Technical designer making queer indie games. Passionate about accessibility and telling stories that matter. Find my work at https://elana.games! 🎮🏳️‍🌈✨https://bsky.app/profile/elanamakesgames.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/elanamakesgames.bsky.social/post/3mrl6twnyrs26Don’t mind me over here, watching this trailer on loop, for a game that may never get made… What a bleak reflection on this industry, that not even a beautiful and captivating prototype like this, from a beloved indie studio with a wildly devoted fanbase, can get funded! 😭 [contains quote post or other embedded content]26 Jul 2026 20:10 +0000at://did:plc:cwjkpt2wf7xeioihomp65q6t/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrl6twnyrs26https://bsky.app/profile/elanamakesgames.bsky.social/post/3mny5kftjek2jI love reviewing all your clever, creative, experimental indie games! Please keep them coming! [contains quote post or other embedded content]11 Jun 2026 02:11 +0000at://did:plc:cwjkpt2wf7xeioihomp65q6t/app.bsky.feed.post/3mny5kftjek2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/elanamakesgames.bsky.social/post/3mimqpj6vf22oKitty heard I was grayboxing and couldn’t resist getting in on the box action03 Apr 2026 22:16 +0000at://did:plc:cwjkpt2wf7xeioihomp65q6t/app.bsky.feed.post/3mimqpj6vf22ohttps://bsky.app/profile/elanamakesgames.bsky.social/post/3mgxyxjklu22wWhat a delightfully (and deliciously 🫐) sassy way to respond to having your work stolen by an AI company!13 Mar 2026 22:52 +0000at://did:plc:cwjkpt2wf7xeioihomp65q6t/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgxyxjklu22whttps://bsky.app/profile/elanamakesgames.bsky.social/post/3mgjonvd3gc2mThis flight’s nearly empty so the crew’s just cracking jokes: “We’re about to dim the cabin lights. So if you’re scared of the dark… um… just look up, and you’ll find a button to turn on a light? Adds a little ambiance, a little touch of romance. If you don’t like romance, DON’T TURN ON THAT LIGHT”08 Mar 2026 06:11 +0000at://did:plc:cwjkpt2wf7xeioihomp65q6t/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgjonvd3gc2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/elanamakesgames.bsky.social/post/3mgbzf3mem22jPlease just assume that my badge at every games conference always says this [contains quote post or other embedded content]05 Mar 2026 05:01 +0000at://did:plc:cwjkpt2wf7xeioihomp65q6t/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgbzf3mem22jhttps://bsky.app/profile/elanamakesgames.bsky.social/post/3mgatxccios2ySo psyched & grateful to return to GDC this year, as part of the delegation from @womeningamesnyc.bsky.social! 🌁🎮👩‍💻 [contains quote post or other embedded content]04 Mar 2026 17:52 +0000at://did:plc:cwjkpt2wf7xeioihomp65q6t/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgatxccios2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/elanamakesgames.bsky.social/post/3me57hj56rs2pPSA: The key replicas that @iam8bit.com produced for @blueprincegame.bsky.social are not only screen accurate but absolutely GORGEOUS! 🗝️😍 Sure, ok, the Prism Key doesn’t actually radiate rainbows IRL. But today, with the help of a window prism and some afternoon sunlight, I fixed that ☀️💎🌈05 Feb 2026 20:17 +0000at://did:plc:cwjkpt2wf7xeioihomp65q6t/app.bsky.feed.post/3me57hj56rs2phttps://bsky.app/profile/elanamakesgames.bsky.social/post/3mdvgez37kk2jFinally finished Blue Prince. (FINISHED finished. You know, not the first, second, third, or fourth endings. The actual one. Maybe 🌀) Masterpiece of a game, but I’m so ready for my brain to stop seeking clues in every grid-shaped thing. (And if I never see the color blue again, it’ll be too soon 😆)02 Feb 2026 17:59 +0000at://did:plc:cwjkpt2wf7xeioihomp65q6t/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdvgez37kk2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/elanamakesgames.bsky.social/post/3m7joqbcjj22q@natmesnard.bsky.social & I had a great time chatting with Zoey on True Avatars, her weekly podcast about queer games! It was a fun convo that got into some serious issues - from puzzle design & “MetroidBrainias,” to fascism & queer erasure. Find the full interview (both audio & video) linked below! [contains quote post or other embedded content]09 Dec 2025 04:16 +0000at://did:plc:cwjkpt2wf7xeioihomp65q6t/app.bsky.feed.post/3m7joqbcjj22qhttps://bsky.app/profile/elanamakesgames.bsky.social/post/3m2pm7hzmxs2qSome locals just drove by, selling pumpkins out of their pickup truck. Somehow I scored a lil pumpkin for free, just by laughing at their hilarious sales pitch? (I wonder what tipped them off I