Zardy’s Maze: How We Made One of the Hardest Horror Games

[@SwankyBox]

🎃 Grab a Zardy plush! ► shop.makeship.com/3yj1slk

[@Cliffordlonghead]

M

[@Cliffordlonghead]

Awesome Video

[@Cliffordlonghead]

Ok

[@Cliffordlonghead]

Ok

[@yesimbackfromthedead416]

Where week 2 of Zardy?

[@LeivenFrestea]

Zardy: you can't defeat me Me: i know, but he can Zardy's Maze Wiki:

[@lagineer]

first tho????

[@algebruh3084]

@@lagineer first in your mom

[@lagineer]

@@algebruh3084 dang

[@smugblitz5659]

BIG OOOOF

[@queenchaosyet]

I actually can’t even find the wiki but to be fair I’m blind half the time

[@KadeDev]

banger video

[@curseofbinding]

Hey look its that one guy that does fnf stuff

[@ItsCenrryTH]

Ikr?

[@SEZMALOIN]

3rd

[@dollarbtw]

omg guys its the friday poop man

[@MrYappaTron]

Omg funky man

[@liquidscreamisnomore]

That whole acting out animations thing reminds me of something that was revealed a while ago. Apparently during the creation of The Subspace Emissary in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Sakurai would act out most or all of the characters in cutscenes so the animators knew what to do. This means that Sakurai had to do the diddy-dances which just sounds hilarious.

[@jezd2223]

oh my god

[@negative_platuinm3340]

Where is the video link

[@RetroDubs]

Horrifying but also challenging which makes it addicting to play

[@jadenpadin4707]

E

[@frozenfiredarknight3764]

like Baldi's basics plus

[@theguywhoslays8417]

Hi RetroDubs

[@somecirclewithsunglasses3994]

@@frozenfiredarknight3764 lol

[@axywrll6015]

@@frozenfiredarknight3764 Lmfao

[@TetraBitGaming]

Thanks!

[@Pixelcraftian]

Hmm, something tells me I should be playing this! Looks fun :D Awesome video :]

[@baulzach]

first reply

[@nukedude_awg]

maybe i need to play it tho..

[@teeveestatic]

Hell yeah!

[@orangeskeleton3937]

Yea You should play it its SCARY!

[@PvZLord286]

Spooky scary skeletons

[@samdabugg]

it must be the best thing ever to see one of your childhood characters become a reality in this way

[@thefollower2933]

Well, that gives me hope that I will bring my character to life eventually

[@kaxcommentssomethingREAL]

@@thefollower2933 me too :)

[@cryo_genos920]

same here buddy, same here.

[@ashtmslf2315]

me: "I mean this game looks cool but it isnt particularly scary imo" zardy default dance: exists me: "Welp I'm not sleeping tonight"

[@InsomniaDaydreamer]

That's pumpkin jack, I think

[@InsomniaDaydreamer]

@@mosqit4324 It's the claws, bro.

[@InsomniaDaydreamer]

@@mosqit4324 check the claws.

[@elijahferrer6911]

LOL

[@mizmazmusic]

@@InsomniaDaydreamer BIG. MEATY. CLAWS.

[@RichardThimble]

Kid: It’s the guy from that funky ga- (gets slammed with garden hoe)

[@MothThatLikesLamps]

I mean, the same guys created it, and it got extremely famous, so it's understandable

[@ilikepotatos5891]

Not everyone knows what you know

[@ilikepotatos5891]

Or

[@HankD12]

Well the creator is onboard with both the original game and the fnf mod

[@thezygardiantrio9434]

@@HankD12 yes but he doesn’t originate in FNF

[@aisadal2521]

I'm always glad to see more of and learn about Zardy 😊

[@slenderthesavagemaster]

Same! Zardy is such a cool concept of a character and i wanna know everything u can about him!

[@HankD12]

@Link both

[@TNP-]

Matt, Shaggy, Tricky, and a bazillion more FNF Mods: "Hard?" Zardy: I introduce, WEEK 2.

[@du67ty80]

tricky is easier than zardy, but that's my opinion.

[@jezd2223]

@@du67ty80 i mean, compare expurgation to zardy's week 1

[@penguinpingu3807]

@@jezd2223 phase 3 Bob will be so powerful.

