What Are Indie Games, What Makes Them Appealing, and How Do You Develop Your Own?

What do Minecraft, Stardew Valley, and Among Us have in common? All three of these hits are indie games created by small teams of enthusiasts. But what are indie games? Why are they so popular? And how do you create your own indie hit, if it’s even worth trying? Let’s take a look.

What is the definition of an indie game?

The “indie” in “indie games” is short for independent. This means video games created by independent developers or small studios without direct financing from major publishers.

Characteristics of indie games:

• Low or no budget

The developers usually pay all expenses out of pocket or collect money through crowdfunding.

• Freedom from publishers

The developers of indie games can make decisions independently. They don’t need to get approval for every move they make, as can happen in big companies.

• Artistic freedom

Small teams and the lack of a strict framework make it possible to experiment and create projects of a kind that gamers have never seen before.

• Focus on unique ideas

Indie games are rarely full-scale. Instead, the developers focus on specific aspects of the game, such as graphics, gameplay, or plot.

As the gaming industry has developed, the definition of indie games has become more blurred. Some successful indie games now get million-dollar budgets or the support of major publishers, while still retaining their independent spirit. For example:

• Minecraft started out as a classic indie project, and even after being bought by Microsoft for $2.5 billion, it remains an indie game both in spirit and in origin.
• The budget of The Witness reached several million dollars, but nonetheless it is considered an indie game because its developers retained an independent approach to their work.

The main thing in indie games isn’t the budget, it’s the approach to development. It is creative freedom, new ideas, and direct communication with players.

To be considered an indie developer, do you need to work solo?

Many people think that an indie developer has to work alone, but that isn’t true. Creating indie games is a slow and labor-intensive process that requires considerable fortitude. Developing a game from scratch solo isn’t easy.

Indie developers have a few options:

1. Solo development

This is the classic method where one person is fully responsible for the whole process of creating the game.

Pros:

• Complete control. The developer takes all the decisions themself, which allows them to bring their ideas to life exactly as they intended.
• Fast decision making. There is no need to agree your actions with others, which speeds up the development process.
• The developer gets all the profits.

Cons:

• Huge workload. The developer has to understand and implement all aspects of the game’s creation by themself.
• Risk of burnout. Without the support of a team, it is easy to reach a state of emotional and physical burnout.
• Lack of experience. The developer doesn’t always have all the required skills, which can either slow down the process or negatively affect the quality of the product.

1. Working in a small team

Indie games can also be created by a small team of 2–10 people.

Pros:

• Distribution of tasks. Each member of the team can work on their specialty, which makes the process more efficient.
• Exchange of ideas. Mutual support and the exchange of opinions help to improve the project and generate new solutions.
• Scalability. A team can work on more large-scale and ambitious projects than a solo developer is capable of managing.

Cons:

• Coordination. The work of the team members has to be coordinated, which takes time and effort.
• Creative differences. Disagreements over the direction of the project may arise in the team.
• Shared profit. Profit from the game is shared between all team members, which reduces individual revenue from the project.

1. Hybrid approach

This combines elements of solo development and teamwork. The main part of the work is done by one person, but in order to solve specific tasks, such as art production, voiceover, translation, or the coding of difficult elements, freelancers or an outsourcing studio are employed.

Pros:

• Control of the project. The developer retains their authorial vision.
• Flexibility. You can engage specialists only at the specific time when you need them.
• Time saving. Specialists can help solve difficult challenges quickly.

Cons:

• Expenses. Engaging freelancers or a studio can be expensive.
• Dependence. The timing of the project may depend on contractors.

Regardless of the approach chosen, indie developers often use ready-made solutions:

• Assets (3D models, textures, sounds)
• Plugins for game engines
• Code templates

These help save time and resources, particularly in areas where the developer doesn’t have the necessary experience and skills. 

What makes indie games so popular?

Indie games are popular for the following reasons:

• Uniqueness and creativity. Indie developers are by definition not bound by corporate limitations. They can implement the boldest ideas, creating games with unusual mechanics, plots, and visual style.
• Personal approach. In indie games, you can often feel the “personality” of the developer. This attracts players who are tired of impersonal blockbusters.
• Accessibility. Indie games are normally cheaper than AAA projects. This allows players to try more new games.
• Nostalgia. A lot of indie games reference classic genres and styles, evoking happy memories among players of older generations.
• Focus on gameplay. Indie developers often don’t have big budgets for graphics, so they concentrate on making the process of playing enjoyable.