might want it… 🎃🍂😅)08 Oct 2025 21:41 +0000at://did:plc:cwjkpt2wf7xeioihomp65q6t/app.bsky.feed.post/3m2pm7hzmxs2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/elanamakesgames.bsky.social/post/3lzr2fwj7a22gOn my way to @qgcon.bsky.social, and the first leg of my flight to Montréal is behind schedule. The pilot has reassured us he’ll “try to take any shortcuts we can.” Can’t wait to see how this guy folds space and time to shortcut us through the sky!26 Sep 2025 18:02 +0000at://did:plc:cwjkpt2wf7xeioihomp65q6t/app.bsky.feed.post/3lzr2fwj7a22ghttps://bsky.app/profile/elanamakesgames.bsky.social/post/3ls7ehw43b22fBeen learning so much and meeting some amazing people at NarraScope this weekend! If you're around, and happen to be a mortal creature like myself, you might enjoy my talk on death-positive narrative design this afternoon (1:30 ET, URBN Center 141, more details at https://narrascope.org/schedule/#talk90) 💀🎲🖤22 Jun 2025 15:18 +0000at://did:plc:cwjkpt2wf7xeioihomp65q6t/app.bsky.feed.post/3ls7ehw43b22fhttps://bsky.app/profile/elanamakesgames.bsky.social/post/3lrj2flau4s2gIf I had a nickel for every queer engineer I know who worked at Amazon for many years, wanted a change of culture, founded an inclusive game studio, then eventually got snatched up by Anthropic… I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice!13 Jun 2025 18:19 +0000at://did:plc:cwjkpt2wf7xeioihomp65q6t/app.bsky.feed.post/3lrj2flau4s2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/elanamakesgames.bsky.social/post/3lqdawmoqlc2jCheck out all these amazing games made right here in NY! 🏙️🎮🤩 Some of the most diverse & innovative work in indie games is happening here, and I’m so proud that Banned Together (my upcoming queer mystery game about book banning) is featured here for wishlisting: store.steampowered.com/sale/GamesinNY https://store.steampowered.com/sale/GamesinNY29 May 2025 17:35 +0000at://did:plc:cwjkpt2wf7xeioihomp65q6t/app.bsky.feed.post/3lqdawmoqlc2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/elanamakesgames.bsky.social/post/3loowtbdzss2hTrying to be cryptic here, to prevent spoilers for a certain puzzle game I happen to be obsessed with lately, but… I just found my 7th red letter, and it feels like a *wild* coincidence that that happened today, of all days!? If you know, you know 🩵👑😉08 May 2025 22:16 +0000at://did:plc:cwjkpt2wf7xeioihomp65q6t/app.bsky.feed.post/3loowtbdzss2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/elanamakesgames.bsky.social/post/3lnjojyourc2iIf, like me, you’re a big fan of @noclipvideo.bsky.social, @2playerproductions.bsky.social, and quality documentaries about indie games, this is for you! (Of course, I may be a little biased, since I’m working on this project, and Myst is very dear to my heart 📚🎥) [contains quote post or other embedded content]24 Apr 2025 02:39 +0000at://did:plc:cwjkpt2wf7xeioihomp65q6t/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnjojyourc2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/elanamakesgames.bsky.social/post/3llxgasufu22oAs someone making a game about books, I felt lucky to attend *multiple* events this week at the intersection of games & writing: the launch of @jeannethornton.bsky.social’s novel A/S/L, steeped in digital nostalgia, and @ashleybardhan.bsky.social’s delightful “video game reading night” about love!04 Apr 2025 02:57 +0000at://did:plc:cwjkpt2wf7xeioihomp65q6t/app.bsky.feed.post/3llxgasufu22ohttps://bsky.app/profile/elanamakesgames.bsky.social/post/3llhx7d7fwk2yBeing a game designer isn't about getting things right the first time: it's about trying something out, listening to playtesters, trusting your team, then trying again! Here's my dev log about the evolution of a rhythm game at @bolerogamestudio.bsky.social: https://bolerogamestudio.itch.io/old-and-gray/devlog/908249/unpacking-the-game-design-process-of-old-gray28 Mar 2025 23:18 +0000at://did:plc:cwjkpt2wf7xeioihomp65q6t/app.bsky.feed.post/3llhx7d7fwk2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/elanamakesgames.bsky.social/post/3lkooqdkvf22oHey that’s us! Come check out our new gameplay if you’re around tonight 📚🌈✨ [contains quote post or other embedded content]18 Mar 2025 22:10 +0000at://did:plc:cwjkpt2wf7xeioihomp65q6t/app.bsky.feed.post/3lkooqdkvf22ohttps://bsky.app/profile/elanamakesgames.bsky.social/post/3lkh7dism522lThe fact my suitcase looks like this when packing for a conference makes me confident I’m in the right industry 🎮🎭 Can’t wait to see everyone at GDC!15 Mar 2025 22:46 +0000at://did:plc:cwjkpt2wf7xeioihomp65q6t/app.bsky.feed.post/3lkh7dism522l