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Tomasz Stachowiak

Rendering engineer and co-founder of Pounce Light, maker of Tiny Glade

Tomasz Stachowiak at a glance

Known for
Tiny Glade
Indie since
2022
Active products
Tiny Glade

Facts checked 2026-10-22

About Tomasz Stachowiak

Tomasz Stachowiak is a real-time rendering programmer in Stockholm and one half of Pounce Light, the duo behind Tiny Glade. Known online as h3r2tic, he is well known in graphics circles for his rendering research, and worked at Embark Studios before co-founding Pounce Light with Anastasia Opara.

Stachowiak built Tiny Glade's rendering on a custom version of the Rust engine Bevy, giving the gridless castle builder its soft lighting and storybook look. The game was revealed in 2022 and became one of the most-played demos of Steam Next Fest in June 2024.

Tiny Glade launched on 23 September 2024 and sold around 616,000 copies in its first month. It was nominated at the Golden Joystick Awards and the BAFTA Games Awards and came to macOS in May 2026.

Products by Tomasz Stachowiak

Tiny Glade logo

Tiny Glade

store.steampowered.com

Relaxing diorama builder for doodling castles, cottages and ruins with procedural architecture.

616K copies in first month

Timeline

  1. 2022 — Revealed Tiny Glade with viral clips on X.
  2. 2024 — Tiny Glade's Next Fest demo was among the most played; launched on 23 September.
  3. 2024 — Sold about 616,000 copies in the first month.
  4. 2026 — Released a macOS version of Tiny Glade.

How Tomasz builds

  • Beautiful real-time lighting can carry a small game.
  • Build your own tech when it gives you a unique look.
  • Keep scope small and polish deep.

Tomasz Stachowiak FAQ

Who is Tomasz Stachowiak?

Tomasz Stachowiak is a real-time rendering programmer in Stockholm and one half of Pounce Light, the duo behind Tiny Glade. Known online as h3r2tic, he is well known in graphics circles for his rendering research, and worked at Embark Studios before co-founding Pounce Light with Anastasia Opara.

Who made Tiny Glade?

Tiny Glade was created by Pounce Light, the Swedish duo of Tomasz Stachowiak and Anastasia Opara, and released in September 2024.

How many copies did Tiny Glade sell?

About 616,000 copies in less than a month after its September 2024 launch.

What did Tomasz Stachowiak work on before Tiny Glade?

He was a rendering engineer at Embark Studios and is known for real-time graphics research.

Where is Pounce Light based?

Pounce Light is based in Stockholm, Sweden.

What is Tomasz Stachowiak doing now?

As of October 2026, Tomasz Stachowiak's active products include Tiny Glade.

How long has Tomasz Stachowiak been an indie maker?

Tomasz Stachowiak has been building independently since 2022, about 4 years.

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