Zeboyd Games
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Founder | Robert Boyd, William Stiernberg |
| Headquarters | Lake Arrowhead , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Robert Boyd (current) |
| Products | Video games (Epiphany In Spaaace!, Molly the Were-Zompire, Breath of Death VII, Cthulhu Saves the World, Penny Arcade Adventures episodes 3 and 4, Cosmic Star Heroine, Cthulhu Saves Christmas, This Way Madness Lies) |
Number of employees | 2 |
| Website | zeboyd |
Zeboyd Games is an indie developer focused on creating retro-inspired 16-bit RPGs. Established in 2009 by Robert Boyd and William Stiernberg, who primarily managed development, the studio is based in Lake Arrowhead, California. In 2023, Stiernberg left the company, with Boyd continuing its operations.[1]
The studio is recognized for its humorous titles that often spoof Lovecraftian horror. Early projects included the interactive fiction games Epiphany In Spaaace! and Molly the Were-Zompire, initially released on Xbox Live Arcade and later remastered for Windows in 2023. Following these, Zeboyd developed the RPGs Breath of Death VII and Cthulhu Saves the World, and contributed contract work to episodes 3 and 4 of Penny Arcade Adventures. In 2017, the company introduced its original sci-fi RPG, Cosmic Star Heroine, before returning to comedic themes with Cthulhu Saves Christmas and This Way Madness Lies.[2]
Operating with a compact team of two staff members, Zeboyd Games specializes in concise titles that have garnered praise for their storytelling, gameplay mechanics, and overall value.
Epiphany in Spaaace! and Molly the Were-Zompire
Released on October 20, 2009 through Xbox Live Indie Games, Epiphany In Spaaace! is a sci-fi comedy featuring Philemon K. Bort as captain of the U.S.S. Epiphany.[3] On December 10, 2009, Molly the Were-Zompire debuted, telling the story of Molly Desper’s change into a hybrid were-zombie-vampire.[4] Sales for both titles ranged between approximately 500 and 700 copies.[5]
A remastered Windows edition named Molly the Werezompire was launched on December 29, 2023. Reviewer Sam Wachter from RPGamer commended both games as "hilarious" and noted their excellent value despite short playtimes.[6]
Breath of Death VII: The Beginning
Co-developed with William Stiernberg, Breath of Death VII: The Beginning was released on April 22, 2010 via Xbox Live Indie Games. This retro-inspired comedic RPG allows players to customize characters using a branching skill tree. Robert Boyd aimed to improve upon slow-paced turn-based battles by introducing a combo mechanic where enemy difficulty escalates over turns, effectively creating a time pressure element. To maintain game flow, encounters per area are capped. The title sold over 40,000 copies and achieved a trial-to-purchase conversion rate of around two-thirds, demonstrating strong consumer interest despite its tongue-in-cheek title suggesting a non-existent series.
Cthulhu Saves the World
Also developed alongside Bill Stiernberg, Cthulhu Saves the World launched on December 30, 2010 for Xbox Live. The narrative centers on Cthulhu’s quest to become a hero to lift a curse. Gameplay features include a branching level-up system and limited random encounters akin to those in Breath of Death VII. The soundtrack was composed by Gordon McNeil, complemented by promotional efforts such as a parody music video produced by Nakatomi HMC.
Zeboyd Games successfully raised funds through Kickstarter to produce an enhanced edition for PC and Xbox 360, surpassing their target by February 2011. The upgraded version was rebranded to reflect its expanded content and debuted on Steam in July 2011, quickly generating higher revenue than its Xbox 360 counterpart within its first week. By November 2011, sales for the combined "Zeboyd Games Combo Pack" had exceeded 100,000 units on Steam in under four months—signifying notable commercial success and increased market presence for the studio.
Penny Arcade's On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness 3 and 4
Zeboyd Games was responsible for developing Episode 3 of Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, which debuted on June 25, 2012. The company's founders, Robert Boyd and Bill Stiernberg, along with Jerry Holkins and Jeff Kalles, took part in a panel discussion at PAX East held in Boston on April 6, 2012. Subsequently, Zeboyd released Episode 4 on June 7, 2013.
Cosmic Star Heroine
Initially launched in April 2017 for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 4, Cosmic Star Heroine is a science fiction role-playing game that later expanded to PS Vita and Nintendo Switch platforms in 2018. The game was met with favorable reviews from critics, strengthening Zeboyd’s reputation within the gaming industry.
Cthulhu Saves Christmas
On July 29, 2019, Zeboyd revealed Cthulhu Saves Christmas, serving as a prequel to Cthulhu Saves the World. It became available on PC starting December 23, 2019. This side-scrolling JRPG features Cthulhu joining forces with Santa’s granddaughter to confront Jack Frost, engaging in turn-based battles against holiday-themed adversaries while fostering character interactions.
This Way Madness Lies
Released on November 10, 2022 for Microsoft Windows, This Way Madness Lies is a Shakespeare-inspired magical girl RPG that diversifies Zeboyd’s catalog by exploring specialized genre territory.
External links
- American companies established in 2009
- Video game companies established in 2009
- Companies based in Lake Arrowhead, California
- Video game companies based in Greater Los Angeles
- Video game development companies
- 2009 establishments in California
- Privately held companies based in California
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment