Who runs this?
Tyler Coleman of Retora Games. One person. That's why the cohort is two teams.
Santa Cruz · Summer 2026
A three-month incubator for indie game teams.
Run by Retora Games. Two teams selected each year. The 2026 cohort runs July through September in Santa Cruz, California.
2 teams
Per cohort
$5,000+
Value per team
Jul – Sept
2026 program
Hybrid
Santa Cruz, CA
Who it's for
Teams already close to a demo.
Teams with a vertical slice and at least six months of shared work history. A Steam page already set up. Three to five members is the sweet spot, and we do not accept solo developers. Applicants must be current students or recent students.
What you walk away with
A publicly playable demo, and a path past it.
By the end of September, your team has a public demo. Most projects need another six to twelve months of development after the program. The point is to leave with a tighter game, a Steam page, and a production rhythm that survives to game two and beyond.
What this is not
Not a publisher, not an owner.
Retora does not take IP, equity, or exclusivity in your game. We have no say in what you make or how you make it. Full financial terms are shared with finalists before signing.
FAQ
When does it run?
July through September 2026. Continued check-ins follow for six months after.
What does a team receive?
Over $5,000 in value, covering direct funding, matched ad spend, mentor hours, and feedback on pitch deck, store page, and trailer.
Does Retora own our game?
No. No IP, no equity, no exclusivity, no publishing rights. Full financial terms are shared with finalists.
Is it remote or in-person?
Hybrid. Required in-person events in Santa Cruz during July through September. Weekly check-ins are online. Optional co-working during the program.
What games are a good fit?
Arcade games, roguelikes, roguelites, and games built around one strong hook. Narrative-heavy or art-heavy content pipelines do not fit a three-month window.
Who is this not for?
Solo developers. Brand-new teams. Anyone wanting to start a new project during the program rather than finish what they have. Teams who want the money but not the mentorship.
What does success look like a year out?
Award nominations, conference showcasing, strong wishlist growth, publisher conversations, and useful ad-spend learnings.
Portfolio
Cohort teams.
Meet the two teams selected for the 2026 cohort. Their trailers, screenshots, and updates will live here as the program runs.
Team stardozing
Team stardozing is a group of queer CS: Game Design grads from UCSC. The team’s members are spread across the board between the many disciplines of game development, and are working passionately to craft the best multiplayer ‘friendslop’ experience possible. Team stardozing strives to bring fresh ideas to the genre of games that gets them giggling together and continue creating more games they’re proud of.
stardozing.com ↗
Pinballistic
A tight-knit group of 5 core developers, the Pinballistic Team has a project history dating back several years. They are dedicated to creating games for people who want to control the simulated chaos. A shared passion for games that provide unique experiences every playthrough is what drives them to create the next generation of pinball. Pinballistic, their first commercial project, is a roguelike game where the player can upgrade and modify elements of the playfield and pinballs to achieve insane high scores.
pinballisticgame.com ↗2026 cohort
Applications are closed.
The 2026 cohort has been selected. Meet the two teams above, and follow along as the program runs July through September.
See the 2026 cohort