Intimidating Puffin Studios

Development Blog for Intimidating Puffin Studios |More Content on Ko-Fi and Patreon||My Games

[intimidatingpuffinstudios]

Games by Intimidating Puffin Studios (And What They're All About)

Hello, traveller.

Before we dive in, I wanted to share something important about all my games—past, present, and future.

They are character-driven, emotion-first, and romance-focused. These are stories where the heart of the journey lies in the people you meet, the love you grow, and the connection you build.

These stories focus on emotional depth rather than power or spectacle. They offer resonance. They invite you to slow down and feel, rather than race through nonstop action.

They are about being seen, being loved, and being transformed through connection.

If you're here for intense emotional arcs, difficult conversations, found family, complicated love, healing through tenderness, and stories that change you—then you're in the right place. That’s what I write. That’s what I love. I don’t write stories where you always win. I write stories where you feel—deeply, messily, beautifully. Stories about people being complicated, vulnerable, and brave. Stories where softness is a strength, not a flaw.

✨ So if what you’re looking for is emotional storytelling, layered characters, and romance that means something—welcome. You’ve found the right stories.

(If this sounds like the journey you want to take, here are the games I’ve crafted for you…)

The Soul Stone War

The Soul Stone War

Become the Wielder of Soul Stone, an ancient artifact of untold power, and shape the fate of your world. Outrun the past so that you may hav

The Soul Stone War 2

The Soul Stone War 2

Overcome all obstacles by trusting in your own strength, the power of your Soul Stone, and your loyal companions. Become the legend you were

The Soul Stone War 3

The Soul Stone War 3

By the power of your Soul Stone and the strength of your own indomitable soul, uncover secrets held in blood and lead the charge that will c

Beyond The Mist: Beginnings (Just Released!!)

Beyond The Mist: Beginnings by Intimidating Puffin Studios

A visual novel/interactive fiction game set in a world of magic, horror, and intrigue!

[intimidatingpuffinstudios]

The Soul Stone War 4 EA is live!

Guys.

It's here. I can't believe it's actually here. The final game in the series. The culmination to it all. The good, the bad, the soul-wrenching, the breathtaking.

The final piece of the puzzle is now in active development—and the early access for it is live.

It feels surreal to reach this point after seven whole years. But it’s time. We’re ready. And it will be… inevitable.

A few notes first:

—Early access will be available in Twine format. COG regulations only allow one month of EA on Patreon, and that doesn’t align with my Patreon model, so we’re playing it safe and keeping everything in Twine.

—Only Manerkol's and Sielthan's romance routes are currently available in the EA demo. Once those routes are complete, I will start adding the rest.

—The character creator is rudimentary for now, but it will expand as development continues.

—Certain variations aren’t available in the demo yet. You cannot choose to have Eledwen barely conscious at the end of Book 3, or refuse the final fountain confrontation with Sielthan.

So, recap: Twine format. Manerkol and Sielthan routes. Character creator that will grow over time. Eledwen is functional, and the MC has learned the name of the Lost City. With all that said… it’s time to experience it for yourself. Time to give the series the farewell it deserves.

Get access to the demo through Patreon or Ko-Fi, the 16€ tier! Cheers ✨ *

Caught in a spell as you were—the fountain's, the soulmate bond's, or your own relentless yearning—you didn't tell them of your plan to return to the fountain until after you had escaped the jaws of death once more.

[intimidatingpuffinstudios]

Beyond The Mist: Recognition EA is here!

Hey everyone,

The time has come. Early access for the sequel to Beyond The Mist: Beginnings is here! 🤩 The working title is Beyond The Mist: Recognition, though that might change in the future.

I can't tell you how excited I am to release this! Writing Beyond The Mist games feels like coming home to me, and I can't wait for you all to see the MC enjoying their well-earned happily ever after 🥹

A few notes: —there is a small character creator in the beginning of the demo to account for the important choices and roleplay elements from Beginnings.

—the demo only contains static art for now. After Beginnings releases on Steam, I will start commissioning the art for Recognition, so hopefully it won't be much longer!

