Coolerist Co-op Podcast #227 with Sultan Darmaki of Red Dunes Games

Interview Summary

Coolerist host Cool interviews Sultan Darmaki, creative director of Red Dunes Games, about the company’s projects, publishing approach, and challenges facing the games industry.

Red Dunes’ direction and development philosophy

The four-year-old company plans to grow while continuing to consider smaller indie games. Sultan prefers controlled, studio-scale projects over enormous productions that could take many years to complete and recoup their costs. Red Dunes is targeting roughly 10–13 games through 2028.

The company aims to make games that are enjoyable, accessible, and visually distinctive, with a consistent, colorful look. It is open to experimentation when it suits a project. Sultan described the games he supports as long-term investments and creative work—not quick ways to chase trends such as NFTs, Web3, or live-service formulas.

Publishing lessons and evaluating pitches

Red Dunes learned that smaller games can struggle when released during the crowded fourth quarter. Sultan also emphasized the value of releasing on multiple platforms when possible.

When assessing pitches, the company wants developers to present a convincing, prepared example of the game—not just a PowerPoint presentation or concept art—and to demonstrate a realistic understanding of costs and scope.

Partnerships and growth

Red Dunes works with teams in Southeast Asia and elsewhere. Sultan emphasized building lasting relationships, sharing knowledge among developers, and adapting a project’s scope to a team’s foundations and resources.

The company is working with several major IPs, including Samurai Pizza Cats and a Sega-related IP. Other Japanese IP announcements were still pending.

Industry challenges

Sultan noted that layoffs can be influenced by factors developers may not control, including economic conditions, company politics, investor expectations, and audience tastes. His advice to people seeking new opportunities is to stay adaptable, be willing to start fresh, and treat mistakes and failures as opportunities to learn rather than reasons to quit.

Events and upcoming slate

Red Dunes planned to show nine games at Tokyo Game Show, seven of them from Southeast Asian developers. Sultan described the company’s booth as one of the show’s ten largest.

Games and creative work

Sultan enjoys completing games to platinum or full-achievement status. Recent favorites included Adventures of Elliot and Nioh 3. He also praised the nostalgic feel of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and said he likes alternating challenging games with cozy or incremental ones.

His past creative-directing work included Princess of the Water Lilies, a Red Dunes game he remains proud of, as well as projects involving Why Not in Malaysia and Agate in Indonesia. He also discussed Nightmare Circus, Lights Up, and Blades of Mirage in connection with Red Dunes’ partners and plans.

Featured People, Organizations, and Games

• People: Sultan Darmaki; Coolerist host Cool; MJ, Sultan’s business partner; Dave, an operations colleague.
• Organizations and partners: Red Dunes Games; Fair Play; Bug Billio; Why Not; Agate; Tatsunoko.
• Games and IPs discussed: Princess of the Water Lilies; Nightmare Circus; Lights Up; Blades of Mirage; Samurai Pizza Cats; Adventures of Elliot; Nioh 3; The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past; Monster Hunter; Pragmata.