Steenval Studios is an independent game studio from the Netherlands founded and led by a single developer.

I design and build complete game systems — from engine architecture to final art pass — with a focus on internal coherence, mechanical depth, and long-term sustainability.

What began as a lifelong engagement with games evolved into something more deliberate: the desire to design the worlds myself. Not just to play within systems, but to build them.

From Player to Architect

I have always approached games analytically — exploring mechanics, testing boundaries, understanding where systems hold and where they break. Over time, playing was no longer enough. I wanted to construct the underlying logic.
To shape the economies.
To define the progression.
To build environments that operate on consistent internal rules.

Steenval Studios exists as the natural extension of that transition — from enthusiast to architect.

Engineering as Foundation

Before founding Steenval Studios, I built a career in software engineering — designing scalable systems, event-driven architectures, and production-grade back-end infrastructure. That background shapes everything I create. I think in terms of:

  • State transitions
  • Event propagation
  • Data integrity
  • System boundaries
  • Performance constraints
  • Extensibility

Game mechanics are not isolated features — they are interacting subsystems.

Many of the core mechanics in my projects are built using event-driven principles, allowing systems to communicate cleanly without tight coupling. This ensures:

  • Predictable behavior
  • Scalable feature growth
  • Clean debugging surfaces
  • Long-term maintainability

The result is not just a playable game — but a structured, evolving machine.

Full-Spectrum Development

To preserve architectural coherence, I work across the entire production stack:

Systems & Engine Architecture

  • Core gameplay frameworks
  • Custom procedural generation systems
  • Event-driven simulation logic
  • Performance-conscious engine design
  • Data modeling and extensibility planning

Pipeline Engineering

  • Automated asset generation workflows
  • Render and texture pipelines
  • Tooling for scalable content creation
  • Structured iteration systems

3D & Technical Art

  • Environment and mechanical modeling
  • Optimization-aware scene construction
  • Lighting and rendering control
  • Animation integration

2D & Graphic Design

  • UI/UX systems
  • Studio and product branding
  • Sprite workflows
  • Visual composition

Narrative & Worldbuilding

  • Lore architecture
  • Character design
  • Storyboard development
  • Environmental storytelling
  • Mechanical-narrative cohesion

Every layer reinforces the others.
If it cannot scale, it is redesigned.
If it does not strengthen the system, it is not even considered.

Philosophy

I believe strong games are built like strong structures:

  • Design and foundation first
  • Clear internal logic
  • Systems that interact meaningfully
  • Aesthetic direction that serves mechanics

Spectacle fades.
Architecture endures.

Working independently allows full structural alignment across engineering, art, and design. Decisions are evaluated for long-term integrity rather than short-term trend alignment.

GoldClaim

The flagship project, GoldClaim, reflects this philosophy.
It combines:

  • Simulation-driven resource systems
  • A physical economy model
  • Infrastructure and logistics planning
  • Procedural generation
  • Character-driven narrative
  • Strategic experimentation

It is designed as a cohesive system first — and a game second.

Looking Forward

Steenval Studios is structured for long-term independence and sustainable growth.

Collaboration may expand in the future, but the foundation remains singular:

Build carefully.
Build deeply.
Build to last.

– Gilian v.d. Weijden aka Litanic