Learn. Collaborate. Ship.
A small-team game production program where you'll build, finish, and publish a game while learning how real game development works.
Secret Shop Studio
The goal is simple:
Form a team. Build a game. Finish it. Publish it.
Secret Shop Studio is not a traditional class, a game jam, or a job placement program.
It is a guided production experience where participants work together to create a small game while learning how real projects move from concept to release.
What Is Secret Shop Studio?
Many people interested in game development never get the opportunity to work on a real team.
Tutorials teach tools.
Courses teach techniques.
Game jams teach speed.
Secret Shop Studio focuses on something different:
Learning how games are actually made.
Participants will gain experience with:
- Team collaboration
- Production workflows
- Milestones and planning
- Communication
- Scope management
- Playtesting
- Publishing
- Project completion
What You’ll Walk Away With
Participants may leave the program with:
📦 A Published Game
A completed project released publicly.
🎨 Portfolio Material
Work you can showcase to future collaborators, employers, or clients.
🚀 Production Experience
Experience working within a real development pipeline.
🤝 New Collaborators
Connections with artists, programmers, designers, musicians, and creators.
🌐 Team Experience
Experience contributing to a multidisciplinary project from start to finish.
Learn. Collaborate. Ship. Showcase.
Learn
Gain exposure to tools, workflows, and production practices used by small game teams.
Collaborate
Work alongside artists, programmers, designers, musicians, writers, and other creators.
Ship
Experience planning, iteration, problem solving, playtesting, and release.
Showcase
Leave with portfolio material and a completed project demonstrating your contribution.
Expected Commitment
Participants should expect:
- Weekly team sessions
- Active communication between meetings
- Collaboration with teammates
- Some remote work outside of scheduled sessions
- A commitment to helping the project reach release
Projects will intentionally be kept small and achievable.
A finished game is more valuable than an unfinished ambitious one.
The Role Of Secret Shop
Secret Shop Studio is not about having one person build a game while everyone watches.
Participants build the project.
Secret Shop provides:
* Guidance
* Mentorship
* Production support
* Technical support
* Project structure
* Accountability
* A safety net when challenges arise
The goal is to help teams stay focused, motivated, and moving toward release.
Shipping is more important than perfection.
Learning is more important than ambition.
Join Secret Shop Studio
Applications are now open for the first Secret Shop Studio cohort.
The first cohort will consist of approximately 4–6 participants.
Applications will remain open until a suitable team has been assembled.
Founding Cohort (Alpha)
* 4–6 participants
* Approximately 8–12 weeks
* Weekly in-person studio sessions
* Discord support and production guidance between sessions
Pilot Cohort Pricing
> Founding Cohort (Alpha): ¥6,500
Future Cohorts (Beta)
> Approximately *¥12,000
FAQ
What Makes This Different?
Is this a course?
No.
While participants will learn many things throughout the project, Secret Shop Studio is a production-focused program rather than a traditional class.
Do I need game development experience?
No.
Beginners are welcome.
- Interested in game development
- Looking to build portfolio material
- Interested in joining a team
- Curious about production workflows
- Looking for practical experience
- Transitioning from IT, software, art, music, design, or another creative field
- Willing to commit to a project and collaborate with others
Do I need a portfolio?
No.
The program is designed to help participants build one.
Is this a job?
No.
This is a learning and production experience.
Participants may leave the program with:
- A published game
- Portfolio material demonstrating their contribution
- Experience working on a multidisciplinary team
- Experience participating in production workflows
- Experience with planning, reviews, and iteration
- New collaborators and professional connections
- A better understanding of how games move from concept to release
What kind of games will we make?
Small games intentionally scoped to fit the skills and availability of the team.
What tools will we use?
That depends on the project and participants, but projects will generally use accessible tools and workflows appropriate for the team.
Stay updated
Not ready to apply yet?
Join the Secret Shop Studio mailing list to receive updates about future cohorts, cohort applications, project progress, playtest opportunities, and published releases from Studio teams.
We'll use this list to share:
- When new cohort applications open
- Updates from active Studio projects
- Playtest announcements
- Completed project releases
- itch.io / Steam links when projects are published
- Future Studio-related events and opportunities