Support Dark Machine Games and White Knuckle on Steam here.
In this Spotlight Series Interview
How does a small indie team turn a prototype into one of the most talked-about climbing games of the year?
In this Boss Rush Network Spotlight Series interview, host Stephanie Klimov sits down with the team at Dark Machine Games to explore the incredible journey behind White Knuckle. What started as a rapid prototype quickly evolved into a unique first-person speed climbing experience blending tension, horror elements, and flow-state gameplay.
The team dives into their inspirations for the game’s striking art and sound design, how community feedback shaped development during early access, and the unexpected boost from creators like Markiplier. They also discuss their growing recognition, including being featured in Forbes 30 Under 30, and what that means for the studio’s future.
With new updates on the horizon, including the upcoming region “The Nest,” this episode highlights the power of community-driven development and the passion fueling one of indie gaming’s rising success stories.
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Stephanie Klimov is the Vice President of Media and Developer Relations of The Boss Rush Network, the cohost of The Boss Rush Podcast, and leads the Boss Rush Spotlight initiative. You can connect with Stephanie on X/Twitter or on Instagram.
Boss Rush Network Spotlight Interview Series – Part of Expansion Pass
Spotlight Interviews are part of Boss Rush Expansion Pass, featuring insightful conversations with developers, publishers, creators, and industry veterans. Each interview delves into their careers, experiences in the gaming industry, creative inspirations, and favorite games, offering a personal look at the people shaping the games we play today.
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Boss Rush Podcast – A Podcast about Video Games
The Boss Rush Podcast is the flagship show of Boss Rush Media and The Boss Rush Network. Each week, hosts Corey Dirrig, LeRon Dawkins, Stephanie Klimov, and Pat Klein, as well as their friends, fellow creators, developers, and industry veterans, share their gaming experiences. They discuss what they’ve been playing, explore rotating segments, debate the Boss Rush Banter topic of the week, answer community write-ins, and more. Patreon subscribers at any tier enjoy exclusive access to the Boss Rush Podcast Patreon Show twice a month along with other perks and extras.
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Thank you for watching or listening to The Boss Rush Podcast. If you’re watching this episode on YouTube, hit the Subscribe button, Like the video, and hit the notification bell so you don’t miss an episode! If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, consider leaving us a rating and a review as it helps with discoverability and growth. Support Boss Rush on Patreon for exclusive content, early access and audio versions of shows, become a Patreon Producer, and more. Visit our website for all of our content including reviews, news, daily Boss Rush Banter discussion topics, listicles, features, and more. However you support us, it means so much to us. Thank you for your continued support of the Boss Rush Podcast and the Boss Rush Network.



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