How are indie games distributed?

• Social media and streamers. Developers actively communicate with their audience on Twitter, Discord, and Reddit. Popular streamers can have a major effect on the success of a game. 

For example, Among Us (2018) really took off in 2020 after famous streamers began to play it.

Source

• Early access. Players buy an unfinished version of the game and help in the development process. This creates an active community around the game. Valheim (2021) sold five million copies in a month of early access.
• Festivals and exhibitions. Taking part in events like PAX, IndieCade or Gamescom helps attract attention from the press and publishers. Hollow Knight (2017) became famous after being shown at EGX Rezzed.
• Viral marketing. Unusual trailers or creative promotions can quickly spread all over the internet.  The trailer for Goat Simulator (2014) went viral thanks to its absurdist humor.

The top indie games of all time

In 2023, IGN compiled a list of the TOP 100 indie games based on the choice of gamers and critics. The top ten were:

• Return of the Obra Dinn (2018)

A detective puzzle game. The retro black-and-white graphics create an atmosphere of old engravings. The player investigates the mysterious fate of the Obra Dinn, a ship that returns to port without its crew. In 1803, the ship set sail on a voyage and disappeared. Four years later, the ship returned, but without a living soul on board. 

The player, an employee of the East India Company, explores the ship and, with the help of their pocket watch, sees flashbacks that reveal what happened to the crew. Your task is to establish the chain of events and fill out a notebook, identifying the crew members and their fates.

Source

• Outer Wilds (2019)

An adventure game in which the player explores a miniature planetary system. The protagonist is a space explorer trapped in a time loop. The loop resets each time the sun becomes a supernova and destroys the system. The player uses these repetitions to solve the mystery of the ancient Nomai civilization, understand why the sun explodes, and find answers to other questions. 

The game doesn’t specify explicit quests, so the player has to decide for themself what to explore and how to reveal all the secrets.

Source

• Celeste (2018)

A platform game about Madeline, a girl trying to find herself by climbing Celeste Mountain in Canada. The mountain possesses a mystic power that divides Madeline into two beings, one of them her dark double. During her climb, Madeline encounters the ghosts of her past, her own fears, and tough challenges. 

She and the player have to learn how to cope with her panic attacks and overcome her inner demons. In the end, when Madeline reaches the peak, she realizes that the real struggle has been not with the mountain but with her own fears and doubts.

Source

• Hades (2020)

A roguelike action game about Zagreus, the son of Hades, who wants to escape the Underworld and find his mother Persephone on Mount Olympus. Hades constantly tries to stop him by dispatching fearsome enemies to confront him. The Olympian gods and friends from the Underworld help Zagreus by bestowing powers and skills on him.

Source

• Disco Elysium (2019)

A role-playing game about a detective with amnesia investigating a murder in the dystopian fictional city of Revachol. The main hero is a police detective who has lost his memory after a heavy drinking binge. He tries to recover his memories and solve the case. The game immerses the player in a complex world of political intrigue and factional conflict that weaves together drama, comedy, and mysticism.

Source

• Hollow Knight (2017)

A Metroidvania about an unnamed knight exploring the abandoned insectoid kingdom of Hallownest. The protagonist descends into the depths of the kingdom, encountering infected creatures and uncovering the secrets of a long-dead civilization. The story is gleaned from hints, dialogue, and the surroundings, which gradually reveal the knight’s connection to the kingdom. 

Source

• Furi (2016)

An action game about an unnamed warrior who is trying to escape from prison. The protagonist is helped by a mysterious person in a rabbit costume, who gradually reveals the details of what’s happening. On your path to freedom, you have to fight with several bosses, each of whom has their own reasons for trying to stop the hero. 

Source

• The Case of the Golden Idol (2022)

A detective puzzle game that stretches over forty years of the 18th century. The plot revolves around a cursed aristocratic family and a series of twelve mysterious deaths. The player’s task is to solve the mystery that links these deaths together, gathering clues and filling out a scroll with a description of the events and characters.

Source

• SteamWorld Dig 2 (2017)

A Metroidvania platform game in which you play as Dorothy, a robot searching for the protagonist of the first game. Dorothy descends into mineshafts to discover the cause of the earthquakes that are ravaging the old town. The gameplay is focused on exploring dungeons, battling enemies, and collecting resources that can be exchanged for health, equipment, and skill upgrades.

