Developer: CriticOwl Games
Location: Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Founding Date: April 19, 2026
Business Structure: Sole Proprietorship
Press Contact: Jamie Burnett | Contact@Criticowl.ca
Short Description: CriticOwl Games is an independent video game studio based in Ontario, Canada, focused on producing innovative, high-quality games with strong market potential. We specialize in mechanically rich, highly replayable experiences that balance deep strategy with emergent, explosive fun.
Long Description: Based in Ontario, Canada, CriticOwl Games is a fiercely independent studio built by gamers who are tired of the same old formula. The studio combines creative development with sustainable, low-cost operational strategies. By leveraging a profit-sharing model for our development team, we minimize upfront costs while maximizing our focus on publishing, marketing, and delivering high-quality gameplay.
Our design philosophy rejects bloated industry tropes in favor of emergent mechanics and deep strategy. We believe in providing players with pure, unfiltered fun that respects their time and rewards their creativity. At CriticOwl, we play smart, we play wild, and we build games where sharp tactics meet chaotic action.
Release Window: Q1 2027 | Platform: PC (Steam)
Defend the City. Build your Arsenal. Survive the Siege.
Project: Rogue Army is a fantasy roguelike where you are tasked with defending a city under constant, relentless siege. Survive wave after wave of incoming enemies by strategically constructing buildings that grant resources, deploy troops, and unlock devastating magical abilities.
As the horde crashes against your walls, your tactical adaptability is your only lifeline. After each wave, you are presented with a choice of limited archetype buildings that will define your strategy for the rest of the run. Will you construct a Dragon Roost to unleash aerial fire upon the enemy, or build Arcane Towers to wipe them out with raw magic?
Every run offers new synergies, escalating threats, and explosive, emergent gameplay. Adapt your strategy, build your defenses, and hold the line.
The Logo: The primary logo features a sharp, stylized black owl representing wisdom and strategy, backed by a dynamic orange-red burst that symbolizes explosive action and disruptive gameplay.
Typography: The studio's wordmark is set in bold, all-caps Futura, communicating strength, modernity, and professional clarity.
Colors: High-contrast Black & White, paired with a vibrant Orange-Red accent.
Tagline: Critical Thinking. Critical Hits.
Jamie Valerie Burnett | Founder & Developer Jamie is a designer and developer with a focus on project management and programming, having worked in both roles numerous times over the last 6 years. She takes pride in elevating the rest of her team and enabling them to create incredible experiences. Outside the office, she spends most of her time either running and playing in D&D games, or playing hero shooters.
Alexandra Kucharska | Artist & Operational Manager Alex is a 2D/3D artist and animator who has worked on countless game projects for the past 6 years. She has a great love for creating games that feel unique and teaching others how to make games. She is currently pursuing her Master’s in Game Studies with a focus on inclusivity, if she’s not working on a game or drawing dragons you’ll find her playing DnD.
Michael Sissons | Developer Michael is a game developer with over 8 years of experience working in Unity, focusing on designing systems and creating tools that make development smoother and faster. He loves solving technical problems just as much as building fun gameplay experiences. He also is D&D fanatic and a great DM.
Mick Laforteza | Artist Mick is a 2D artist and animator that is just starting out in game design, what he lacks in skill and experience he makes up for in motivation, exploration, and research. He can fit in plenty of artistic areas, a jack of all trades. When he’s not in the office, he’s either playing video games or drawing and improving his craft.
Tom Cartwright | System Designer Tom is a designer and developer with over 8 years of experience developing games often stepping into a new skillset for a given project. He has a strong foundation in design informed by data analysis, and a passion for intertwining the different disciplines. He loves D&D, embroidery, and is an insect aficionado.
For all press inquiries, interview requests, or early access review keys, please contact:
Jamie Burnett
Owner, CriticOwl Games
Email: Contact@Criticowl.ca