Thank you all for your unwavering support, and I hope you enjoy this new chapter in the MC, Cy, and Zach's journeys!

Get access to the demo through Patreon or Ko-Fi, the 7€ tier!

Cheers! ✨

*

Your eyes slowly flutter open. You are lying on your side, and all you can see is…skin. Skin that tastes sweet under your lips, soft and smelling of spices and heat. A great, raging fire that nothing can extinguish.

[intimidatingpuffinstudios]

RO POV's April 2026

Hey, everyone! It's time once more! RO POV time~ And these ones just FLOWED out of me, let me tell you! 😍 We have so many flavors this month, and they're all intense.

This month is for Morkai, Eledwen, Cy, and Zach.

Morkai is…coming to terms with something he cannot fix. No more bargaining. No more illusions. Just a raw, desperate need.

“Give me more time. I can’t fix it. I can’t even promise I’ll fix it. But please. Just a little more time.”

Then, there's Eledwen. Eledwen who had accepted death… now learning to trust in something that won't change. Your love.

"You love me. I feel it. I know it."

And for our Beyond The Mist: Beginnings ROs… I leaned into something…sharper. Their dangerous traits. Their never-ending hunger.

Cy's yearning is inhuman, absolute, threatening to swallow the world—yet controlled so precisely that the danger becomes intoxicating. “A monarch. A god. Now yours.”

And for Zach, a moment where the iron-clad control slips and the darkness beneath reveals itself. Something hungry, lurking behind the mask. “Baby… I am obsessed with you. Can you tell?”

Want to read the full scenes? Subscribe to Patreon or Ko-Fi—the 7€ tier for Zach and Cy, and the 16€ tier for Morkai and Eledwen 💖

Cheers, Morgan ✨

*

Cy: “A monarch. A god. Now yours.”

Zach: “Baby… I am obsessed with you. Can you tell?”

Morkai: “Give me more time. I can’t fix it. I can’t even promise I’ll fix it. But please. Just a little more time.”

Eledwen: "You love me. I feel it. I know it."

~*~ P.S. My full progress updates are now posted on Patreon and Ko-Fi (free for all members!). This month’s update has some very exciting news 👀

[interact-if]

Hi, a troll is going around telling people they hate poly route and try to dissuade authors from writing it. Special for that troll, can we list down a recommended IF with poly routes? Thanks 😘

Gosh, that is horrible

Here's some IFs with poly rep!

Completed

Creme de la Creme by @hpowellsmith (Max & Delacroix)

The Fernweh Saga: Book 1 by @lacunafiction (R & J) (I believe Book 2 is a WIP)

Heart of the House by Nissa Campbell (Devan & Loren)

Relics of the Lost Age by @jamesshawgames

Royal Affairs by @hpowellsmith

Siren's Call by @/the-siren-call (Morgan & Rome) (blog seems to be deactivated)

Tally Ho by Kreg Segall (Rory & Frankincense)

WIP

Greenwarden by @fiddles-ifs (Trace & Nazeri) (Nazeri & Bautista)

Magician's Voyage by @magiciansvoyage (Aja & Rem) (Aja & Ines) (Kel & Luc) (Rem & Kel) (Rem & Aja & Ines) (Rem, Luc, Kel)

The King's Hound by @the-kingshound (Arthur & Gwyar) (Arthur & Evaine) (Morien & Gwyar) (Morien & Yniol)

The Lure of the Gallows by @lureofthegallowsgame (Eli & Warren)

Wayfarer by @idrellegames (Mel & Lyrian)

Whisper in the Dark by @whisper-game (Charlie & Isabelle)

On hiatus

An Elemental Existence by @hellojoygames (Sydney & Dani) (probable hiatus from what I can understand)

Sinners and Saints by @linwritesif (Ariel & Sage) (Morgan & Khari) + The Numbers Game (Zero & One) (Zero & Three) (One & Three) (One & Five) (Zero, One, Three, Five) (confirmed hiatus)

Speaker by @speakergame (Li & Sebastian) (last progress update)

Superstition by @13leaguestories (Sydero & Amari) (Season 1 is getting a rewrite so I am putting it under hiatus for now)

The One Chosen by @parrotwatcher (Ædmund & Helena) (Charlie & Kevin) (Xiulan & Dahlia) (Teri & Max)

[threadbare-stories-if]

Yay! Please reblog with another recommendation if you have!

