

Ep. 040 - How He Sold 15,000,000 Copies Of His Games (Thomas Mahler)
Mar 28, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Thomas Mahler, the mastermind behind Ori and The Blind Forest, shares his journey from Blizzard to indie game development. He delves into the intricacies of crafting metroidvania games, balancing artistic vision with player expectations. Mahler emphasizes the importance of captivating design and innovation, while also exploring the challenges and rewards of indie development. The conversation touches on the impact of AI on creativity and the significance of community feedback. He reflects on personal successes and the future of his latest project, No Rest for the Wicked.
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Episode notes
Complexity of Metroidvania Design
- Thomas Mahler explained the challenge of creating connected world design in Metroidvania games.
- He illustrated this with the example of how changes in one level affect others, making it a complex riddle to solve.
Rethinking Game Hooks
- Thomas Mahler believes that the 'hook' concept in games is often misunderstood and can't be easily defined.
- He emphasized tuning gameplay mechanics so the feel is perfect, beyond just creating a quick hook.
Talent Is Overrated, Work Matters
- Thomas Mahler dismisses innate talent and values perseverance and hard work as keys to success.
- He encourages making simple projects first to understand the effort required and build perseverance.