Indie Dev Interview: SnowScape Studios on Serene Ponds
At Rob’s Game Shack, we love shining a spotlight on indie developers and the amazing games they’re creating. This time, we sat down with SnowScape Studios, the team behind the upcoming relaxing sandbox Serene Ponds.
Quick Fire Round!
First console you ever owned?
First console played: Sega Mega Drive. First console owned: PlayStation 1.
Favorite boss fight of all time?
The Mz. Ruby fight from Sly Cooper — loved the musical rhythm to it!
Go-to snack during crunch?
Oreos.
Pizza topping for the post-apocalypse?
Chorizo.
One game you wish you could play again for the first time?
Red Dead Redemption 2. That story really hit home.
The Game Pitch
Give us the one-liner pitch for Serene Ponds.
A relaxing pond-building game where you create ponds, shape the land, and watch wildlife arrive.
Where did the core idea come from?
SnowScape’s founder wanted to make something outdoorsy and relaxing but didn’t have the time (or quiet nights) to build a real pond while raising two toddlers. What started as a personal prototype became Serene Ponds — a calm creative space for players everywhere.
Biggest mechanic headache?
The terrain spawning logic. Balancing it for performance and gameplay flow took a lot of trial and error — but the end result feels great.
Behind the Scenes
Biggest “aha!” moment?
Frogs flying into the air when players raised terrain underneath them. Initially thought it was a bug to fix, but community feedback loved it — now you can launch and move frogs intentionally!
What are you most proud of?
The art. As a programmer, modelling assets felt daunting, but creating everything for Serene Ponds pushed new creative skills and has become a huge source of pride.
Secret cheat code?
“Party Mode” — frogs dancing to club music instead of chill lo-fi beats.
Funniest bug?
Frogs occasionally launching at the camera — gave SnowScape’s wife a solid jump scare during playtesting.
Community Corner
What should players know before diving in?
It’s a no-pressure sandbox with no strict goals or timers — just a creative, relaxing experience.
How can the community support you?
Wishlisting on Steam is the biggest help right now! The game will be at NextFest this October with a playable demo, plus the Discord community is growing.
What feeling should players walk away with?
Relaxation. A calm mind after a stressful day.
Looking Ahead
Future plans?
Regular free content updates post-launch.
Dream collab?
Future Friends Games — they’ve put out some great indies.
What’s next after Serene Ponds?
This is just the first of a series of relaxing titles SnowScape has planned.
🙏 Huge thanks to SnowScape Studios for taking the time to chat with us about Serene Ponds! Make sure to follow them on Steam and join their Discord to keep up with the latest updates.
Want to see your own game featured in an RGS Indie Dev Interview? Get in touch with us — we’d love to share your story with our community!