Source

• Stardew Valley (2016) 

A farming simulator with RPG elements. The player inherits a farm in Stardew Valley and starts a new life, growing crops and developing their farm. The in-game year is divided into four seasons, each of which affects your crops. 

The farm is close to a small town where you can interact with the locals, buy upgrades, and take part in community life. The player has to choose between supporting local business or the corporation they ran away from. There is no specific goal to the game, which is what makes it so relaxing and atmospheric.

Source

These games combine original ideas, intensive gameplay, and memorable style. Each of them found a niche and brought something new to their genre. Novice developers should study these examples in order to understand how creativity and attention to detail can lead to success.

Pros and cons of developing indie games

Pros

Artistic freedom

The greatest strength of indie development. You can implement any idea you want, however crazy it might be. Want to make a game about a cat detective in a world of talking sushi? Go ahead! Nobody is putting any limits on your flights of fancy.

Total control of the development process

You decide when to work, how often to release updates, and when to launch your game. There is no need to adapt to somebody else’s deadlines or corporate rules.

Flexibility implementing changes

Have you noticed that there’s some mechanic your players don’t like? You can change it fast. Have you noticed some new trend? You can introduce it in your game no problem. Big studios need weeks or even months to make changes like that, but you can do it in a couple of days.

Direct communication with players

You can talk to fans, get instant feedback, and quickly respond to your audience’s demands. This helps you to create games that people really want to play.

Financial potential

Of course, most indie games don’t become hits. But if your game does take off, all the profits go straight to you. You don’t have to share them with a publisher or investors.

Personal recognition

Successful indie developers become industry stars. You will be recognized, invited to conferences, and asked for interviews. This opens up a huge number of new opportunities.

Cons

Lack of resources

Indie developers often don’t have a big budget, a powerful computer, or a team of specialists. You will have to learn a lot and find your own ways of solving problems.

No support

Stuck with a difficult technical problem? Don’t have an effective monetization strategy? A major studio has specialists for those tasks. Indie developers, on the other hand, have to work it out for themselves.

Marketing expenses

Creating a great game is only half the battle. You also have to find a way to tell gamers about it. Considering that dozens of indie projects are released every day, standing out from the crowd is difficult. Without a big advertising budget, you have to find creative methods of promotion.

Lack of experience

Inexperience can lead to mistakes. That’s fine, but some mistakes can be expensive. Be prepared to learn as you go.

How much does it cost to make an indie game in 2024?

There is no definite answer to this. The price depends on many factors:

• The size of the game
• The number of people working on the game and who they are
• Which tools are used
• The amount spent on advertising

Let’s take a look at the main outlays and the factors that influence the cost of making an indie game in 2024. 

❗ Please note that these figures are approximate. Prices can vary considerably from country to country.  

• Salaries for the development team

This is normally the biggest item of expenses. These are the average yearly salaries for professionals in the USA:

• Game designer: $66,000 per year. This is the person responsible for the concept of the game, its mechanics, and its overall design.
• Programmer: $84,000 per year. Programmers write the code that brings your game to life. Their salary may vary according to their skill level and experience.
• Artist/designer: $58,000 per year. The designers create the visual content, including characters, weapons, and interfaces.
• Sound designer: $53,000 per year. This is the person who creates the musical soundtrack and sound effects.
• Tester (QA): $45,045 per year. Testers perform extensive testing of the game, identifying and correcting bugs.
• Writer/editor: $49,341 per year. Writers and editors work on the plot, dialogues, and text, aiming to make the game entertaining and atmospheric.
• Project manager: $88,810 per year. The project manager coordinates the team’s work, enforcing deadlines and budgets.

The total cost of salaries will depend on the size of the team and length of the development process. For example, if you have a team of five people and they work for two years on the project, then salary expenses can amount to from $250,000 to $500,000.

• Software

The software required for development also entails significant expenses. Here are the main categories:

• Game engines. Unity is one of the most popular platforms for indie developers. Licenses for companies with revenue over $100,000 per year cost $150 per user per month.
• Tools for content creation. 3D modeling (Blender), image editing (GIMP), and sound editing (Audacity). Although these tools can be free, professional licenses or premium features may require extra expenditure.
• Extra plugins and services. Multi-user modes, map integration, and other features may require third-party services that can cost between $900 and $11,000 per year.

