Brace Yourself Games
- Open roles
- 0
- Founded
- 2013
- Employees
- 11-50
- Offices
- 1
About Brace Yourself Games
Brace Yourself Games is an independent Canadian video game developer and publisher based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Founded in 2013 by Ryan Clark, the studio develops original games built around distinctive mechanics and combinations of genres. Its work spans rhythm-action, roguelike adventures, tactical strategy and industrial city building, alongside publishing support for independently developed games.
The studio established its reputation with Crypt of the NecroDancer in 2015, combining roguelike exploration with movement and combat governed by musical rhythm. Composer Danny Baranowsky supplied its soundtrack, and the game subsequently expanded through AMPLIFIED and SYNCHRONY. A collaboration with Nintendo led to Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer Featuring The Legend of Zelda, released in 2019 and published by Nintendo.
Development across genres
Brace Yourself Games broadened its internally developed portfolio with two strategy games that reached full release in early 2023. Phantom Brigade centers on cinematic, timeline-based tactical mech combat, while Industries of Titan combines industrial city building with a cyberpunk setting. These projects extend the studio's interest in mechanically distinctive games beyond its rhythm-based origins.
In 2025, the studio released Rift of the NecroDancer, a rhythm-action spin-off co-developed with Tic Toc Games. The partnership continued the NecroDancer series while bringing an external development collaborator into production.
Publishing and developer support
The company established its dedicated publishing division, Brace Yourself Publishing, in August 2022 to mentor and fund selected indie games with strong mechanical hooks. Its published releases include Cobalt Core, developed by Rocket Rat Games, and Super Raft Boat Together, developed by Shattered Journal Games.
Alongside full-cycle development covering design, programming, art, animation and audio, the company offers publishing support spanning marketing, press and creator outreach, business development and platform relations. Community management and live-operations support also form part of its capabilities. Its development and publishing activities serve PC and console audiences.
More about Brace Yourself Games
Leadership
Kimberly Voll serves as CEO. Ryan Clark remains an active principal and designer; his earlier development work includes IncrediBots and Professor Fizzwizzle.
Working practices and restructuring
The company describes a fully flexible hybrid policy under which staff can choose whether to attend the office on any day of the week. Its operating model combines team members across British Columbia with international contract collaborators.
In May 2023, the studio reduced its workforce by approximately half to focus on sustained development of its flagship projects.
Publishing milestone
In May 2024, the studio amicably returned full publishing rights for Godless to its solo creator, Danil Kalyupa.
Notable credits
9 creditsOffices
Where Brace Yourself Games is based
- Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Vancouver office
HeadquartersOverall company headquarters in Downtown Vancouver, operating with a flexible hybrid work policy.
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