Cycle 28 — patch notes and updates
Stored observation / content update:
Dated developer announcements recorded from Steam. Open the source for the complete update.
| Update | Date | Excerpt / source |
|---|---|---|
| All Our Games Are on Sale and Playtest our Next one for Free 🎉 | 2026-07-23 | If you’ve been meaning to check out any of our games, they’re all on sale right now, and you can playtest our next game for free! Thanks so much for the support — it really helps us keep making weird little games. |
| All Our Games Are on Sale 🎉 | 2026-01-27 | If you’ve been meaning to check out any of our games, they’re all on sale right now. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2166920/Captain_Contraptions_Chocolate_Factory/ https://store.steampowered.com/app/1098220/Making_it_Home/ https://store.steampowered.com/app/749560/Cycle_28/ https://store.steampowered.com/app/627620/Intelligent_Design_An_Evolutionary_Sandbox/ https://store.steampowered.com/app/4186590/Captain_Contraptions_Safari_Park/ Thanks so much for the support — it really helps us keep making weird little games. |
| All Our Games Are on Sale 🎉 | 2026-01-27 | If you’ve been meaning to check out any of our games, they’re all on sale right now. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2166920/Captain_Contraptions_Chocolate_Factory/ https://store.steampowered.com/app/1098220/Making_it_Home/ https://store.steampowered.com/app/749560/Cycle_28/ https://store.steampowered.com/app/627620/Intelligent_Design_An_Evolutionary_Sandbox/ https://store.steampowered.com/app/4186590/Captain_Contraptions_Safari_Park/ Thanks so much for the support — it really helps us keep making weird little games. |
| Wishlist our new safari park management game on Steam! | 2026-01-07 | Hey everyone!Just wanted to quickly let you know about our next game, Captain Contraption’s Safari Park, which we’ve just put up on Steam.It’s a safari park management game built around a fully simulated ecosystem. You run a park where animals (and some less sensible things) live together in open spaces. Expect farm animals, lions, dragons, and the occasional questionable decision.If that sounds like your kind of thing, you can check out the Steam page and trailer below. Wishlisting the game helps a lot and means you’ll get notified as we share updates and open the beta.Thanks for all the support — genuinely means a lot. |
| Want to playtest our next game?! | 2025-12-18 | Hello fellow indie game lovers!Dave and I have been quietly working on our next game and are looking for volunteers for playtesting.You can sign up here https://subscribepage.io/hZKgliIt's a safari park with a fully simulated ecosystem in a nostalgic tycoon sandbox with rewarding roguelite elements. Clone bizarre species, unlock new toys and design clever paths to guide guests through the attractions. Don't worry, there's only a small chance they’ll become dinner. |
| Hotfix for Unity Security Vulnerability | 2025-10-19 | A patch has been released to fix the vulnerability described here https://unity.com/security/sept-2025-01/remediation |
| Our new game Captain Contraption’s Chocolate Factory is Out Now | 2024-07-20 | It’s a big day for robot chocolatiers around the world. The whole of Captain Contraption’s factory is now available to explore, as you experiment with fresh ingredients and automate ever more complex machines. With 40+ levels to unlock, as well as brand new achievements and fiendish modifiers, we can’t wait for players to show off their creative solutions to all these puzzles. PCGamesN describe it as "bizarrely cheap" Captain Contraption's Chocolate Factory is our latest game. It is a contraption building game. Design and build your own machines to combine ingredients to make chocolates. Automate production using simple components to create i |
| 85% off in the Steam SHMUP Fest | 2023-09-25 | Cycle 28 is 85% off as part of the Steam SHMUP Fest! The second game we released, and if I'm honest the one I'm most proud of. It's the only game I've ever worked on that almost made a streamer cry because it took them back to their childhood. It was the first game by a Welsh studio to be released on Nintendo Switch which led to be being nominated for a BAFTA. You have just six minutes to beat your high score and the fantastic track our composer wrote for us lets you know exactly how long you have left without needing to look at the clock. Here is a video review which will give you an idea if the game is for you or not... |
| Play Captain Contraption's Chocolate Factory in the Steam Puzzle Fest | 2023-04-27 | You can now play the demo for our next game Captain Contraption's Chocolate Factory by visiting the store page using the link below. It’s an open ended factory, automation style puzzle game. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2166920/Captain_Contraptions_Chocolate_Factory/ Using a simple set of tools you’ll need to automate production of a variety of sweet treats like chocolate covered toasted almonds. The game plays sort of like a mix between a programming game like Opus Magnum, a factory game like factorio and a contraption maker game like The Incredible Machine. Check it out and let us know what you think! |