• Equipment

Special equipment is required for the development and testing of games:

• Computers and servers. Powerful workstations for the development, testing, and compilation of a game cost between $2,000 and $10,000 per unit.
• Testing consoles. If the game is going to be launched on consoles (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch), then you will need testing equipment costing from $5,000 to $10,000.
• VR and AR devices. If the game is being developed for VR or AR, you will need the relevant devices, costing from $300 to $1,500 per unit.

• Licenses and rights

If you’re planning to use famous characters, music, or other copyrighted material, your expenses can increase considerably. For example, using a copyrighted character can cost from $10,000 to several hundred thousand dollars.

• Marketing and PR

When launching a game, you have to consider marketing costs:

• Creating a trailer: from $4,000 to $10,000, depending on its sophistication.
• Branding and website: from $7,000 to $20,000.
• Social media and blog: maintaining a blog and an active presence on social media can cost between $9,000 and $11,000 for three months of active promotion.
• Public relations: PR campaigns cost between $9,000 and $15,000.

• Localization

If your game is going to be launched in several languages, then you have to consider localization expenses too:

• Freelance translators: $0.06 to $0.12 per word.
• Localization agencies: $0.10 to $0.25 per word.
• Your own localization team: the best but also the most expensive option.

• Digital distribution

If you plan to release your game on Steam, you have to pay $100 for each game, and the platform takes a 30% commission on sales.

Total:

A small game with a team of three to five people can cost from $50,000. A big project with advertising and translation into several languages will cost more than $750,000.

These figures are very rough. You can save money if you use free software and assets, work remotely, employ a team with little experience, or do part of the work yourself. 

However, the budget can also increase if you have to deal with technical problems, change the design, obtain licenses, or use expensive equipment.

The main thing is to plan the development process in advance and keep track of expenses. Start with a minimum viable product (MVP) and expand it in proportion to the success you achieve and revenue you receive. That way, you can control expenses and reduce risk.

How much can indie game developers earn?

Many developers start with small projects that don’t generate significant revenue, so they often have to combine game development with their main employment.

According to the analysis of more than 44,000 developers on Steam, only 10% have ever earned more than $100,000 across their careers on the platform. In other words, 90% of developers earn less than that—often considerably less.

Even more striking is the fact that only 3% of indie developers (around 1,600 people) have been able to earn more than $1 million. These figures show how hard it is to achieve financial success in the indie games industry.

Developers can be divided into categories based on the revenue they earn:

• Newbies (earning up to $1,000): have normally released only one game that was not a success.

• Amateurs ($1,000 to $10,000): their games do sell, but not in great numbers.

• Independents ($10,000 to $100,000): earn money from their games, but not enough to make it a full-fledged career.

• Pros ($100,000 to $1 million): can make a proper living developing games full-time.

• Success stories (more than $1 million): have achieved significant financial success.

Source: Video Game Insights 

Examples of successful projects:

• Stardew Valley. Earned more than $300 million against investment of $50,000–$750,000. The game has sold more than 20 million copies and remains popular.
• Undertale. A popular RPG created by Toby Fox that sold more than a million copies and became a cult hit with gamers.
• Hollow Knight. An atmospheric Metroidvania from Team Cherry that has racked up sales of more than 2.8 million copies.

What makes some developers successful? A few key factors:

• Persistence. Successful developers don’t give up at the first failure. On average, they launch four or five games, while their less successful peers release only one or two.

• Collaboration with publishers. Around a half of successful developers work with publishers, which helps with marketing and distribution.

• Specialization. Top developers often focus on a specific genre, which allows them to build up experience, resources, and a fanbase.

• Choice of genre. Successful developers often create games in the strategy and simulator genres, which are popular among Steam users.

• Adaptation to fashion. Although specialization is important, top developers also keep up with current trends and adapt their games in line with players’ changing preferences.

It should be noted that this data only refers to sales on Stream and doesn’t take into account other platforms or other revenue sources. Furthermore, even revenue in millions doesn’t translate into pure profit—Steam’s commission (usually 30%), taxes, and the costs of development and marketing all have to be taken into account.

For comparison, according to ZipRecruiter, the average annual salary of an indie developer working for hire in the US amounts to around $108,471. However, this figure can vary considerably according to experience, skills, and location.

