Alien clean up, aisle three!
I love to check out the work that independent developers are doing because they often have fewer self constraints when it comes to being creative, innovative, or just having fun. And one of the best ways to find out what they’re working on is to ask them directly! With Hello, Indie! I’ll be popping in to say “Hello!” to the devs and ask about their latest projects.
Each mini-interview is a series of the same-ish questions that I hope bring a little insight into the developer, their project, and what we can look forward to. This week we’re tapping in with Devon Wiersma, the solo dev behind S.K.R.U.B. Squad, a cozy multiplayer game where we’re aliens tasked with cleaning up the galaxy.
Hello, Devon!
Who are you, and where are you (or your studio) located?
I’m Devon Wiersma, and I’m a queer indie developer who works out of Toronto, Canada!
What’s the name of your game or project?
The game I’m currently working on is called S.K.R.U.B. Squad!
If you could summarize your game/project in a 140-character tweet, how would you describe it?
It’s a relaxing cleaning game where you play as a member of a group of aliens who travel the universe and clean messes in a variety of fun environments. It’s a chill game that is playable solo or with up to 4 people!
What are you trying to achieve with your game? Is it specific gameplay? Style? Homage to another game?
S.K.R.U.B. Squad was inspired by a lot of other games in the cleaning genre, such as Viscera Cleanup Detail, House Flipper, and Power Wash Simulator. In part, I wanted to see if I could recreate the staples of this genre in my own cartoonish style. I also really wanted to experiment with building a game with a design that is hyper-focused on a really tight core loop that aims only to create a simple satisfying ritual – just like cleaning! The intended experiential goal is to give players an experience they can pick up and play for a few minutes after a long day, rather than something that necessarily demands a ton of learning, attention and diligence to perform well.
How long have you been working on this project, what platforms are you aiming for, and do you have a release timeframe?
S.K.R.U.B. Squad has been in development since May 2025 and will be released later in 2026, and there’s currently a demo available to play now for those who want to get a taste of what’s in store!
Check out S.K.R.U.B. Squad on Steam.
