BIMM Berlin hosts Radical Fish Games co‑founder Felix Klein
This conversation was recorded as part of our Creative Industries and You module at BIMM Berlin, which includes a podcast-making assessment. The project connects students with working industry figures, giving them practical experience in research, interviewing, and producing publishable audio; skills that translate directly to creative careers beyond the classroom.
Our students had the opportunity to record a podcast with Felix Klein, co-founder and programmer of Radical Fish Games. The team is best known for CrossCode, a retro‑inspired 2D action RPG that melds 16‑bit SNES‑style graphics with fast combat and puzzles.
Klein co-founded Radical Fish Games in 2012 with Stefan Langer. Today, he writes code, builds levels, contributes art and story, and helps steer the business. Being multifaceted isn’t unusual in small studios – Radical Fish’s core team is small and supplemented by freelancers and interns. Everyone wears multiple hats, an arrangement that demands strong trust but keeps their work independent and personal.
The team’s breakout title, CrossCode, launched on Steam in 2018 after a long early‑access period. Klein credited that success to a combination of patience, community feedback and willingness to scrap and redo systems that didn’t work.
From hobbyist roots to professional release
Klein described a journey familiar to many indies. As a teenager, he experimented with RPG Maker, making ambitious projects and learning valuable lessons about scope. He studied computer science in Saarbrücken, gravitating toward computer graphics and web technologies. Alongside colleagues, he built a custom HTML5 engine that would become the backbone of CrossCode, juggling development with PhD research until crowdfunding success allowed him to go full‑time.
The German games landscape is evolving
Since 2019, the German federal government has offered up to €50 million per year in grants to support prototype development and full production, funding more than 640 projects with over €220 million by July 2025.
In June 2025, the government announced plans to raise the national games budget to €125 million annually from 2026, signalling a commitment to catch up with competing markets.
Klein, who serves as a spokesperson for the Games Bund association in Saarland, believes these measures are vital to giving small studios the “breathing space” to stay independent.
What’s next: Alabaster Dawn
Radical Fish’s future lies in Alabaster Dawn, a 2.5D pixel‑art action RPG previously known as Project Terra. The team released a public demo in September 2025, which has already amassed roughly 250,000 wishlists. An Early Access release is planned for the first half of 2026, featuring the first area and dungeon, with further content added in regular updates. Klein said they will again lean on community feedback while striving to keep the narrative-driven core intact.
Klein’s story offered three key takeaways:
Versatility is an asset – In small teams, being comfortable across programming, art, design and story can keep a project moving when resources are scarce. Patience and community matter – Early access and direct dialogue with players allowed CrossCode to grow into a polished game over several years. Policy support makes a difference – Germany’s increasing investment, up to €50 million annually since 2019 and rising to €125 million from 2026, is creating a more supportive environment for indies to thrive without relocating abroad.
BIMM Berlin will continue to connect students with independent creators like Radical Fish Games, illustrating both the creative challenges and the evolving ecosystem that makes careers in games possible.
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