Clockwork Acorn

Country: South Africa

Founded: 2014

Team Size: 2-10

Platforms: PC, Mobile, Nintendo Switch

Focus: Indie games, co-development, prototyping, game development services

Status: Active

Website: https://clockworkacorn.com/

Overview

Clockwork Acorn is a South African indie game development studio founded in 2014 by Hilgard Bell, Francois van Niekerk and Leon van Niekerk. The fully remote studio describes its philosophy as creating "timeless games with chunky design", focusing on mechanically interesting games designed to remain compelling over time.

The studio has developed and released games including Monsters and Medicine, Luminare and Jetstream, while also contributing to Free Lives' Terra Nil, supporting the game's post-release development and its major Vita Nova update.

Clockwork Acorn is currently developing Feather's Edge, a kinetic metroidvania featuring a bird warrior navigating a handcrafted world fractured by the collapse of time. The project began as the game-jam prototype Upupa Bird Ninja before receiving funding from Outersloth in 2025. The team subsequently expanded to nine people working on the project.

The studio also offers development services including rapid prototyping, co-development, full game development and expert consulting. Its public team handbook and emphasis on sustainable working practices are part of its broader goal of contributing to South Africa's game development community.

Games / Projects

• Feather's Edge
• Jetstream
• Enter the Titan
• Terra Nil
• Monsters and Medicine
• Luminare

Key People

• Francois van Niekerk - Co-founder
• Leon van Niekerk - Co-founder
• Hilgard Bell - Co-founder