This Upcoming Metroidvania Looks Incredible | Lantern Jump

In this episode of Tech Over Tea, host Rudy Robertson interviews Tommy and Justin, the core developers behind the upcoming indie metroidvania game Goldstained, developed by the studio Lantern Jump. The conversation dives deep into the game's design philosophy, emphasizing tight combat mechanics, fair difficulty, and visual clarity inspired by titles like Hyper Light Drifter and Dark Souls. The duo shares their journey from high school friends and game jam collaborators to a fully functioning indie team living together, highlighting both the benefits and challenges of working with close friends on a passion project. They discuss their modular development approach, the importance of player feedback from their Sage convention demo, and how they iterated on core mechanics like stamina systems and weapon throw/retraction. The team also reflects on their choice of Godot as their engine, the technical hurdles they’ve overcome—including a surprising loading time fix caused by pre-processed particle effects—and their commitment to accessibility and open-source values. With a public demo planned for later this year and a full release targeted for two years after, the developers express optimism about their game’s potential while urging aspiring creators to simply start making things. The episode underscores the delicate balance between ambition and practicality in indie development. The team’s willingness to cut features that don’t add meaningful depth—like their now-removed stamina bar—demonstrates a mature design mindset. Their focus on player experience, from clear attack tells to thoughtful color contrast, reveals a deep understanding of genre expectations. Despite the challenges of remote collaboration and self-motivation, the developers remain driven by skill growth and creative expression. The conversation ends on an encouraging note, with the team urging others to prioritize action over endless learning, emphasizing that making something tangible is the best way to grow. The episode concludes with a warm endorsement of Goldstained’s early promise and a heartfelt sign-off from the developers.