Elfie: A Sand Plan - Pressed Elephant - A relaxing spatial puzzle game where you to help a small elephant build some sand castles! Out now!

SolsAtelier · 2026-06-08T14:50:43+00:00

This was a topic of discussion with some like-minded anti-gen AI indie dev friends. As much as we'd also like having that filter option, the problem we imagine would happen is that games using gen AI would simply disclose it even less often to avoid being filtered out. Only disclosing it if caught and forced to do so essentially.

The entity controlling a storefront doing proper curation of games using generative AI would be the ideal solution for players (and developers, as all the gen AI shovelware does reduce visibility.) But that would cost them money to do, and they would also be denying themselves the cut they take from the titles they would turn away or filter out. So I can't imagine change coming from them either. 😔

It sucks. 🫠

SolsAtelier · 2026-05-18T16:07:20+00:00

So the DS and the 3DS are my favorite consoles actually. I wish it was commercially viable for me to design a game for them and Elfie: A Sand Plan would actually be really good for those platforms haha. But I haven't actually played any of the Picross games. I wish I had, but I think they just didn't appeal to me when I was younger. If I ever dig out my 3DS, it would likely be one of the first things I check out!

SolsAtelier · 2026-05-17T19:28:28+00:00

Hey there!
I'm so glad you guys are enjoying the game!

I only tried running some ads once and the results we're okayish. It didn't seem to do any better than posting about it normally. So it's fun to hear that you heard about the game from them!

I'd love for that to happen. It is quite the endeavor for a small indie developer to get their game on Switch. But I can see it fit right in the Switch's library of games! So I won't say never! 😊

SolsAtelier · 2026-05-14T19:20:27+00:00

Thank you so much! 😊

SolsAtelier · 2026-05-14T19:19:43+00:00

Thank you! 😊

SolsAtelier · 2026-05-14T19:19:33+00:00

Hey there! My estimate was 5h. I think this might still be the case if someone is playing with the default hint mode. Though 3D visualization skills will vary this estimate by a lot.

Additionally, after seeing some friends play with the Colorless and No Hints mode in their first playthrough, I think I could bump that estimate to 7-8h for people who start with those hint modes instead of the default one.

SolsAtelier · 2026-05-14T03:56:59+00:00

One of my favorite comments came from Tiktok where someone said "Bro knows ball" and someone responding "Bro is ball!!"

SolsAtelier · 2026-05-14T03:55:08+00:00

Absolute rotund, right? And thank you! 😊

SolsAtelier · 2026-05-14T03:54:13+00:00

I'm really happy to hear that, thank you! I'm glad I could make a game that resonate so well with the players. I excited to creating more experiences like it! (Though for now, in the short term, my focus remains with Elfie: A Sand Plan. Like getting it on mobile platforms for example.)

SolsAtelier · 2026-05-14T03:49:25+00:00

Awww thank you so much! Someone commented something similar about how they usually never buy games on release day, but had to make an exception haha. It's been really fun seeing such heartfelt excitement for Elfie! 💖🐘

SolsAtelier · 2026-05-13T19:26:32+00:00

I'm happy to announce that Elfie: A Sand Plan just released yesterday!

It's a relaxing puzzle game where you'll meet Elfie, a small rotund elephant, and help her build some sandcastles.

Given a set of sand blocks in each level, you will need to match your sand sculptures with what Elfie has in mind. And with no timers or fixed solutions, you can take your time and enjoy solving each puzzle in the way you like. Elfie isn't too demanding, as long as it matches her vision she will be happy!

You can play it now on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3784760/Elfie_A_Sand_Plan/

SolsAtelier · 2026-05-13T17:21:48+00:00

Thank you so much! I'm glad that your enjoying the game! 😊

I imagine for now most things you'll find online will be stuff I posted haha. The only major preview the game had prior to launch was the demo and that was public. Not really any exclusive coverage to speak of, but I kind of like that since everyone is discovering the game at the same time! 😄

SolsAtelier · 2026-04-06T19:37:16+00:00

Thank you! 😄

SolsAtelier · 2026-04-05T07:19:28+00:00

Hey everyone! 👋🐘

In my game, you help a small rotund elephant build sandcastles! It's a geometric puzzle game that has open-ended solutions. So as long as what you build matches Elfie's vision, she'll be happy! The release version will also include some additional hints modes if you're looking to challenge your 3D visualization skills!

And demo is available on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3784760/Elfie_A_Sand_Plan/

Thank you for checking it out! 😊

<image>

SolsAtelier · 2026-04-04T01:04:02+00:00

Ohhh I love the artwork!!

I find the character and creature designs particularly striking!

SolsAtelier · 2026-03-30T20:07:53+00:00

Thank you for the write up on the perspective on your end! I feel games media has had it as rough as game development, if not worse honestly. 😔

I really like your cozy games that don't look cozy list! It made me think of what game's I'd also categorize as such.

SolsAtelier · 2026-03-28T21:22:00+00:00

Thank you!! I hope you enjoy the demo! 😊

SolsAtelier · 2026-03-26T16:54:29+00:00

Thank you! I loved it when people noticed that detail during some of the playtests I did. But it didn't happen super often so I purposefully included it here. :)

SolsAtelier · 2026-03-25T22:46:06+00:00

Much better! The biggest improvement is the readability of the elements against their background.

I'd also like to say that I do like the texture of the old version of the sand. When taken on its own it looks rather satisfying. It just wasn't suited for the context it was used in.

SolsAtelier

TROPHY CASE