Tagging @bloodlines-if as my recommendation for having poly routes in the story

[ollifree]

Two of my favorite IFs are "The Stone Soul Wars" (Daelynn & Eledwen) (Daelynn & Morkai) (Morkai & Straasa) and "Beyond the Mist" (Cy & Zach) both are written by @intimidatingpuffinstudios

[intimidatingpuffinstudios]

Thank you so much, @ollifree !!🥹❤️✨️

This list features amazing games and polys!

[intimidatingpuffinstudios]

You know, I was thinking of Cy lately (as one does lol)--about their morality to be exact.

You'd think that Cy is chaos incarnate with a desire to just destroy, but they're actually not.

Cy does have a morality--it's just entirely self-referential 👀 It revolves about themself and the people they take into their confidence.

What Cy desires? Correct.

What obsctructs their desires? Vile.

So you see, it's not pure chaos. They have a value system--it's just built around possession and devotion.

Basically, if Cy gifts someone their loyalty, what that person wants becomes what Cy wants too.

They have internal consistency and a value system--it just has NOTHING to do with what anyone else says is moral, correct, or just.

Cy's internal world does not even compute the notion that they should care about what others think of them.

And that, I think, is what absolute freedom feels like.

And

[intimidatingpuffinstudios]

So the poll did make me think about my choices during BtM and while I didn't realize this was a key choice I do remember that I was making bolder choices later in the game. MC being away from their abusive family grows over time to become much more self possessed and confident. I think at the beginning of the story absolutely no doubt MC would hesitate, much too paralyzed to make such a choice. But also I'm sure I'll go back and play that route as well. Looking forward to the next one.

That's an amazingly accurare read of the MC's mental state as the game progresses 👀👏

They would absolutely have picked the surrender option had they still been stuck in their abusive household.

But now they can be FREE!! And I can't wait to tell you all where the road leads from there 😈

(Also, love reading your comments and thoughts on BtM, that "I hope Cy bites Manerkol in half" comment killed me 🤣🤣🤣🤣)

Cheers! ✨️

[intimidatingpuffinstudios]

Hi! Just curious, is the TSSW series completed now with three books or is there going to be any more? Thank you!

There is one more game in the works! The FINAL one! 🤩😍✨️

We're almost there, folks 🥹

[intimidatingpuffinstudios]

When THE MAN himself made an appearance in BtM...what did you guys think? 👀

Manerkol, my love, please calm down 😭

GET THEIR ASSES, SOULMATE! 👏

I feel conflicted about it 🥲

Honey, could you just...get Cy and leave the innocents?

(Non-answer for see results)

Voting ended onApr 10

[miindli]

I'm sorry, what was the question again? I got distracted by Manerkol......covered in blood....

[intimidatingpuffinstudios]

Figures that was your favorite part 🤣🤣🤣 But I won't deny it--man's got style 😳🤤

He makes slaughter look sexy~

Also, I am once again LOVING the gifs 🤣👌🥹❤️

[intimidatingpuffinstudios]

When THE MAN himself made an appearance in BtM...what did you guys think? 👀

Manerkol, my love, please calm down 😭

GET THEIR ASSES, SOULMATE! 👏

I feel conflicted about it 🥲

Honey, could you just...get Cy and leave the innocents?

(Non-answer for see results)

Voting ended onApr 10

[intimidatingpuffinstudios]

Holy crap, the first and second options are having a WAR again 👀😂🤣

Which is super interesting, because it means the Manerkol fandom is actually divided into two!

The "Honey, calm down 🥲" camp.

