Discord: patrick46

Hi! :) I'm Patrick Traynor. I'm an independent game developer living in southern California. I mainly do programming and design.

I love elegant puzzle games! I've made a number of them myself, and I'm inspired by games such as The Witness and Stephen's Sausage Roll. I also have a history of making precision platformers in the I Wanna Be The Guy fangame community. Some of my other interests are: playtesting (both playing and watching), tool design, and niche mod/romhacking communities.

Feel free to contact me via email (preferred), Discord, or Twitter!

Writing and talks

System-Centric Puzzle Design in Patrick's Parabox (2024) - GDC talk about design of Patrick's Parabox.

Linelith Level Design Timeline (2023) - interactive timeline of the level design iteration of Linelith.

Puzzle Level Idea Strategies (2022) - list of creative exercises and sources of inspiration for making puzzle levels.

Parabox release interview with Game Developer (2022) - design decisions and development of Patrick's Parabox.

Older writing

Road to the IGF interview with Game Developer (2020)
Developer Spotlight with IGDA San Diego (2019)

Recent big games

Patrick's Parabox

Recursive puzzle game about boxes within boxes within boxes within boxes. Won the 2020 IGF Excellence in Design award, and the 2019 IndieCade Developers Choice award. January 2018 - March 2022.

Steam
itch.io
Website

Linelith

Line-drawing puzzle game with puzzles embedded in rocks and crystals. Part of the CosmOS 9 bundle. November 2021 - May 2022.

Steam
itch.io
CosmOS 9 bundle website

I Wanna Maker

Level editor and online level sharing system for I Wanna Be The Guy fangames. Made with a team of 7+. 2016 - 2023.

Steam
Website

Select past games

Boxing Up Bamboo

Single-screen puzzle game about condensing objects. Part of Confounding Calendar 2022.

itch.io

Frog Wizard Gem Quest

Sokoban-like about discovering the powers of magic gems. Made with Alan Hazelden for Thinky games are for everyone jam in 2022.

itch.io

The Vacuum Cleaner in the Room

Sokoban-like about addressing the vacuum cleaners in the room. Made for Thinky Puzzle Jam in 2021.

itch.io

Clockwork Cat

Cute puzzle platformer about a cat who can manipulate time. Won 2nd overall in Ludum Dare 27 with the theme "10 seconds" in 2013.

Newgrounds
Ludum Dare page