| Cycle 28 is part of the Going Rogue Festival | 2022-05-03 | We are super excited that our intense space dogfight simulator is on sale as part of the Going Rogue Festival. Cycle 28 is a small game we are both super proud of. If you enjoy score attack retro arcade games this one could be for you. There are a bunch of upgrades to unlock and a mystery to solve. If you aren't sure check out this review on Nintendo Life. "Cycle 28 disguises itself as a solid arcade shooter with minimalist aesthetics but slowly reveals itself to be something far beyond that. It successfully manages to engulf the player in the mystery that led to the player character's current predicament and entices you to seek the truth, fi |
| Cycle 28 Developer Score Battle Stream! | 2022-05-02 | Old wounds never heal. Who is the better Cycle 28 player Dave or Sean? Join us Tuesday evening to find out! We will be streaming in two places - Sean right here on the steam store page and Dave over on our Twitch channel. You'll be able to see us battle on the leaderboards in real time - and even battle along with us! Set a reminder by hitting the blue button on the sidebar and follow us on twitch. |
| Making it Home Released Today | 2021-09-03 | Did you hear? Did you see? Pill Bug’s next game Making it Home launches today! https://store.steampowered.com/app/1098220/Making_it_Home/ Whether you enjoyed the bare-knuckle lo-fi thrills of Cycle 28, or the chilled joy of watching something of yours grow in Intelligent Design, we think Making it Home has something for you. And it starts with testing your vehicle building skills against the full range of twisty routes, tricky obstacles, and fiendish boss encounters that Sean and I have come up with. In doing so, you’ll unlock brand new achievements and challenge modes. We’re finally letting everyone loose on the game’s full branching narrati |
| Monthly Leaderboard Results! | 2021-07-08 | Some very respectable scores here for June's leaderboard - it's always good to see folks breaking the 10k mark! |
| Monthly Leaderboard Results! | 2021-06-10 | This month Sparks flew, we saw some significant Flex(o), and we finally answered the age old question of what to do with a/some drunken sailor (boi)... But nobody could top Lord Bern. |
| Monthly Leaderboard Results! | 2021-05-16 | April can be the cruelest month... but not for these leaderboard pilots! And, do we spy one of the Devs sneaking some game time in here and making 4th place? Shouldn't he be working? |
| Monthly Leaderboard Results! | 2021-04-04 | Two months in a row Gustav takes the top spot with a respectable 6,816 ... anyone going to challenge his position next month? |
| Making it Home is part of the Remote Play Together Event | 2021-03-28 | In our most recent update to our next game Making it Home we added local co-op. That gave us the chance to be part of the remote play together event Valve has been running the past few days. If you haven't checked it out yet, Making it Home is a vehicle building game where your vehicle is your base. Design it, drive it, automate it and defend it as you travel from one side of America to the other. As part of the remote play together event the game is on sale, plus we ran a developer stream which you can currently watch a replay of over on the store page. Check it out below! https://store.steampowered.com/app/1098220/Making_it_Home/ |
| Monthly Leaderboard Results! | 2021-03-05 | Lots of new faces in February's leader board... super close between 1 and 2 last month! Congratulations Gustav! |
| Monthly Leaderboard Results! | 2021-02-03 | It's long past due for another Cycle 28 leaderboard update! It's been a tough old time lately for many of us and seeing so many people enjoying our game really helps me stay positive - so thanks! October November (cough - I got second - cough) December January A great top score by Lee Boon in January - is that going to be a sign of things to come in 2021? |
| All our games are on Sale! | 2020-12-28 | Good News Everyone! All our games are on sale for Winter… Making it Home - A vehicle building game currently in early access. You're a lady bug building a rube goldberg style machine to take you across America! Think Banjo Kazooie - Nuts and Bolts but in 2D. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1098220/Making_it_Home/ Intelligent Design: An Evolutionary Sandbox - janky weird life simulation game. You have to design and manage an evolving ecosystem. It was our first commercial game and has mixed reviews on steam - it's not for everyone so check them out before you buy. https://store.steampowered.com/app/627620/Intelligent_Design_An_Evolutionary_ |
