CAULDRON CAT GAMES

20s | solo queer indie dev

[cauldroncatgames]

Hello! This is the tumblr of Cauldron Cat Games! I'm a queer artist and solo indie dev, and make games focusing on romance and fantasy/scifi.

I’m also available for character commissions, sprite work, CGs, and promo art, including concept art or commercial work. Find my commission info here.

🌠Play my games here! 🌠

Patreon | Carrd (commission info + editing work) | dev bluesky | art tumblr | art bluesky

✦ Resonance in Orbit is a scifi romance VN.  A high-stakes intergalactic peace conference takes a turn for the worse when you, along with your crew, get mixed up in a dangerous power struggle..

✦ The Summit Library is a multi-chapter romance/fantasy VN. Find your way in a Library that's falling apart, an Empire on the brink of war, and a dangerous magical mystery you've been tasked to solve. Discover secrets, unravel mysteries, and find love in a magical Library.

✦ A Tavern at Night is a short and sweet game where you find shelter from the rain and strike up conversation with a somewhat terrifying mercenary.

✦ A Tavern at Night: Firelight continues your adventure with Azram — except it’s almost time to go your separate ways. To commemorate your final night together you suggest reading him his fortune, but neither of you are particularly looking forward to saying goodbye...

[powerofpridebundle]

It's here! The Power of Pride Bundle 2026 is now live on Itchio! All in support of 284 queer creators and their 396 creations.

View the bundle on Itchio here (until July 6):

$60 Bundle: https://itch.io/b/3682/the-power-of-pride-bundle-2026-60-edition

$10 Pay-What-You-Can: https://itch.io/b/3684/the-power-of-pride-bundle-2026-10-pwyc-edition

[cauldroncatgames]

may devlog

Hi friends,

In preparation for the Power of Pride bundle launching real soon, here's an exciting update:

Resonance in Orbit's DEMO has gotten a small upgrade!

Yay!!! 🥳🌈

I and many others were very saddened to see that the Queer Games Bundle stopped running, but I'm so happy that others have stepped up with the Power of Pride. The bundle will run from June 1 until July 6--I really recommend checking it out once it's live! I'll post reminders to do so here as well.

There's a pay-what-you-can edition as well as the bundle at full-price. Please take a look and consider tossing a coin to all the amazing queer creators on there!

onto the meat of the devlog:

This update was long overdue--missing links, the new studio name, and all the previously missing backgrounds have now been added! Along with some other things. Bug fixes, several display issues, a few changes in other visual assets like the MC's sprite and CGs, and my forever nemesis: typo corrections.

No new content (yet), but I've been working really hard on something else that I'll be able to share more of here real soon! Until then, here's a little peek to tide you over.

much love,

--cauldron cat

[cauldroncatgames]

April 2026 devlog

Hi friends,

Bathak's and Erusk's negotiation parts have been completed! And Janssen's has been planned out to match--I just need to write it. This is very mild spoiler territory, so tread carefully, but there will be three main scene variations you can get here. You can talk to one of your opponents alone (1) or with an ally, the latter of which can be successful (2) or a failure (3) depending on previous choices you made in game. That's six scenes down, three more to go!

tfw when the group project feels a solo op 🥀

a job offer? in this economy?

I've also worked some more on the last bighuge demo background, but I expect it'll take me a while longer until it's finished.

And--oh, hmm... What's that?

Surely nothing.

One minor last thing: I updated the game files for A Tavern at Night: Firelight in the hopes that this would fix the lack of audio some people have been experiencing. The audio is a little on the quieter and minimal side in this game, but I really hope that you can now at least hear it! So sorry that this was an issue, and for the delay in trying to find a fix.

that's all for now!

-- cauldron cat

[cauldroncatgames]

eek sorry this is gonna be a lot but I just wanted to pop in to say I absolutely adore resonance in orbit! At first, I passed it by on your page when I was wondering what other games the creator of a tavern at night had created. I haven't gotten to tavern at night yet only because I know the moment I open it, I won't be able to put it down because Azram ticks all of my boxes then I'll end up OBSESSED and unable to get any work done (˃̣̣̥ᯅ˂̣̣̥) yet I fear that's already happened with RiO. since I really liked your art style and am always on the hunt for Amares I went to check on your page. I saw RiO and was so ready to just pop it into my list for later when I'm more free until I saw Naseem in the cover. My jaw fell. I read the sypnosis, saw the cast AND OH MY GOD CUSTOMIZABLE MC and I don't remember the last time I hit the download button that fast. From then on was a downwards slope, I played it, got unexpectedly charmed by Cipher as my MC spent time with them, made heart eyes at Amarak, enjoyed Ethan's arms 🤤- Uh, I mean his amazing cooking, found a second favorite in Nikolai and patiently waited for Naseem's arrival. Oh and Wolf was there I guess... Met Naseem, fell even harder. I only met them two days ago but now I find myself occasionally staring at their character sprite and sighing dreamily and gushing. I fear I have not touched any schoolwork since them because Resonance in Orbit reminded me just how much I found joy in otome/amare games and I've just been mass downloading other Amares to comfort the distress and restlessness I've been in ever since I saw that the demo ended shortly after Naseem's arrival. Gah! I don't mean this to pressure you but just as a way to convey how much I love this game! It's been so long since a demo has left me on my toes like this, wanting for more. I wake up in the mornings (or noon), and I think about Naseem and their beautiful hair and their beautiful face and their beautiful garments and oh did I mention beautiful hair? I sigh wistfully looking out at my window as I stare at the sprite of Naseem in my phone gallery in my favorites folder. Yikes, this was all a lot but I just really wanted to say how much I can't wait for this game! It's seriously been so long since I played an Amare and fell for a character this bad (⸝⸝๑ ̫ ๑⸝⸝⸝) The cast of characters are all so wonderful and I just really want to thank you for making this game! 𓇗