[@nep3348]

i fc'd both zardy songs first try so i don't think its that hard compared to shaggy or bob

[@YourMotherInLaw]

@@nep3348 yeah those things are the things that people dont want you to complete it

[@nightmareriddenlibrarian2924]

Zardy: please don't turn me into a marketable plushie! Swanky: you don't have a choice here

[@miuiswaifu]

petahah

[@paularmstead7573]

:swanky you’re how cute

[@thatbiachecalledLoue]

HES CUTE THO

[@toady525]

Dang I thought I was the only one who loved scarecrows as a kid. Nice!

[@epic_bee]

same

[@patheticplague9359]

I got into liking scarecrows because of the goosebumps book “night of the living scarecrows”

[@sethcowles8006]

I would of never known zardys first appearance was actually on newgrounds, that makes me love your fnf mod and your horror game that much more!

[@tomato5419]

"Sometimes mistakes become features in game dev" and that's how the creeper was made.

[@template0065]

As someone who wants to make their own game, even though it's not horror, this is helpful.

[@ryancatgames4279]

Same honestly. It's always great to see the ins and outs of game developement.

[@Dman25]

Me too! I can use any tips I can get, seeing as I have no experience.

[@madmanwithterriblespelling7558]

If you like guy making games i recommend you watching Dani :D

[@frensisbasha]

@@madmanwithterriblespelling7558 he uses unity while most of game dev like me focus on unreal engine

[@madmanwithterriblespelling7558]

@@frensisbasha true

[@tom_stuff2806]

I love eveything about this game, the Animations, the Characters, the Mechanics, the Retro Visuals, everything!!! Hopefully more people play the OG Game!

[@liketrainslol420funni]

Zardy got a Really hard game,turned into a Hard mod,and then a plushie,damm he's gotten a long way

[@lil_mis_smiles]

now he needs a anime

[@shinhayu11037]

and a movie

[@igidi4424]

and a comic

[@paularmstead7573]

:the games have gone far Roblox piggy fnaf fnf and zardy’s maze

[@igidi4424]

@@paularmstead7573 shut up bro

[@novafawks]

Orchestral design did the music? That blew my mind, me and him roomed together way back in like 2012ish for a couple of conventions. Wild! Used to be a good friend, but we sorta fell out when our groups stopped using Skype.

[@TheRealKingDedede]

My therapist: default dancing Pumpkin Jack isn’t really, it can’t hurt you. Default dancing Pumpkin Jack: 14:25

[@jack-roziartsy]

(Zardy)

[@LoadingError0]

@@jack-roziartsy that's definitely pumpkin jack, look at the claws

[@TheRealKingDedede]

@@LoadingError0 and the pumpkin head. Zardy’s head is made of burlap and has a texture that mimics that

[@Binehoad]

9:37 a great example of that is the Minecraft creeper. Notch was trying to make the pig but messed up the proportions and it had the creepers body. Now the creeper is a very iconic thing from Minecraft

[@incognito2611]

I really love the concept and characters of this game, I am actually attached to these characters now, *I love scary game characters that kill me*

[@newb_idk]

Hey so i REALLY loved the zardy week 2 update, but later after playing the mod i thought of different things that could be added in future updates (that is if you are doing future updates). I would love to see some more zardy's maze references rather than just cablecrow, pumpkin crawlers, and the big vines. What if there were some pumpkin jacks jumping in the background or the huge vines that grow in the actual game. I would also like to see some new mechanics added to the foolhardy song. ideas for mechanics: Drought making it harder to see the notes, pumpkin crawlers moving around the judgement line making it harder to hit the notes, and maybe you will have to dodge the Rattler's attacks.

[@RandomDude006]

What about Brute?

[@wasquash]

Alright usually I can’t get yt plushies, but Zardy? Oh fuck I’m getting that

[@coffeeboi158]

Only yt plush I got was killer bean lmao, might get zardy as well

[@xxitjixx]

Honestly, I'd love to use pumpkin jack as a vrchat model.

[@Ashraf7I7]

Unrelated but.. romantically apocalyptic fan? Or the pfp is there just because it's cool

[@xxitjixx]

@@Ashraf7I7 Romantically apocalyptic fan, surprised someone actually recognized where it was from!

