🌱 Space Sprouts: A Cozy Sci-Fi Adventure | Schleuder Talks Community, Creativity, and Finding Your Way
Sometimes a game comes along that’s tough to pin down. For Space Sprouts, that’s what makes it unforgettable.
Sometimes a game comes along that’s tough to pin down. For Space Sprouts, that’s what makes it unforgettable. The latest (and first) release from indie team Schleuder Games, isn’t just another sci-fi adventure. It’s a cozy, playful, sandbox-style journey across the stars, built around self-discovery, exploration, and a healthy dose of gravity based puzzles.
I had the chance to sit down with Torben, Schleuder Games’ co-founder, art director, and overall creative powerhouse, to talk about how Space Sprouts came to life. We chatted about why community, creativity, and staying true to their artistic vision mattered more than fitting into any traditional definition of what a genre could be. I argue Space Sprouts carved a genre of its' own!
🎮 What is Space Sprouts?
At its heart, Space Sprouts is a loop-based exploration game where players take on the role of Oda, a young traveler leaving the safety of home to forge a new future among the stars. As you drift through your quirky solarpunk spaceship, you’ll experiment with a truly wide range of objects and rooms from weight plates to rockets you can ride. At the same time, uncovering a heartfelt coming-of-age story that resonated with me deeply.
It’s not quite a puzzle game, not quite a platformer, and definitely not a roguelike (although it flirts with all three). Instead, Space Sprouts carves out its own cozy, sandbox-y space, full of secrets to uncover as you play through again and again.
“We really wanted the ship to feel like a safe playground,” Torben shared. “There’s no enemies, it's not a horror game. You can just try things, explore, and figure out your own path.”
🛠️ From Tiny Sketches to a Living World
The whimsical world of Space Sprouts actually started years ago with simple sketches of little people living alongside plants in futuristic pods. That solar-punk aesthetic stuck with Torben who was deeply inspired by Jean Giraud's solar-punk, sci-fi illustrations. These illustrations eventually bloomed into a full game when Schleuder Games officially formed.
“I’d been drawing these cozy, plant-based spaces for a long time. When we talked about game ideas, it just felt natural to bring them to life.”
One of the biggest challenges the team faced was preserving the organic, handmade feeling of those early drawings while still building something playable. Rather than rigid or tile-based levels, the ship feels hand-crafted and alive, encouraging players to explore every nook and cranny.
Space Sprouts’ world feels beautifully detailed and intentional, striking a rare balance between artistic vision and playful, interactive design.
💬 Community Matters
Because Schleuder Games is a fully remote team, Discord naturally became their development home and later, the heart of their growing community.
“We were already used to spending all day in Discord. So moving that energy into our community server just made sense.”
Listening closely to early players shaped much of Space Sprouts’ final design. Torben shared that even small moments, like players trying to use scissors to cut vines, inspired new interactions and memories inside the game. Nothing delights them more than seeing players explore the chaos of the ship.
On their bucket list: a speedrun (any readers eager to try?!)
🚀 What's Next for Schleuder Games?
While Space Sprouts is a finished experience that stands strong on its own, the team is navigating marketing and reaching their ideal playerbase. Honestly, these are just people who want to have a fun experience like we did here at IGO Headquarters.
“Marketing is tough,” Torben laughed, “but seeing people find joy in the game? That’s been the best part.”
At its core, Schleuder Games' philosophy remains refreshingly simple: make something playful, beautiful, and meaningful. Don’t stress about chasing trends.
🌟 Final Thoughts
If you’re craving a truly unique, rad-looking, heartfelt, and completely original adventure through space, Space Sprouts deserves a spot on your radar. It’s the kind of indie gem that leaves a lasting impression. It's one I'll be thinking about for months to come.
You can grab Space Sprouts on Steam here! (and make sure you leave a review!!!)
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