Void Sails by indie developer Ticking Clock Games is a single-player action-adventure RPG that takes players on a thrilling journey through mysterious worlds, where they captain a flying ship across uncharted space. The game’s story is rich in lore, offering a narrative where every decision can either bring you closer to hidden truths or drag you deeper into madness.
The seed for Void Sails was planted during one of the team’s early brainstorming sessions. According to Carlos Casals, 3D Artist and Co-founder of Ticking Clock Games, “We were throwing around all sorts of mechanics and game genres, but we kept coming back to one image; a flying ship.” He continues, “It gave us major Treasure Planet vibes, but we wanted to add some Lovecraftian twist to it and that’s when we knew: this was the debut game we wanted to make.”
With the initial idea of a flying ship as their foundation, the Ticking Clock Games team set out to create an action-adventure RPG where choices shape the story and players get to fly and upgrade the ship, meet interesting characters and uncover some dark secrets in unexpected places. “From there, we kept exploring and experimenting, refining the concept into a story-driven adventure where players have real narrative agency aboard their flying ship,” says Casals
Meet deadlines
Ticking Clock Games was founded in the summer of 2023 by Game Designer Roman Gushcha and Casals, who met while working in Poland. “Shortly after, our Programmer Janusz Kozakiewicz joined us, forming our core team of three,” Casals explains. Although the studio is officially based in Dubai, UAE, the team works fully remotely from different parts of the world, including Spain and Poland. The name Ticking Clock Games has a special meaning to the team. “It’s our little reminder to stay on track and push changes on time!”
When asked about the feature of the game they’re most proud of, Casals has a tough time picking just one. However, he shares an interesting anecdote about the game’s ship controls. “For a while, controlling the ship just felt… off. It wasn’t as responsive as we wanted,” he says. “The big breakthrough? Tilt! Now, whenever the ship changes direction, it tilts accordingly, making movement feel way more dynamic.” This ‘Tilt Scale’, as the team lovingly calls it, has since become an unofficial metric for measuring features in the game. “We ask ourselves, ‘How many tilts is this feature worth?’ It’s a fun way to gauge how something will feel in the game.”
Pretty big ambitions
The visual style of Void Sails was another key area where the team sought a look that suited them best. Casals shares, “For the 3D look, we went with a stylised approach because it gives us more creative freedom while also making the most of my skills. It just felt like the right fit.” In terms of the 2D art, the team was fortunate to find an artist that clicked. “We already had a talented artist in mind, and luckily, their style matched the game perfectly. So, really it was a no-brainer!”
Casals is quick to point out that managing the scope of the project has been one of the most challenging aspects of development. “With a small team and some pretty big ambitions, balancing priorities, time, and skills has been tough… and still is!” To stay focused and prevent themselves from getting lost in endless ideas, the team decided on a hard release deadline. “It forces us to evaluate every feature carefully, always weighing it against something else that won’t make the final cut. It keeps us focused and stops us from going down endless rabbit holes.”
Reach the right audience
Over the course of the project, Casals and his team have learned many valuable lessons. “The main one would be to take your time preparing for the project before jumping into it headfirst!” he emphasises. This approach has been key to ensuring that the game stayed on track during the 18 months that it took to build it.
Funding the game has been another challenge for the small studio. “Right now, we’re funding the game ourselves since we don’t have a publisher backing us,” Casals explains. Despite this, the team has been creative in its marketing efforts, utilising ads on platforms like Reddit, creating press kits and participate in Steam Next Fest. “Next up, we want to focus more on engaging with the community and building a stronger connection with players. Gotta make sure Void Sails reaches the right audience!”
Void Sails will be out on 1 May 2025, play the demo now on Steam.