In the end, an indie developer’s income can be anything from zero to a million dollars. For the majority, it’s closer to the bottom end. Success requires talent, determination, and constant work. If you are going into indie development, do it for the love of games and not to make a quick buck.

How are indie games monetized?

There are a few main ways of earning money from your indie project:

• Combined approach. You can combine different monetization models. For example, you can launch a free game with advertising and the opportunity to turn ads off for a fee.

• In-game purchases. This is a way of offering players extra features, skins, levels, or other elements of the game for real money. 

• Advertising.  In-game ads can generate stable revenue, but it’s important to ensure that their placement doesn’t interfere with gameplay. For example, you can show ads between levels or when the game is paused without ruining the player’s impression of the game.

• Premium versions. Offer an enhanced version of your game for a one-time payment. This could be a version without ads, with extra levels, or with unique items. Players who like the free version may be interested in paying for the full package.

• Holiday items. Time-limited offers, such as items or skins for holidays, create a sense of urgency that encourages players to make purchases.

• Subscriptions. If your game is designed to encourage long-term engagement, like an MMO, then you should consider a subscription model. Players will get regular access to new content, which will encourage them to prolong their subscription.

• Merch. This works well when your project has loyal fans who want to buy a physical product connected to their favorite game.  Among other things, developers can sell: figures of the characters, T-shirts and accessories featuring symbols from the game, and plush toys.

• Selling your source code. If your game is simple enough, you can sell its source code to other developers. This cannot be your main method of monetization, but it can bring extra revenue.

Aggressive monetization can scare players off, while overly passive efforts do not generate profit. You have to consider the long-term loyalty of players.

The way of the indie developer: how to create your game

If you have decided to launch your own game, these are the stages you will have to go through:

Conceptualization

1. Start with a brainstorm. Write down all the ideas that come into your head. Think about the games that you like. What is it that draws you to them? Which elements would you like to see in your game?
2. Try to combine several concepts together. For example, what would a fighting game with puzzle elements look like? Or an RPG with a construction mechanic?
3. Think about the story or experience that you would like to pass on to your players. Do you want to tell them about adventures in space or the life of an ordinary office worker?
4. Define the key elements of the gameplay. These could be an unusual fight system, a unique way of moving around, or an innovative approach to character development.
5. Sketch out the main characters. Who are they? What do they want? What problems will they encounter? Even if your game is an abstract puzzle, think about its “character.”
6. Imagine your game’s world. It could be a fantasy kingdom, a distant planet, or a normal modern city.
7. Finally, choose the genre and target audience of your game. Are you making a hardcore roguelike for experienced gamers or a casual game for mobile devices? This will help you to focus and make the right decisions in the future.

Planning 

1. Create a detailed plan of the game. This will be your roadmap. Describe every aspect of the game, from the overall concept to the finest details.
2. Write down how your game will work. What mechanics will it have? How will the player interact with the game world? What levels and locations will there be? What characters and objects will they encounter?
3. Think about how all the different elements of the game will interact among themselves. How will leveling up affect the fight system?
4. Draw concept art. This will help you to visualize your ideas and inspire your team. You don’t need to be a professional artist, even simple sketches will help.
5. Develop a prototype of the interface. How will the player obtain information? What will the menu look like? What about the inventory? And the map?
6. Put together a schedule of work. Break down the process into stages and define realistic deadlines. Remember that there are nearly always delays in game development.

Don’t be afraid to change your plans as the development process proceeds. It’s perfectly normal for ideas not to work out the way you thought they would.

Choosing technologies

Choose your game engine. This is the foundation of your game. Each engine has its pros:

• Unity is good for beginners and 2D games. It has a lot of tutorial materials.
• Unreal Engine works for 3D games with beautiful graphics.
• Godot is a free engine with open source code.

The programming language for the game often depends on your choice of engine:

• Unity uses C#
• Unreal Engine works in C++
• Godot supports GDScript (similar to Python) and C#

You will need tools to create your graphics:

• Photoshop or GIMP for 2D graphics
• Blender for 3D modeling
• Aseprite for pixel art

For sound work, you can use:

• Audacity for recording and editing sounds
• FL Studio or LMMS for creating music

Building your team

If you are working solo, you can skip this step. For big projects, however, a team is essential.