this is so absurdly sweet, what an absolute treat to open my inbox to!! 🥹❤️ thank you so much for your kind words, that's so wonderful to hear! also--big same LOL once I really get into a game it will possess me and I won't have eyes for anything else. I understand 🤝

I'm so thrilled that you enjoyed the cast so far! and I laughed out loud at the "oh and Wolf was there. I guess" this is exactly the appropriate energy to put out to him. Naseem is glowing in your praise, and will make sure to put extra care into making their hair look nice... just in case it catches your eye yk... and they're matching you wistful sigh for yearnful gaze. of course. and maybe they'll find another excuse to get you to spend just a little longer with them, even if it's for work...

please always feel free to yap or gush or anything, hearing this kind of feedback is one of the most motivating things in an otherwise solitary hobby! 🥰

[herotome]

Devlog #210

Hi-ho, Wudge here. Hoo, devlog time.

I added checkpoints to Griffin's and Warden's 1x1 scenes.

I wrote new lines for Dart's scene.

I backed up my files.

I coded in a special ~textbox portrait~ screen.

I'm gonna talk more about that last bullet point. So! The final PSD file I commissioned from @cauldroncatgames looks like this:

Gorgeous UI work. I exported this file into the following layers:

The black backmost shape, a copy of that shape for sprite masking, the horizontal lines, and the topmost yellow outline.

(I'm pretty sure I can delete the "Copy" of the yellow outline, but I gotta double check my code first.)

I heavily referenced Fenik's code here! https://feniksdev.com/how-to-mask-images-in-renpy/

But uh... I need this portrait to display several different sprites, thus my work continues.

I begin with Gemini, who is the easiest to work with bc she is a flat image with no layers.

It took me a minute to mask her in properly (you can see the rest of her torso sticking out of the bottom), and I also needed to adjust the actual dialogue text to move over to the right whenever she speaks. (You can see it cuts off "The" and just says "pleasure's all mine." in the screenshot here.)

This takes some trial and error, but ultimately is not too difficult.

Then comes Daeng, the first actual layered image sprite I'm working with for the textbox portrait. And ohhh my gosh. He gave me a hard time!

Do you see him?

Right there! That! Look at that!!! What is he doing?!?! Why is he hiding behind the textbox??????

It took me a loooong time to notice a pivotal clue... the slant of the line where he's "cut off" is perfectly parallel to the shape of the textbox portrait.

...which means Daeng's shape is not properly aligned with the textbox portrait. He's not hiding really, he's just been pushed way to the left.

So yeah, I was ultimately able to get him to show up properly and I added a lil shadow to his face, but it took several hours to reposition him and troubleshoot wth was going on lol.

After clearing things up with Daeng though, plugging in other sprites was fairly straightforward.

...And I think that about covers it for now. I'll be reblogging this post with some more images of visual goofs that I screenshotted while coding, so keep an eye out for that.

Stay safe and keep warm,

Wudge.

[herotome]

wanted to check to see if the game is still being worked on (especially with how much work you no doubt have to put into in based on just how impressive the demo is) and it's amazing that it is!! i absolutely love your characters, and have since the first demo! hope you're still getting lots of rest though!!

lol yes I am married to Herotome; in sickness and in health till death do us part and all that. Its my old ball and chain... (It's not sexist when it's inanimate right--)

I'm getting a decent amount of rest, I think? It can be a struggle sometimes. Thank you for the well wishes!

On that note, this is actually a great opportunity for me to say that I'd like to take a rest (ha) from writing the devlog this week, because I worked on so much and don't feel up to listing it all out 😂 Here is a preview though:

~The Textbox Portrait!~

The actual yellow portrait box UI is drawn by my friend @cauldroncatgames , who you may know by their previous name of qkayoo!

This is a mechanic I have been pecking at for a longgggg time-- and I think I mentioned it and showed off concepts in previous devlogs-- but it is finally here! ...After I spent all day coding and troubleshooting, plus using some code I already had written from over a year ago.

When you get a phone call or video call from a character, or if a character is speaking from offscreen (eg, from the backseat of a car while you are facing forwards), you can still see their face in a lil textbox window. <3

This portrait can blink and change expressions and outfits, just like a regular standing sprite.

More on this later. Thank you for the sweet message anon, I wish you well!