| September 2020 Monthly Leaderboard | 2020-10-12 | Here's the first of our autumn 2020 leaderboard top 5s: Some sterling work there from new names and old alike, keeping that golden menace at bay! Wait a minute. Golden menace? Autumn leaves turning golden? The cycle of the seasons? ... It's all starting to make sense ... |
| July & August Monthly Leaderboards | 2020-09-21 | You know what they say, better late than never! Apologies for the delay, folks, but it's been a super busy summer for us at Pill Bug. As well as a super strange one, obviously. But all the while folks have been enjoying Cycle 28 and posting some mighty fine scores. So, without further ado, here's the scores for July: Whoa. Those are some serious numbers right there. August was a little more modest on the score front. Maybe people were out enjoying the sunshine? We're back on top of things here, so expect regularly monthly leaderboard posts to resume. |
| Our vehicle building game ‘Making it Home’ is now available! | 2020-08-06 | I’m super excited to announce that our vehicle building game Making it Home is now available in Early Access on Steam (currently 15% off!) We’ve been working on it for a while now and are super proud of it. It’s something we had the idea for 3 years ago. In Making it Home you are a ladybug building a marvellous contraption to travel from one side of America to the other. As you travel you’ll unlock new components to build your vehicle and discover ways of making them work together. You’ll meet lots of different characters and face different challenges to push your design skills. Then when you just want to chill out and optimise some designs w |
| June 2020 Monthly Leaderboard | 2020-07-14 | June Top 5: We hope everyone is staying safe and well. Wherever you are in the world, chances are your June has been affected by the pandemic somehow. For some this will include changes to how we engage with games and the hobby of gaming. I know it's changed the way Sean and I play games right now. So it's just awesome to see two mainstays of the Cycle 28 leaderboards continue to post excellent scores, as well as seeing some new names in the Top 5. |
| Play the demo for our next game Making it Home! | 2020-06-17 | Our next game Making it Home is currently part of the steam festival. For the next week you will be able to play the demo. Be sure to check it out! Click here and download. Making it Home is a vehicle building game. You’re a ladybug building a marvellous contraption to travel from one side of America to the other. Bounce around your vehicle, hoisting sails, squeezing bellows, and spinning propellers. How will you make it home? |
| May 2020 Monthly Leaderboard | 2020-06-09 | May Top 5: May, for many people, was another month in some form of lockdown. We hope everyone is staying safe and well. It was also a month of huge protest and upheaval as events in the USA reverberated around much of the world. In times like these, games and other such activities can feel insignificant or a luxury. And we think it's okay to feel that way - we know friends and family who have stopped their hobbies or playing games because now just doesn't feel like the time. But we also know many people take solace and comfort in the escapism and structure games can provide. For so many people, gaming is a core part of their identity and comm |
| April 2020 Monthly Leaderboard | 2020-05-02 | Like last month, April was no doubt a very difficult month for a lot of people. We hope everyone is staying safe and well. Sean and I are both finding a lot of solace in games right now, and we imagine many of our players are too. High scores, levelling up, getting achievements, etc - it all feels like a very welcome distraction. So, without further ado, here's April's top 5: Some really impressive scores there, from consistent pilots and new names alike! Well done, folks, and good hunting for May. |
| March 2020 Monthly Leaderboard | 2020-04-04 | March was . . . March was indescribable. I have no pithy, witty way to talk about it. All I can say is, Sean and I are (and continue to be) proud and grateful that people are playing games we produce. This really hits home in times like these. Our top 5 for March: We hope you all stay safe and well. Dave |
| February 2020 Monthly Leaderboard | 2020-03-18 | Is it me, or did February look a lot like January... ? No, not out there, right here on the Cycle 28 Leaderboards. This months top 5 features 4 of the same names as January's. So congrats to those consistent scorers, and also to Hornetnest for stepping up to that top 5! What will March bring? Who knows right now... But seriously, stay safe everyone. |
| January 2020 Monthly Leaderboard | 2020-02-23 | The first monthly leaderboard of 2020 saw some very strong scores by new names and Cycle 28 mainstays alike. Congrats to ThereIsNoHope for topping yet another monthly with an impressive 21k score. We'll have to start tracking how many monthlies people top, and have another leaderboard for that... Yay, more leaderboards! Congrats to everyone in the top 5: |