The indie gaming market has attained quite the large audience. Seasoned gamers, newcomers, and casual fans are all enchanted by the independent games, created by passionate developers using whatever means they could get around to.
Many believe that one can only turn a profit if they are backed by a huge company. But, indie titles prove them wrong. So, how do indie developers attract, enthrall, and maintain an audience?
Exploring Different Themes
One of the most noteworthy ways in which indie developers attract an audience is by tackling themes that most Triple A titles are simply too afraid to touch on.
For example, the game Buckshot Roulette is a game developed by Mike Klubnika, an independent Estonian game designer, who simply had a unique idea.
Perhaps inspired by the growing iGaming market, Klubnika came out with this horror, tabletop, gambling game.
The iGaming market deals with all things relating to online casinos. Fans can play craps online or indulge in a round of poker by visiting any online casino.
But a standout game in the iGaming world is undoubtedly roulette. With the industry on the rise, we shouldn’t be surprised by the emergence of gambling games like Buckshot Roulette.
It isn’t just gambling that is being tackled, though. Indie RPGs inspired by the Earthbound game franchise are all the rage.
Many of them are focused on rather heavy topics, like dealing with certain internal issues. It is rare to see big-name titles do this nowadays, especially in such an open and honest way. Many gamers are thrilled by the willingness to touch on heavy themes.
A Throwback to Retro Gaming
As times have changed, so has the gaming industry. Complex RPGs, action/adventure open world games, and FPS shoot-a-tons are all the rage nowadays. However, there are still those gamers who crave a return to the old-school.
Puzzle-platformers, dungeon crawlers, and of course, the always beloved Metroidvania games can only be found on the indie market nowadays.
Among the most successful games inspired by Metroid and Castlevania is Dead Cells. The game requires players to traverse an underground dungeon, discovering clues as to why it was abandoned along the way.
While the game’s main inspiration comes from Castlevania, fans of the Dark Souls series will certainly recognize the unique style of storytelling unique to FromSoftware.
The JRPG genre has also been, somewhat, forgotten. While there are still excellent Triple A JRPGs being released (Fire Emblem is a great example), the old-school games like Final Fantasy, Chrono Trigger, and Suikoden have long been forgotten.
But independent game developers still carry the torch for classic JRPGs. Games like Hyper Light Breaker, Wanderstop, and Atelier Lumia the Alchemist are bringing back a genre to a new audience.
Online Discussions and Marketing
A big reason that people believe that indie games just can’t make it has to do with a lack of a marketing budget. However, why pay for marketing, when the internet is a great way to get eyes on your product for free.
The American studio, Supergiant, got a lot of eyes on their hit game Hades, just by releasing an exemplary trailer for it on YouTube. Fans were excited by the art style, animation, and gameplay.
Apart from YouTube, there are plenty of ways to advertise your game, without coming off as desperate or demanding.
Indie developers (and game studios) often do Q&As on social media platforms, attempting to sell the best aspects of their games to new fans. Reddit, X.com, and similar social media platforms are an excellent way to reach a broad audience.
Of course, the best way to get eyes on your game is to sell it through Steam, and other online game shops. Steam is, of course, the most popular online game shop, created by Valve.
It is thanks to this service that many of the best-known independent games have gotten the attention that they so rightly deserve.
Setting Themselves Apart
There are plenty of indie games being published every year, but not many soar to the top. We don’t mean to imply, in this article, that it is easy to get an audience for an independent game.
Simply, we are saying that it is easier now than ever. But, the game still requires a sort of uniqueness that will make it shine among its competitors.
For example, with Hades, the unique aspect of the game was its spectacular animation, impeccable voice acting, and a dedication to telling an authentic mythological story, while still capturing a unique, modern style.
With a game like Binding of Isaac, the unique elements are manifest in just how bizarrely the story is told, and even the very premise of the game.
Independent studios and developers lack the budget to market their games as well as the big boys. That is why they must work twice as hard to, not just get the audience’s attention, but also retain it.
Fans want unique art styles, impressive game play, visuals that can compel, and more. It is why games like Dead Cells, Blasphemous I & II, and Hades were such massive hits.
A Bit of Luck Never Hurts
Finally, all game developers require a bit of luck, whether they be Triple A or independent. The gaming market is incredibly competitive, particularly in the 21st century, when incredible technology like PC conversion makes it possible to play old school games on emulators.
Sometimes, one can do everything right. They can have incredible visuals, innovative gameplay, and polished mechanics. The one thing out of their control is luck.
All of the games we’ve brought up thus far have had talented people, working tirelessly to create the best product possible.
We don’t mean to disparage their achiveements and hard work. However, there is no denying that, without the luck factor, many of these games would not have gotten to be as popular as they are.
Final Thoughts
The gaming industry will continue to thrive in the future. As games are becoming more mainstream and popular among a modern audience, there will be more and more people who want to put their own ideas to the test.
We hope that this article can help fans understand why indie games are successful, and developers create some amazing games in the future.
