Life in 60 Seconds: Michael Frei’s ‘Time Flies’

Award-winning artist, animator, and game designer Michael Frei joins Nate and Joseph to share his creative journey from apprentice construction draftsman to co-founder of Zurich’s Playable, the indie studio behind critically acclaimed interactive works like Plug & Play, Kids, and the meditative mortality sim Time Flies.

Michael breaks down his minimalist approach to game design—how stripping away noise can lead to emotional clarity—and explains why humor, absurdity, and interaction are central to his artistic voice. He reflects on transitioning from animation to games, his fascination with weird player dynamics, and why making something personally meaningful matters more than chasing trends.

Frei also shares lessons from testing, iterating, and publishing across platforms, as well as advice for aspiring indie creators navigating simplicity, success, and staying creatively grounded in a crowded market.

Check out Michael Frei's Resources:
https://michaelfrei.io/
https://x.com/panic
https://bsky.app/profile/michaelfrei.io
https://www.instagram.com/michaelfrei10/

Games Mentioned:
FIFA - Michael's favorite game to play
Glider
Not About Us
Plug and Play
Time Flies
Windowsill
Feet Ahead

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• (00:00) - Introduction to the Podcast
• (00:22) - Meet Michael Frei: The Minimalist Game Designer
• (01:11) - Michael's Gaming Preferences and FIFA
• (02:45) - The Origin of 'Time Flies'
• (04:42) - Early Inspirations and Programming
• (06:04) - From Construction Draftsman to Animation
• (08:49) - Transition to Interactive Art and Games
• (14:20) - Principles of Minimalist Game Design
• (15:55) - Animation Style and Player Interaction
• (18:12) - Defining Success and Monetization in Games
• (21:22) - User Testing and Feedback
• (22:51) - The Iterative Process of Animation
• (23:11) - The Creative Journey Behind 'Cars'
• (25:13) - Designing for Different Consoles
• (27:59) - Advice for Aspiring Indie Game Developers
• (30:26) - The Art of Drafting and Line Art
• (34:01) - Inspiration and Influences
• (40:38) - The Making of 'Time Flies'
• (43:13) - Where to Find More About the Creator

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Check out our brainy games:

Sumplete - https://sumplete.com
Squeezy - https://imsqueezy.com/
Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.com
Mathler - https://mathler.com
Crosswordle - https://crosswordle.com
Sudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.com
Hitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.com
Wordga - https://wordga.com