Early-stage developer • shipping & learning

POISON GAMES / SIHLEM / SOUTH AFRICA

Building games.
Learning in public.

I’m SihleM, an early-stage game developer building independent projects under Poison Games. I now have public releases, launch experience and new projects in development while continuing to learn through game development, testing and publishing.

View my projects See the journey

FOCUSSimulation, narrative & systems

APPROACHBuild → Test → Release → Improve

STATUSActive releases + new projects

POISON_GAMES / PORTFOLIO 2026

INDEPENDENT GAME DEVELOPMENT

Learning by shipping real work.

Mobile MMA Simv3.0.0.0 • Full release

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Unwritten MeridianEarly Access • itch.io + Google Play

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Online MMA SimDevelopment paused

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TrackBornIn development • November goal

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2D Game ProjectIn development

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BUILDTESTLEARNRELEASE

GAME SYSTEMSSIMULATIONMOBILE DEVELOPMENTINTERACTIVE FICTIONQA & TESTINGANDROID PUBLISHINGWEB BUILDS2D DEVELOPMENT GAME SYSTEMSSIMULATIONMOBILE DEVELOPMENTINTERACTIVE FICTIONQA & TESTINGANDROID PUBLISHINGWEB BUILDS2D DEVELOPMENT

SELECTED PROJECTS

Work that shows where I am—and where I’m heading.

I’m still early in my game-development journey, so this portfolio focuses on real work and real progress rather than presenting unfinished learning as expert-level experience.

01 Full release • v3.0.0.0

CAREER • COMBAT • MANAGEMENTMMA

MAIN PROJECTMobile • Web • Windows

Mobile MMA Sim

My most developed game project so far. Mobile MMA Sim has now progressed from prototypes and Early Access into its full v3.0.0.0 Google Play release, with development continuing after launch.

Career systems

Promotions, rankings, champions, contracts, training, injuries, weight and fatigue.

Fight systems

Second-by-second simulation, tactics, judging, fighter states and progression.

Release work

Versioned builds, itch.io releases, Google Play launch work and continued post-launch support.

QA practice

Regression checks, edge cases, UI fixes and gameplay-loop validation.

SimulationAndroidWebQAPublishing

Play free demo on itch.io View full edition

02 Early Access • itch.io + Google Play Unwritten Meridian Book One official cover artwork

CHOICE • SURVIVAL • CONSEQUENCEUM

STORY PROJECTWeb • Android

Unwritten Meridian — Book One

A choice-driven interactive-fiction project. Book One is currently in Early Access on both itch.io and Google Play. The official itch.io release is planned for 16 October 2026, with the full Google Play release expected around November.

Custom interactive-fiction engine
Persistent choices and consequences
Multiple endings and save continuity

NarrativeBranching stateUI

Play Book One on itch.io

05 In development

2D GAME PROJECT2D

2D PROJECTIn development

2D Game Project

A 2D game project currently in development. More details will be shared when the project is ready.

2D gameIn development

OUTSIDE POISON GAMESPersonal work

Side projects

I also work on selected personal web and technical projects outside game development. When they are ready to be shared, I present them separately from Poison Games under my real name, Sihle Mpungose.

Web projectsTechnical projects

THE JOURNEY

Progress built one project at a time.

My goal is not to skip the beginner stage—it is to use it well. Each project gives me a new problem to solve and a stronger foundation for the next one.

FOUNDATION

IT, Java and software testing

My IT background, Java learning and QA practice gave me a foundation for logic, testing behaviour and breaking large problems into smaller ones.

BUILD

Turning ideas into playable systems

Mobile MMA Sim became the project where I began connecting progression, fights, training, contracts, saves and user interface into one playable experience.

RELEASE

Learning what happens after development

I began preparing web, Windows and Android builds, testing releases, handling store requirements, managing versions and getting projects onto real devices.

EXPAND

Trying different forms of game development

Released and upcoming projects are helping me explore different forms of game development while improving how I plan, test and publish my work.

NOW

Building stronger fundamentals

I’m continuing to improve programming, structure, UI, mobile development, 2D skills and the discipline needed to support released games while preparing new ones.

SKILLS IN PROGRESS

Growing through practical work.

These are areas I actively use and improve through projects. They are not presented as mastery levels—just the skills I’m building through experience.

SYS

Game systems

Career loops, progression, rankings, contracts, injuries, attributes, economies and connected consequences.

QA & testing

Scenario testing, regression thinking, edge cases, bug isolation, UI checks and gameplay-loop validation.

DEV

Programming

Growing my experience with Java, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, SQL and database-driven project work.

2D & mobile

Expanding my 2D game-development experience while continuing to improve Android packaging and mobile-first design.

FROM BUILD TO PLAYER

Learning the release side too.

Making a game work locally is only one part of the process. My projects have also introduced me to packaging, testing access, store preparation, privacy information, versioning and release QA.

IO01

itch.io

Browser builds, demo/full packaging, release files, devlogs and promotion under Poison Games.

Visit Poison Games on itch.io ↗

GP02

Google Play

Android App Bundles, testing tracks, Early Access and full-release workflows, including Unwritten Meridian currently in Early Access on both itch.io and Google Play.

PC03

Windows & Web

Preparing downloadable desktop packages and browser-ready versions of projects.

QA04

Release checks

Privacy notices, rights checks, save compatibility, versioning and regression testing.

IDENTITY & OWNERSHIP

One creator. Clear identities.

My public game work uses Poison Games as the brand and SihleM as my developer name. I use Sihle Mpungose for formal and professional contexts outside the game brand.

Poison GamesPublic game brand

SihleMDeveloper identity

Sihle MpungoseFormal / professional identity

Independent personal work

All game development and side projects shown on this site are my own work, created independently on my own time. They are not affiliated with, sponsored by, or connected to my employment or any organization I work for.

WHAT’S NEXT

Keep learning.
Keep building.
Ship better games.

This portfolio will grow with me as I complete new builds, learn new tools and turn more ideas into finished projects.

Read the devlog Back to top

Building games.Learning in public.