And the "My honey can do no wrong 😤" camp.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

But now I'm wondering...

Is the second camp influenced by loyalty to him cause he's the bae, or do you guys actually agree with his politics and his choices? 👀

DECLARE YOURSELVES 🤣🤣🤣

[intimidatingpuffinstudios]

The vibe in the Prologue of Beyond The Mist: Beginnings ->

👀🫢😰😳🥹😱

[bottomlessvinrouge]

Not me waking up to Morgan liking me gushing over tssw characters.

Excuse me while I jump off the nearest cliff.

[intimidatingpuffinstudios]

It was very entertaining 😂

[intimidatingpuffinstudios]

BOIIIIIIIIIII, I WAS NOT EXPECTING THAT 👀😮😶!!!!

More of you said take control of me, soulmate than expected, holy shit! 😳😳😳

I mean, y e a h, I made it good, I know--BUT I DIDN'T THINK THAT GOOD HOHOHO!

Bless 😏🙌

[intimidatingpuffinstudios]

When THE MAN himself made an appearance in BtM...what did you guys think? 👀

Manerkol, my love, please calm down 😭

GET THEIR ASSES, SOULMATE! 👏

I feel conflicted about it 🥲

Honey, could you just...get Cy and leave the innocents?

(Non-answer for see results)

Voting ended onApr 10

[intimidatingpuffinstudios]

RO POVs (March 2026)

Hey, everyone!

It's that time again. THE time. RO POVs time~

And HOHOHO, this month hurts. It hurt so good to write, and I hope it hurts good to read too 😩🤌

First, we have Cy and Zach.

Cy, whose love is a blade. A love that is sharp, a love that wounds—and brings out in them a softness that exists only for the MC.

“This pain that brings me to you; I choose it for myself.”

Then, we have Zach. Kind, gentle Zach. But what lurks under the surface? The possessiveness, the control, the urge to destroy as a tribute.

“How dare they sully what is not theirs to touch?”

And then, we have the TSSW ROs. Straasa and Daelynn.

Straasa, losing his tether, losing his sense of self—and the only thing that remains real, that anchors him to himself…is the MC.

“The only me that’s real is the one your touch falls on.”

Finally, we have Daelynn. Sweet Daelynn, devoted Daelynn—in a rare moment of calm contemplation and clarity. What does Daelynn see when she looks at the MC?

"Darling…. You are the dawn. There is only you."

Want to know more?

Subscribe to my Patreon or Ko-Fi—7€ tier for Zach and Cy, and the 16€ tier for Straasa and Daelynn 💖

Cheers, Morgan ✨

*

Cy: “This pain that brings me to you; I choose it for myself.”

Zach: “How dare they sully what is not theirs to touch?”

Straasa: “The only me that’s real is the one your touch falls on.”

Daelynn: "Darling…. You are the dawn. There is only you."

[intimidatingpuffinstudios]

Progress Update (March 2026)

Hey, everyone!

Just a quick update this month! As you know, I've been focusing solely on Beyond The Mist: Beginnings for the past month.

The launch went really well, and I have all of you to thank for that! 🤩🙏 I'm GRATEFUL! But what are the next steps?

Well, the next step is launching BtM:B on Steam. I need to make the page, create the trailer (which I thought I'd hate, but I'm actually really enjoying???), give it time to garner wishlists, and then—release time!

I've never published on itch.io and Steam before, so I don't know what to expect at all! Looking forward to finding out 🤣

So yes, I'll be focusing on that and getting my Patreon and Ko-Fi stuff in order. But once the Steam release is done?

I have things in mind that I think you'll like~

For Beyond The Mist and The Soul Stone War alike 😉

Thanks for checking in, and talk to you again soon!

Cheers, Morgan ✨

[intimidatingpuffinstudios]

To everyone who loves Daelynn, what drew you to her the most? 👀

Like, why is she the one you chose? Besides...the obvious reasons 😳

(WOMAN, YOU'RE TOO PRETTY, I--)

I'd love to know! 🤩