Clay
Pots crack if they are heated too fast. Our kiln designs reward a slow, even ramp and careful cooling.
Games about heat, patience and craft
From a workshop in Norwich, Thermal Digital, an independent mobile game studio, designs Android games where temperature is the main mechanic, whether that means firing pottery in a kiln, tempering steel at a forge, or proving dough in a warm kitchen.
Every material in our designs reacts to heat in its own way, and the satisfaction comes from learning those reactions by feel.
Our designs avoid failure screens. When a pot cracks or a blade warps, the result stays on the shelf as part of the player's collection, a record of what the material taught them. Sessions are short, just one firing, one forging or one bake, each designed to fit into a few calm minutes, with sound and colour carrying most of the information so the games can be enjoyed without reading long instructions.
Steel
Colour shows temperature. Players read the glow of the metal to decide when to strike and when to quench.
Glass
Molten glass is shaped while it is still soft. Timing and gentle movement matter more than speed.
Bread
Dough rises in warmth and collapses in heat. The kitchen levels are about watching rather than rushing.
Wax
Candles and casts set as they cool. Pouring at the right temperature produces a clean result.
Ice
Some puzzles reverse the idea, asking players to protect something fragile from warmth.
From the kiln
Finished games are shown here once they reach the store.
Ideas for new materials, notes about this site and data requests are read by the team. Write to Thermal Digital.