[@Ashraf7I7]

@@xxitjixx Ironically, we are the last surviving two fans lmao

[@BananaWisp]

Oh, I've got it, if you want one. Been working on converting the models to vrchat, got Zarada, Brute and Pumpkin Jack done. Hmu by replying here or send me a friend request sometime, name in game is [SABOTAGE]

[@xxitjixx]

@@BananaWisp Haha, y'know 2 years ago I thought you were just screwin' with me, but I came back to this video only to realize, you literally are the guy who made the avatar worlds. I really appreciate that you did that, it's made vrchat a lot more fun. Not to mention me and my friends have actually played hide and seek together in the Zardy's maze map. Again, thanks bro.

[@coolguywithhat5419]

If I can say something real quick about week 2 for zardy, I think you should have girlfriend have her normal face and not be scared. Phantom arcade has said that boyfriend and girlfriend are either so confident in their abilities that nothing scares them, or they're so dumb they don't know when they're in trouble. Plus it would be funny to see girlfriend get shaken around by the vine and she looks very content with it.

[@nicholasgeere5125]

Aren't they scared of lemon demon or whatever pretty sure I saw them scared when my kid was playing

[@coolguywithhat5419]

@@nicholasgeere5125 that happened when lightning struck during the week 2 songs, so unless they are going against a sentient lightning bolt they wouldn't be scared of their opponents

[@nicholasgeere5125]

@@coolguywithhat5419 I'll take your word for it

[@curllum]

@@coolguywithhat5419 I actually have an idea for a mod, it’s a Zeus like, lighting god

[@Kerosene.]

They're so dumb to the point they don't get scared at all.

[@the_shadowphoenix]

Anyone else wanna see Zardy's Maze as a DLC for Dark Deception: Monsters and Mortals?

[@danthepokemann4193]

ZARDY FOR SMASH

[@markfungus]

that would be very cool

[@ActualBlueBlu]

yo wtf , unironically a actually great idea , since they both are very similar map wise

[@cryo_genos920]

yep

[@fallenrealm49]

@@danthepokemann4193 yes

[@Hunterclowers1]

8 Bit Ryan: *Finally A worth opponent this battle will be legendary* Zardy: *Spooky Corn*

[@lolboi9702]

Player: please I just wanna see my family again Zardy: *SPOOKY CORN*

[@nfdl]

CornPorn

[@danthepokemann4193]

@@nfdl n o .

[@nfdl]

@@danthepokemann4193 yess

[@danthepokemann4193]

@@nfdl N O

[@AesnasSticks]

6:55 "But even seeing a purple pill sneak around a corner was kinda scary."

[@TheAdvertisement]

0:58 Lmao love how the blue balls were censored.

[@Shmorpicle]

I can remember downloading Zardy's maze as soon you made it I loved it but my computer was wheezing in pain XD

[@liltimmywithagun601]

I just tried bushwhack and cable Boi murdered my fingers

[@hephsmith3738]

I know how that feels!

[@paularmstead7573]

Glad I didn’t t have a pc (for now)

[@vibingn-san2534]

The concept is basically just "AH! Oh what a nightmare.. " To "hey, what if it's a game"

[@zerothefool2399]

Hearing the Etymology behind Zardy's name was actually really interesting. I always thought his name came from Wizard, cause he kinda looks like one to me.

[@Bats321]

Imagine if zardy maze get a sequel, i would love a zardy maze 2

[@blueguy7102]

well it's happening now!

[@froggygoblin6514]

This aged well

[@voidedmemes]

I have something interesting to tell ya...

[@maximillius939]

Honestly speaking, This is one of my fav horror games and having it be free to play is amazing

[@Hajimesdumbtie]

Zardys maze is one of my favorite games and the mod is also one of my favorites so I’m excited for week 2

[@yourMoonstone]

Loved seeing this and so happy for yall getting this game actually completed. Really inspirational and charming seeing all those old flash toons and drawings. Gonna give it a try soon!

[@theretrocube6454]

Zardy's Maze has become one of my favorite horror games! You certainly did a great job creating it. I loved the passion and love you poured into it. I'm glad it has become loved by many people. I liked how it was inspired by your childhood creations!

[@clutterbug138]

8:21 i love how he had the player's leg drawn in the concept art

[@sasukuto]

As someone who hates horror games because I just don't like getting scared, but loves me some Swankybox, I'm incredibly happy to see your game is doing well!! Keep at it my dude! I hope it only gets even more popular in the future! I honestly really like your character designs, the Zardy plushy is adorable!!!!

