FINJI and Adam Saltsman – better known to many retro fans as Adam Atomic, the creator of Canabalt – have launched CorgiSpace, a lovingly crafted collection of short, playful 8-bit games built using the PICO-8 engine.
Revealed during Day of the Devs, CorgiSpace is very much about small games with big ideas. Each title is intentionally brief, easy to pick up, and designed to be replayed rather than endlessly padded out.
A collection of short games with long-lasting appeal
CorgiSpace is a curated bundle of more than a dozen action, adventure, arcade, and puzzle games. Each one can be explored in under an hour, but they’re built around mechanics that encourage experimentation and repeat play.
Every game features simple, approachable controls, and some even include save functionality. Alongside the games themselves, players can dive into developer diaries explaining how each project was made — a nice bonus for anyone curious about game design, or PICO-8 development in particular. Various systems can be used in PICO-8 development, including the GamerCard.
The collection is available now for $4.99 / £4.29 / €4.99 on Steam and Itch.io for PC and Mac.
What games are included in CorgiSpace?
The lineup covers a surprising range of ideas, despite the strict 8-bit limitations.
Highlights include:
- Kuiper Cargo – a run-based puzzle game where choosing the right upgrades is key as you deliver cargo and climb the guild rankings
- Cave of Cards – a mini roguelike that mixes bombs, killer mushrooms, and poker hands to generate new resources
- Mole Mole – a sokoban-style puzzle game with one major twist: bombs
- Dino Sort – a logic puzzle about placing dinosaurs in exactly the right spots, based on what (or who) they like to eat
- Rat Dreams – a top-down souls-like with no walking at all, only dodge rolls
There are plenty more compact experiments in the collection, each built around a single strong idea rather than sprawling scope.
CorgiJam invites players to make their own tiny games
To celebrate the launch, FINJI has also announced CorgiJam, a new game jam encouraging developers to create small games inspired by the same design philosophy as CorgiSpace.
CorgiJam is running now, from December 10th to January 11th, with a showcase stream planned for the week of January 19th. During the stream, members of the Finji team and special guests will play selected entries live and offer commentary.
Participants can chat, share ideas, and find inspiration via a dedicated channel on the Finji Discord.
A perfect fit for retro-minded players
With its PICO-8 roots, sharp focus on mechanics, and celebration of short-form game design, CorgiSpace feels like a natural fit for retro fans who appreciate tight ideas over bloated runtimes.
If you enjoy discovering clever little games that respect your time — and maybe learning how they were made along the way — CorgiSpace is well worth a look. You can find out more and stay up to date via the CorgiSpace website.
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Christian Cawley is the founder and editor of GamingRetro.co.uk, a website dedicated to classic and retro gaming. With over 20 years of experience writing for technology and gaming publications, he brings considerable expertise and a lifelong passion for interactive entertainment, particularly games from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras.
Christian has written for leading outlets including TechRadar, Computer Weekly, Linux Format, and MakeUseOf, where he also served as Deputy Editor.
When he’s not exploring vintage consoles or retro PCs, Christian enjoys building with LEGO, playing cigar box guitar, and experimenting in the kitchen.
