This is a conversation with Kathrin Radtke from Spellgarden Games, the tiny development team behind Sticky Business and Ritual of Raven. We talk about making successful cozy games, scope, marketing and more.Links to my Guests➤ Sticky Business on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2303350/Sticky_Business/➤ Ritual of Raven on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2066520/Ritual_of_Raven/➤ Spellgarden Website (Social Media links etc): https://spellgardengames.com/Listen to the podcast on the go (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, etc.):➤ https://tyrollerjonas.podbean.com/0:00 - Intro0:41 - Why People Play Cozy Games2:28 - Cozy Games on Steam: Size and Growth5:06 - What Makes a Game Cozy?7:08 - Spellgarden Origins and Sticky Business in 5 Months10:20 - From Idea Board to 3‑Week Prototype, TikTok Devlogs12:38 - Finding Ideas in Trends, Hobbies, and ASMR14:09 - Designing Stickers with Stickers + Low‑Pressure Creativity17:12 - Steam Page, Viral Tweet, and Finding a Publisher19:51 - TikTok Strategy: Language, Algorithm, Results22:36 - Turning Social Posts into Wishlists24:31 - Why Simple Concepts Market Better27:05 - Smaller, Clearer Projects and When to Share30:05 - Will Spellgarden Stay in Cozy Games?32:05 - Why “Work” Simulators Feel Relaxing34:13 - Designing for Intrinsic Motivation (Not Scores)40:01 - Ritual of the Raven: Automation and Coding43:52 - From Concept to a Big Narrative45:28 - Managing Scope Under Publisher Milestones47:31 - Progression Across Regions, Tutorials, and Pacing49:20 - Marketability vs Vision and What’s Next51:11 - Crafting Ritual’s Art Style with One Artist52:54 - The Pacing Problem in Automation Games55:20 - Making Designs Click and the Cost of Lock‑In59:46 - Advice for Aspiring Cozy Devs and Testing Interest01:03:35 - How They Playtest Cozy and Creative Games01:07:44 - Marketing Cozy Games: Platforms, Demos, Events01:11:04 - Sticky Business DLCs: Why, How, and Backlash01:17:29 - DLCs vs Early Access and Player Expectations01:22:51 - Post-Launch Support and Cozy Recommendations01:26:26 - OutroMy game "Thronefall":➤ Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2239150/Thronefall/➤ Discord: https://discord.gg/gVYctptyg8➤ Nintendo Switch: https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Games/Nintendo-Switch-download-software/Thronefall-2669627.html#OverviewMy game "Will You Snail":➤ Play Will You Snail on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1115050/Will_You_Snail/➤ Join the Will You Snail Discord: https://discord.gg/G3mRDrKFor the game developers among you:➤ Join our creative game dev community on Discord: https://discord.gg/Ye6zzfQ