[@NeoTron-v7e]

This game is insane. Its at that very balance where it isnt so scary like fnaf but not too boring. This is the best game to play on halloween honestly.

[@ADiretoria100]

This game definitly didnt had to be for free. Even if the amount of work here aint compared to a bigger game, still such a quality one omfg. Pulling a FNaF price like 1 dollar would be enough, because this work deserved to be paid. But at least its getting paid in other way, love and merchandise lmao

[@mariustan9275]

Yeah

[@stronautninjatoxic]

They're making up for that by making the sequel have a price. I don't mind at all because they already worked hard on the 1st game and they seemingly are putting even more effort in the 2nd one.

[@assainwolf5704]

“Theres also lore here” Matpat from Game theory: I SMELL A GAME WITH LORE SwankyBox: *AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA*

[@eggsforbreakfast01]

It would be cool if we got a Pumpkin Jack plushie to go with the Zardy one.

[@randomperson-r9r]

Zardy: u can't defeat mean Player: I know but he can... *Flashlight* : COCA COLA ESUMA

[@3MB3Rx134]

Swankybox: "secrets and lore" Me (in the distance): *running* *slams down door* "WHERE??!?!?!?"

[@Fluxuation]

Spends 4 years making a horror game Relatively popular Funny beep boop game makes it incredibly popular Still happy that he’s more known about beep boop because the community is happy

[@killer1gamer1]

4:39 *jumping* i duhno, let the player jump, just because that's one of the best reasons to decide on something

[@Apparently_I_am_everywhere]

I'm really thankful that video games don't have to be have extremely high quality graphics to be a great game. Games like Undertale, Omori, and Zardy's maze prove this. Hopefully that never changes.

[@met5199]

Man, my guy showing here how a combination of a nightmare and a child's fantasy create a free game that people fall in love with. And as a bonus for all the not-so-couragous people who still wanted a uprise-battle against a supposed garden defender, you got a rap battle against the man(?) himself, Zardy. That got a long way, didn't it? And I remember watching you shooting Mario-Shuttles into Videogame-Space to reach the furthest place a player could ever reach. Keep doing your work, man.

[@cooldude3141]

i just got your game today and i tried it and it was amazing! the game is cool

[@Bravice]

Honestly I'd like to see a Pumpkin Jack week when Zardy Full Week is done, it'd be cool!

[@adambarbosa4179]

Great to see you talking about your passions dude, love the positivity!

[@the_godbodor7026]

Just downloaded Zardy’s Maze and I can’t wait to start. Honestly didn’t know it was an actual game but I’m glad it is

[@whimsipop4308]

Zardy's maze is the first horror game i played without being forced to and even tho i die right after the first weed i still like the game

[@Hamster07]

I absolutely love watching game development videos! This was so interesting to watch.

[@panafa3617]

So, are you telling me that the super cool guy that made some of the best analysis I have seen with some interesting lots of comments also did Zardy and its mod? Wow, mind blow

[@danthepokemann4193]

I instantly got the Zardy plushie, can't wait for it in December!

[@AnUnusualEg]

The creativity is mind blowing. And insane it started from a dream.

[@TheGrandStarYT]

honestly this video was the highlight of my day, can't wait for the week 2 update in the FNF mod

[@-rlmn]

why week 2 and not a full week?

[@Religiousbats115]

I'm happy that your game, the mod, and the characters became a success

[@papereater]

I love this! Games that are in the n64 style are great.

[@whartonl]

"But even seeing a purple pill sneak around a corner is pretty scary." SwankyBox, 2021

[@notinsideyourwalls]

B E A N O S

[@AVRC843]

@@notinsideyourwalls oh no beanos ahhhhh

[@afrigidnightmare4868]

Since it’s almost the Spooky Calcium Month, this is very well timed:) Also really excited for the Zardy Mod update!!!

[@soldiergaming-n4b]

I absolutely loved the game. ... ... ... *can we get a daylight mode like the one in the trailer?*

[@mintymechanic8420]

"Zardy is the leader of the bunch, and i knew him well." He was finally back to kick some... i don't think the player character has a tail.

[@asperjulian]

5:43 *B E A N*

[@GnarlyBreak]

Seeing Pumpkin Jack do the meme dance at the end of the video got a few laughs out of me.