[cauldroncatgames]

devlog 25

Hi friends,

Dun dun dun... One BAD END has been completed! Exciting!

The variables are a little crazy for this one because there's so many ways to get to this ending, but for now I'm pretending I'm not the one who will have to deal with programming all that.

I've also spent some time working on the sprites for Aitan (left) and Shioko (right). Remember these? They're going to be your allies, and pretty crucial for whether or not you get that bad ending!

I imagine I'll be stuck here for a while filling out all the different possible options for if you choose x y or z during the negotiating period, after which it is, once again, background time (help).

And one last thing--as per this month, I'm going to be making monthly devlogs instead of twice a month. It'll free up time to work on the game, and the actual devlog will (hopefully) be more fun when I've got more things to show at the end of each month. Patreon schedule remains unchanged! You'll still get a monthly preview and short story.

That's all for now!

-- cauldron cat

[carziecat-blog]

Its here ^-^ just a demo and verg short and incomplete but I made the deadline at leats

Write In For Love Demo by Carziecat

You should date your ex

[herotome]

I'm so mcfreaking late to the party -- you guys should play this demo WRITE IN FOR LOVE!! You'll get to see a couple of very special surprise cameos/easter eggs ahem ahem

[heraldic-thunderbolt]

"history will absolve me" as the e-mail signature

[cauldroncatgames]

devlog 24

Hi friends,

I did a bunch more writing the past week! Wolf's encounter is starting to fill up nicely, and I've jumped ahead and started on the (many) variations for when you get into the nitty gritty of pairing up with allies and pushing forward in your negotations.

After this the plot will pick up, and I'm very excited to get to this part! Just gotta sit through the in-between stuff that requires careful variable planning.

Cipher's CG is finished, and I sketched out one of the new backgrounds that their date will need. Another background for the demo has also been completed--just one left! Admittedly this will be the biggest one, since it's the big widepan of the satellite, but still!

if you want to use the kitchen you gotta kiss the cook. that's how this works, right?

after this big background grind I'm planning to reward myself with working more on the CGs and ally sprites in between writing.

That's all for now!

-- cauldron cat

[64mpg]

the self is one of the most classic guys to sabotage

[cauldroncatgames]

why am i kinda getting yandere vibes from cipher...

heh heh... that would be because your spidey senses are correct!! 🌚 out of all the LIs Cipher is the most yandere adjacent. a friend once described him to me as "ah the jester with a knife under his hat" which made me laugh very hard. because it's true. 🥀

[cauldroncatgames]

FIRST TRY HAHAHA HAH LET'S GOOOOO

hahaha YAAAAY! I mean, duh... Wolf is clearly the best choice, so obviously he's going to be the first. gotta show the rest how it's done.

[cauldroncatgames]

happy valentines!! 💐

who in the RiO crew will get your confession? 🥰

[cauldroncatgames]

since it's right around the corner... how would the RIO love interests want to celebrate valentine's day with the MC? feel free to decide if this is pre or post-established relationship haha

(hope dev work is going smoothly and sending motivation your way!)

this is such a cute ask, thank you!! 🥹 (and thank you for the encouragement! <3)

let’s see… assuming we’re in established relationship territory, on Valentine’s—

🌹Amarak gets you flowers and an afternoon cleared of all work and responsibilities. If you want to go somewhere, she'll take you there. If there's something you've been wanting to do, she'll do it with you. Doesn't matter what it is, as long as it makes you smile.

🌹Wolf pretends not to know what day it is (🙄). Valenwhatnow? Only once you start getting annoyed with him does he drop the act and let you in on what he’s planned: going out for drinks, market stall food, and enjoying the local nightlife together.

🌹Cipher makes you chocolate from scratch. They have to enlist Ethan’s help, the kitchen looks like a nuclear wasteland, and the presentation is questionable (it's supposed to be what...?)--but it tastes great. "Made with love, duh."

🌹Ethan will give a cheesy handwritten card including an invitation to a three-course homecooked dinner. It’ll quickly become clear that he’s following a how-to guide he found online, and is determined to go through the entire list.

🌹Nikolai will give you a very thoughtful gift. Something that you've mentioned in passing and will use a lot, like gloves, a hairpin, or a notebook and pen for work. Whatever it is will be exactly to your tastes and very beautifully wrapped.

🌹Naseem pulls some family strings to take you someplace stupidly exclusive and expensive. A high-rise restaurant where the menus don’t list their prices, for example, with a big bouquet of your favourite flowers waiting for you on the table.

[cauldroncatgames]

devlog 23

Hi friends,

No devlog last week, sorry about that! Real life got too busy and before I knew it a whole week had passed. Consequently I haven't been able to work on RiO as much, but I still got some things done!

Cipher's CG is making good progress. His date ended up being one of the most fun to work on so far, so I'm trying to match that feeling with their CG 🥹

it's you!

And I did a little bit of writing for some gaps I previously was stuck on, like filling in choices for Naseem's date and one of the instances where you get to talk to your NGC allies. Next up is (finally) finishing the backgrounds for the demo, and pushing onwards with the plot!

That's all for now!

-- cauldron cat