ISSUE 07 — NOV 2026
Builds · Essays · Experiments
SCORE 0420

I build things, break them, and write down what I learn.

SOLARGROVE

Solar Grove

v0.9.3

IN THE LAB

Exploration / Platformer

A short, atmospheric adventure about ruins, growth, and what’s left behind.

STACKRUSH

Stack Rush

v1.2.0

SHIPPED

Puzzle / Arcade

A fast, score-chasing puzzle game about staying in the flow.

LABRAT

Labrat

v0.4.1

IN THE LAB

Experimental / Sim

A tiny lab sim for tinkering, prototyping, and running questionable experiments.

A newspaper for builders, thinkers, and curious players.

The Levvy Times

Vol. 1 — Issue 07 — November 12, 2026 Builds · Essays · Experiments Free

The lead story

Tiny Worlds, Big Lessons

How building small games teaches engineering, design, and patience.

Small games are a bit of a cheat code. They're simple enough to finish, but still complex enough to teach you something real. Over the past year, I've built a handful of tiny worlds — from quiet exploration games to odd little simulations — and each one has taught me lessons that scale far beyond their size.

The biggest lesson is about scope. A limited, clear scope is freedom, not a constraint. When the world is small, every system has to earn its place. You're forced to make deliberate trade-offs: what to build, what to cut, and what actually creates a meaningful experience.

I also learn more about the craft itself. Things like movement feel, level pacing, and atmosphere are easier to experiment with in a small game. You can try a weird idea, see it in action within minutes, and decide whether it's worth developing further. That tight loop is incredibly valuable — it turns game design into an ongoing conversation instead of a high-stakes bet.

Continued on page 4 →
The lab Experiments, prototypes, and ongoing investigations.
EXP-174 // Input (move your cursor)
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TIME
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Experiment log
  • 2026-11-11EXP-174Sprite lighting (v3)
  • 2026-11-09EXP-173Procedural ruins pass
  • 2026-11-06EXP-172Game feel: jump curves
  • 2026-11-03EXP-171Notes on creative fatigue
  • …
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