[@thenecromancer4113]

Definitely agree with the pumpkin jack walk bug. The fact that he’s limping speedily gives him a “foxy” vibe. He’s really just a “spark sudden fear into your heart” with said limping, and leaping over corn onto your eyeballs.

[@IguessNils]

I still remember a few weeks ago when I tweeted about trying out Zardy's Maze and you liked the tweet! Still enjoying it btw. :)

[@777pajda]

6:55 absolutely terrifying

[@thedraftingax5963]

Glad that this is from a horror game that I haven’t played, yet!

[@MetroAndroid]

Wow, I remember when the original Zardy release video only had like 20k views... Awesome that it's become so successful!

[@Dboy-]

Wont be long till Zardy is a guest character in an indie fighting game...just wait people

[@michellecibotari5537]

Dude I love this! I really want to be an animator in the future and your video really inspires me and really make something great with my current characters :D Imma play your game today and ik its going to be amazing. Keep up the great work

[@Monotono2005]

I didn't expect Zardy to be so old!

[@Emerald_Diggy]

Zardy: No SwankyBox, don't turn me into marketable plushies! SwankyBox: ZaRdY pLuSh

[@DrawciaGleam02]

"I've gotten a lot of fan art" Dude, you might get fan art of Zardy and another scythe-wielding character together pretty soon. Her mod came out soon after your update and she's pretty popular within her fandom as well.

[@cubeofcoffee]

I've been following Zardy's Maze before FNF. I love this game so much!

[@Isakube]

if zardy ever gets a song three, it would be funny if you used that old corn overlay like the Tricky stop signs

[@abismal_pecto]

Bro this game just gets better, I just came here after watching someone play the new Challenge 10. And I find it really cool that the scrapped daytime-night cycle was somewhat added. With how the challenge started out in the day, but as it gets harder it slowly becomes dark until it is night time.

[@カルドム]

Finally, the time that we've been wating for!

[@Netosilvagames]

5:44 OH MY FUCKING GOD A BEAN IS CHASING ME DOWN SOMEBODY HELP ME

[@HrabiaKefir]

this game is so hard and because of it i cant stop playing it!

[@thsoup2353]

Zardy: NOOOOOOOO DON’T TURN ME INTO A MARKETABLE PLUSHIE * *agonizing and traumatizing screams, vibrating the earth* *

[@KC_Garcia]

Zardy turning out to be a Newgrounds character was a huge plot twist

[@DaveXteme]

0:04 Swankybox please don't turn me into a marketable plushie Noooooooooooo

[@queenchaosyet]

The first time I ever played zardy’s maze I got major fnaf vibes, as in: “I’m thrown into a dark room with minimal instructions and I’m so lost-“ Also half the entire time I kept saying to my friend that I felt like I was playing 50/20 mode,, I then learnt that there IS an equivalent to 50/20 mode so I will be attempting that too

[@syflyelectric9505]

Dude really made his nightmares come true 1:50

[@syflyelectric9505]

Like imagine waking up from ur friends and family getting killed then be like Hey, I can sell that

[@Looogacy]

Really cool how you also enjoyed Ryan play your mod I've been watching hin for so long when I saw him play your mod I knew I had to try it too and play the actual game that the mod is based off of

[@Saboutor]

Zardy: DONT TURN ME INTO A MARKETABLE PLUSHIE dev: hehe Zardy: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[@xavierbell5099]

Great to find somebody else who loved scarecrows as a kid and has a scarecrow character

[@mrpuglover77]

My favorite part of the video was Pumpkin Jack fortnite dancing

[@thegamerbehindtheslaughter1919]

Foolhardy ptsd intensifies

[@TimmyIGuess]

This game is awesome and kinda inspired me to make my own horror game sometime

[@jupiter7194]

Ah yes, I was waiting for this :>

[@hephsmith3738]

This reminded me of a one shot character I drew for a 6/7th grade assignment. I can't remember what his name was, so I call him The Harvestman. He was a wraith cloaked in burlap, with a scythe blade replacing his left arm, and a sickle in his remaining hand. One useless lore detail is that he stunk of rotten corn.

[@RandommBoyo]

Underrated gem for sure

[@yeetusthefeetus1861]

Nice job with the game! Also really really good with Friday funky mod to!