Howdy Folks!

It’s that time of year again. The bags are almost packed, and I’m getting ready to head out to what will be my 9th Roblox Developers Conference.

It's wild to think back to my first RDC and see just how much this community and the platform have evolved. What started as a small, passionate gathering has become this massive, industry-leading event, and it’s been an incredible journey to be a part of.

While I'm always looking forward to the keynotes and technical deep dives, the best part of RDC for me is always the people. I can't wait to catch up with the friends and fellow developers I’ve known for years and, of course, meet the next wave of creators who are pushing the boundaries of what's possible.

I'll be landing in San Jose this Thursday, September 4th, and will be at the Convention Center for the whole event.

Whether it's your first time feeling the RDC buzz or you're a fellow veteran, find me and say hello. Let's talk about what you're working on, the future of the platform, or just connect. See you all there.

Howdy Folks!

I’ve got some incredibly exciting news to share about the development of "The Rustwood Anomaly." A game's atmosphere is more than just good lighting and spooky level design; it’s about what you hear. To make this game as terrifying and immersive as possible, I knew I needed an expert in sound.

That’s why I’m thrilled to announce that I am officially collaborating with the talented studio, AeThex! 🎶

Some of you might remember that AeThex and I worked together on the track "Neon Dreams" a while back. We’ve always had a great creative synergy, and now we’re bringing that energy into the world of game development.

AeThex will be taking the lead on crafting the entire soundscape for the game. This includes:

• The Original Soundtrack: Creating a dark, atmospheric score that will make your skin crawl and adapt to what’s happening in the game.

• Sound Effects (SFX): Designing every chilling sound, from the creak of a floorboard to the terrifying screeches of the monster hunting you.

We’re also going to be co-producing a few key musical pieces for the game, blending my game design vision with his incredible audio skills. Sound is a massive part of a horror experience, and having AeThex on board is going to elevate "The Rustwood Anomaly" to a whole new level of professional quality.

I can't wait for you to hear what we're cooking up. Get ready for some serious spooks!

Howdy Folks!

A lot of people think you need complex scripts or custom assets to make a Roblox game scary, but honestly, it all starts with the lighting. A good lighting setup can make even a simple map feel terrifying.

Here are three simple tricks you can use in the Lighting service in Roblox Studio to instantly give your game a spooky vibe.

1. SWITCH TO FUTURE LIGHTING

This is the most important step. Go to Lighting > Properties and change Technology to Future. This lighting engine allows for incredible dynamic shadows. When a player walks past a light source with their flashlight, their shadow will stretch and move realistically against the walls. It’s perfect for creating that "something is behind me" feeling.

2. USE THE ATMOSPHERE OBJECT

Don't just make your skybox black! Add an Atmosphere object inside of the Lighting service. This allows you to add realistic fog and haze. By increasing the Density property, you can limit how far players can see, which is a classic horror technique. A little bit of colored Haze (like a dark red or blue) can also make the environment feel unsettling and unnatural.

3. ADD COLOR CORRECTION

An often-overlooked effect is ColorCorrection. You can add this object inside of Lighting to subtly change the mood of your entire game. For a horror vibe, slightly increase the Contrast and Saturation to make the darks darker and the colors (especially reds) pop. Then, you can use the TintColor property to wash the entire world in a single, eerie color, like a sickly green or a cold blue, to make everything feel off.

Give these tricks a try in your own projects. You'll be surprised how much of a difference good lighting can make!

Howdy Folks!

Today, I wanted to take a break from my own development and share some of my favorite experiences from other creators. If you're looking for a good scare on Roblox, these are my go-to games. They're all masters of atmosphere, tension, and a good jump scare.

1. The Mimic 

This game is a true masterpiece of Roblox horror. It's a collection of chapters, each with its own terrifying story and a focus on Japanese urban legends. The puzzles are challenging, the atmosphere is incredibly tense, and the jump scares are perfectly timed. If you want a full-on cinematic horror experience, this is the game for you.

2. Doors

Simple, but so effective. You and your friends are stuck in a hotel and have to go through a series of doors. Each floor gets more dangerous as you face different entities that can pop out at any time. The sound design is top-notch, and the feeling of never knowing what's behind the next door keeps you on the edge of your seat. It's a great game to play with friends for some shared screams.

3. Apeirophobia

Inspired by the internet phenomenon of the Backrooms, this game focuses on psychological horror and a feeling of dread. You're trapped in an endless series of strange, liminal spaces and have to find your way out while avoiding unsettling entities. It's not about jump scares but about the pure unsettling atmosphere and the fear of the unknown.

4. 3008

What would happen if you were trapped in an endless IKEA? That's the premise of this game. It's an open-world survival horror where you have to scavenge for food and build a shelter to survive the night shift when the IKEA employees (creatures) start to appear. It's a great blend of survival and horror that’s even better when you play with a group.

5. The Asylum

This classic horror map has been a staple for years for a reason. You're exploring an abandoned asylum with a dark history. It relies on a chilling atmosphere, eerie sounds, and some unexpected scares. It's a great example of traditional horror and a must-play for anyone new to the genre on Roblox.

• mrpiglr

HOWDY FOLKS!

Welcome to the first Dev Journal for my next project. After brainstorming some ideas, I've decided to pivot to something I think you'll find much more exciting: a round-based survival horror game. 

The working title is "The Rustwood Anomaly."

The idea is to blend the Computer Cowboy aesthetic with tense, atmospheric horror. A posse of players find themselves trapped in a derelict, futuristic ghost town on a remote planet. Each round, you'll have to work together to complete a series of objectives (rebooting generators, finding data keys, etc.) to power up an escape teleporter—all while being hunted by a relentless, glitching AI entity.

This is a huge passion project for me because it's less about repetitive loops and more about crafting an intense, story-driven experience.

So far, I've started blocking out the main street of the 'Rustwood' ghost town in Studio. My focus is on creating a claustrophobic feel with tight alleyways, dark, abandoned saloons, and plenty of places for things to hide. I've also begun scripting the basic framework for the round system and objective handling in Luau.

The biggest challenge right now is nailing the atmosphere. Lighting is everything in a horror game, so I'm diving deep into Roblox's Future lighting technology to get those perfect dark corners, dynamic shadows, and eerie glows without killing performance.

This is a big undertaking, so I'd love your input from the start.

What's the scariest monster or enemy you've ever encountered in a Roblox game?
What made it so effective?

• MrPiglr