and the characters are facing from a side view. Screenshot depicting a JRPG battle screen, with a Grandia like action system. The characters are shown with their backs facing the enemies. One of the characters, Idwal, is casting Ignis Ardere (named after the Octopath spell), with fire spawning across the battlefield dealing damage. The background is pixel art. The UI is using a parchment theme.
May 5, 2025 at 9:41 AM
deviserene.bsky.social
Caledfwlch, the mythical sword, lives up to its powerful heritage - if you remember where you met the Gwraig Annwn from an earlier chapter! 🐺⚔️🌊

#gamedev #indiegame #rpg #mythology
May 2, 2025 at 3:00 PM
deviserene.bsky.social
7 Days until Toward Dawn is released! 🐺✨

Experience a world inspired by Welsh mythology, upgrade abilities to suit your playstyle, and enjoy a heartwarming story with some cute pixels!

store.steampowered.com/app/3140160/...

#gamedev #indiedev #jrpg
May 1, 2025 at 5:36 PM