Catching the Wave: Game Smithing's Journey to Success with Soulstone Survivors

Soulstone Survivors launched on Steam Early Access in 2022, perfectly timing the wave of hype surrounding Vampire Survivors. As players searched for similar games, Soulstone Survivors was ready to capitalize on the trend. Nearly three years later, the game has sold over 1 million copies, garnered over 21,000 Steam reviews, and boasts a Very Positive rating. Allan Smith, founder of Game Smithing, discussed how he successfully rode the trend and the immense effort required. Smith, based in the UK but originally from Brazil, has been in the industry for 13 years. He started by making mobile games, but eventually moved to the UK to work at Bossa Studios. After a stint at another mobile-focused company, he decided to set up his own studio, driven by a desire to create something new. While working full-time, Smith developed an action roguelike called Rogue Soulstone in his evenings and weekends. He aimed to create a simple version of the game quickly and test the market. This approach stemmed from his past experiences with lengthy development timelines and disappointing releases. When Vampire Survivors gained popularity, Smith saw an opportunity to pivot and create a new game, Soulstone Survivors, using code from Rogue Soulstone. The first prototype was ready within weeks, and the game felt right from the start. The demo launched on Steam, and the game quickly gained traction, with 1,000 concurrent users and a surge in wishlists. Smith attributes the game's success to its speed of development, which allowed it to catch the trend. However, this came at a great personal cost, with Smith working 20-hour days and sacrificing his personal life. His wife was supportive, but he acknowledges that she was essentially single for a year. Game Smithing's approach differs from that of publisher Kepler Interactive, which focuses on original titles. Smith believes that trying to create something entirely new is risky and that building upon existing formulas can be more effective. Soulstone Survivors offers complex character builds and draws inspiration from bullet hell shooters and World of Warcraft. The game's success is largely due to organic growth, with Steam being the primary source of traffic. The studio was active on Discord, engaging with the community and showcasing the human side of the game. Streamers played a significant role in promoting the game, helping it amass over 300,000 Steam wishlists. The success of the Early Access launch led Game Smithing to target consoles, with the studio handling the porting process in-house. The full version of Soulstone Survivors launched on PC and consoles in June 2025, but the hype had already subsided. Smith notes that the game is now considered old, and the genre is no longer as popular. Influencers who played the game during its peak are no longer interested, and the studio is looking ahead. Smith feels that the work on Soulstone Survivors is complete, with 22 characters and over 500 skills. The game's success has allowed Game Smithing to expand to 12 people, and they are planning to revive Rogue Soulstone, a project Smith is passionate about.