1. Work out who you need: programmers, artists, level designers, and maybe scriptwriters and composers.
2. Look for people who have not just the necessary skills, but also a similar attitude to your project. Make sure that you can work together.
3. Delegate tasks clearly. Who is responsible for what? How are decisions to be taken?
4. Set up a communications system for the team:
   • Slack or Discord for everyday messaging
   • Trello or Jira for task management
   • Regular video calls to discuss progress
5. Create an atmosphere in which each team member can do their best. Encourage the exchange of ideas and constructive criticism.

Creating a prototype of the game 

Make the first playable version of your game. The aim is to demonstrate the main mechanics. Don’t attempt to get perfect graphics at this stage. Use placeholders—temporary images and models.

1. Create basic levels or scenes. They have to demonstrate the essence of the gameplay.
2. Implement the main mechanics:
   • How does the player control their character or the interface?
   • How do they interact with the world of the game?
   • If there are any unique elements to your gameplay, focus on them.
3. When the prototype is ready, start testing: play the game yourself, and give it to friends or the members of your team to play. Observe the reactions of the players. What do they like? Where do they have difficulties?
4. Gather feedback. Ask the players for their impressions. What was interesting? What was boring or hard to understand?

Don’t be afraid to change your game based on the feedback you receive. That’s what the prototype is for—to test your ideas and improve your concept.

Main development 

This is the stage where you bring your ideas to life. Start by implementing all the game’s mechanics. Make sure that they work the way you thought they would.

1. Create levels and the game world. If you have an open world, make sure it is all worked out. For a linear game, make all the levels in order.
2. Develop the user interface. It must be easy to understand and use. The UI is what the player will constantly be interacting with.
3. Integrate the graphics and sound. Replace temporary assets with their final versions. Add music and sound effects.

Creating content

Now it’s time to fill your game with content.

1. Draw or model all the assets you need. These may be characters, items, or elements of the environment.
2. Write the dialogues and texts. If you have a plot-based game, pay particular attention to the script. Even casual games need text—descriptions and hints, for example.
3. Record the music and sound effects. Good sound can make a real difference to the impression the game makes.

Testing and debugging

1. Perform internal testing. Play the game yourself and give it to the team to play. Look for bugs and missing elements.
2. Fix the errors you find. This can be a long process, but it is essential.
3. Optimize the game’s performance. Make sure that it works well on the target devices.

Beta testing

Launch a demo or beta version of the game. Gather feedback from players.

Then, based on the feedback you receive, implement the final changes to your project. You may have to considerably rework some parts of the game.

Promotion 

It’s best to start marketing your indie game in advance, during the development stage. 

• Use all available channels: social media, developer forums, and gaming communities. Contact game bloggers and offer them the chance to get to know your game. 
• Take part in game exhibitions and conferences (Gamescom, GDC, ChinaJoy, etc.). You will get the chance to demonstrate your game and chat with other developers.

Preparing for launch

1. Choose the platform you will sell your game on. Steam is the most popular option for PC. GOG works for games without DRM. Epic Games Store can offer attractive conditions. For mobile games, it will be the App Store and Google Play.
2. Prepare the materials for your game’s page:
   • Make a trailer. It should show the best aspects of your game in 1-2 minutes.
   • Take screenshots. These should attract attention and reflect the essence of your game.
   • Write an engaging description. Tell people what makes your game special.
3. Set a price. Study the market and look at similar games.  
4. Work out your tax liabilities. Each platform and country has its own rules. You may need to consult with a lawyer or an accountant.

Launching your game

1. Upload the final version to your chosen platform. Carefully check all files and descriptions.
2. Announce the release of your game. Use all available channels—social media, email newsletters, and forums. Let absolutely everyone know that your game is finally available.
3. Be prepared to react quickly. Unexpected problems may arise in the first days after your game comes out. Be vigilant and ready to launch patches fast.

Post-release support

1. Launch patches and updates. Fix bugs and improve performance. Even minor updates will demonstrate that you care about your game.
2. Communicate with players. Answer reviews and take part in discussions on forums. Let players know that you’re listening to them.
3. Think about additional content. This could be new levels, characters, or game modes. DLC can extend your game’s life and bring extra revenue.

Don’t be disappointed if sales don’t meet your expectations immediately. Sometimes, games need time to find their audience. The main thing is not to give up, to keep working on your game, and to engage with the community.

Good luck with your indie projects!