Press

About Astrojone

Astrojone is a game design studio that creates Lost Cartridge Games - i.e. retro-inspired games based on the principles used to create popular franchises in the '80s, '90s and 2000s - all wrapped in the aesthetics of the same platforms.

The studio was founded on the belief that since everything is a product of its time, bygone games can be analyzed and mined for their unique design choices and thematic elements.

In short:

International retro game design studio.
Based in Stockholm, Sweden.
Active since 2005.
2 games released: Payroll and Spellmancer.
Current projects: Buck & Miles and Zoo Saga.
20+ team members, collaborators and contributors.
Managed by quackgyver.

Games

Payroll

A 20-minute Windows 95-looking office simulation.

Website

Spellmancer

A '90s-inspired trading card game featuring wizards and spells.

Website

Buck & Miles

A two-player platformer inspired by classic games.

Website

Zoo Saga

An RPG about a guy in a zoo having adventures with a rat.

Website

Timeline

2005

Astrojone is founded as a one-person indie game design studio, primarily creating experimental games.

2010

Astrojone's "Lost Cartridge Design"-mission statement and community are formed.

2012

Astrojone begins development of the still-ongoing retro platformer Buck & Miles.

2015

The Windows 95-inspired office simulator Payroll is released.

2019

The mock retro operating system and game Astrojone OS and Kyoto 437 are released.

2019

The first annual Lost Cartridge Jam is launched, becoming one of the most popular game jams on Itch.io.

2020

The second annual Lost Cartridge Jam is hosted.

2021

The third annual Lost Cartridge Jam is hosted.

2022

The fourth annual Lost Cartridge Jam is hosted.

2024

The '90s-inspired trading card game Spellmancer is released.

2024

More things coming in 2024...

In the media

Payroll, a game that simulates both the excitement of working in an office building, and the thrill of running Windows 95, complete with 640x480 pixel resolution and sound effects ripped from an Adlib sound card.
Laura Hudson,
boingboing.net

There is no better way to unwind from a hard day at the office than by turning on the ol' PC and booting up Payroll so you can pretend to be putting in a hard day at another office.
Joel Couture,
indiegames.com

Killer soundtrack
Jason Schreier,
kotaku.com

I'm genuinely keen to boot this up.
Shaun Prescott,
pcgamer.com

Against a Seinfield-esque MIDI soundtrack, fetch and carry errands never felt so damned enjoyable.
Joe Donnelly,
rockpapershotgun.com

With its jaunty MIDI background tune, hideously rendered motivational posters dotting the walls, and AltaVista web searches on blocky PCs, Payroll is worth taking a bit of your own check to experience.
Brittany Vincent,
vice.com