Tiny Fishing Villages

Hello everyone!

My name is Silviu, and I’m the founder of Ludus Pax Studios - a small indie studio I started in November 2023 while finishing my Computer Games Development degree at the University of the West of Scotland. While many of my classmates dreamed of joining established studios, my dream was to build one of my own.

It hasn’t been easy. Funding has been extremely competitive, and creating “more‑than‑games” - projects with community, wellbeing, or cultural impact - can be difficult to pitch as commercially strong. But this is the work I believe in. I want to make games that help people, celebrate communities, and shine a light on stories that are often overlooked.

I’m now a stay‑at‑home dad, looking after my daughter and son during the day and working on my studio at night and on weekends. It’s tough, but it’s my passion. My long‑term goal is to grow Ludus Pax Studios into a small team of three. When I’m not developing or spending time with family, I’m usually out walking my dog Sammy - my daily reset.

Despite the challenges, I’ve built three commercial games almost entirely on my own, with no external funding and only occasional volunteer help:

Rise of the Village Hero

My first game - an RPG I began as a university project. I launched it in Early Access in January 2024 and released the full version in March 2025. You can look it up here on Steam:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2737960/Rise_of_the_Village_Hero/

Path to Serenity

Originally planned as a CBT‑supported wellbeing game in collaboration with UWS Psychology department. When funding didn’t come through, I scoped it down and released a cosy walking simulator experience focused on mental health and reflection in June 2025.

You can check it out here on Steam:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3265030/Path_to_Serenity/

Tiny Terra Spaces

My third game, secured support from a Glasgow prestigious University, we would have started collaborating and working together with them advising on accuracy and helping me add Gaelic to the game. Inspired by Scottish island history. Funding didn’t materialise, but I finished it mostly solo. Despite that, it achieved some wonderful milestones:

• Featured by IGN and Showcased at IndieMania 3

• Featured  "Game of the Week" by 80 Level

You can check out the game here:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3788070/Tiny_Terra_Spaces/

These achievements mean a lot for a one‑person studio.

⭐ My Next Project: Tiny Fishing Villages

I’m now working on my fourth commercial game: Tiny Fishing Villages. I’m building on everything I learned from Tiny Terra Spaces -reworking and expanding my own codebase, adapting systems, and creating new mechanics for a land‑based cosy builder.

This project is close to my heart. Fishing communities in Scotland are incredibly resilient, hardworking, and often overlooked. Many of us enjoy the food they provide without realising the danger, skill, and dedication behind it. My goal is to celebrate these communities through a warm, cosy game that honours their locations, culture, and spirit.

To make this possible, I’m raising funds to support development time and to hire freelance artists who can help bring the world to life.

Thank you for reading this longer update and for supporting my tiny studio. If you’re able to pledge, it truly means the world to me.

Thanks again - see you in the next update.

 Silviu