8 Things You Need to Do to Get Into Indie Game Design

Imagine crafting worlds limited only by your imagination. In these worlds, gameplay trumps graphics and innovation reigns supreme. That’s the promise of indie game development—a promise only a fraction fulfill. Less than 1% of games on Steam generate significant revenue. Here’s how to defy those odds.

1. Develop Core Game Design Skills

Game design is about understanding why games work.

Understanding game mechanics and systems is paramount. Analyze the core loops of games like Dead Cells or Celeste to see how they hook players.

Master core loops, player progression, and balancing to create engaging gameplay. Level design principles are equally important. Craft intuitive and challenging environments that guide players effectively. Narrative design can elevate your game. Focus on storytelling, world-building, and character development. Prototyping helps you kill bad ideas fast. Get comfortable quickly testing and iterating on your game ideas.

2. Learn a Game Engine (or Two)

Pick your tool: Unity, Unreal, or Godot? Choose based on your project and learning style.

Unity offers versatility. It has a large community and an extensive asset store. It is easy to learn and great for both 2D and 3D games, but performance can be an issue if not optimized.

Unreal Engine is known for its high-fidelity graphics and powerful tools, and features blueprint visual scripting, helpful for those new to coding. Godot Engine is open-source and lightweight, using GDScript, a Python-like language. It’s a solid option for 2D games and smaller projects. Consider your project’s needs and your learning style when selecting an engine. Don’t be afraid to experiment. If you’re a beginner focused on 2D games, Unity or Godot are excellent starting points.

3. Gain Programming Proficiency (Even Basic)

You don’t need to be a coding god, but knowing the basics is essential to bring your game ideas to life. Even basic programming skills empower designers to prototype ideas and communicate effectively with programmers, reducing dependence on others.

Grasp variables, loops, and functions—code’s core building blocks. C# is commonly used with Unity, C++ with Unreal Engine, and GDScript with Godot. Choose the language that corresponds to your engine. Learn how to use scripting to control gameplay logic and interactions. This will give you more control over your game.

Numerous online courses, tutorials, and documentation are available to help you learn. Start with the basics and gradually increase your knowledge.

4. Create a Portfolio of Game Projects

Your portfolio is your resume—proof you can actually ship games.

It’s crucial to document not just the final product. Include the design decisions, iterations, and lessons learned.

Focus on completing small projects rather than attempting ambitious games right away. Showcase a variety of skills and genres. This shows versatility.

Describe your design process and the challenges you faced. This demonstrates your problem-solving abilities. Let people experience your games firsthand. Include playable builds and videos. Check out Game Design Portfolio Examples for inspiration.

5. Network with Other Developers

The indie game community is your lifeline. Connect, collaborate, and learn from others.

Attend game jams and conferences. These events are great for meeting other developers and learning new skills.

When attending conferences, don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to speakers and other attendees. Ask thoughtful questions and engage in genuine conversation.

Participate in discussions and share your work in online communities and forums. Consider joining communities like the GameDev.net forums or specific engine-related Discord servers.

Follow developers and studios whose work you admire. Connect on social media. Working with others is a great way to gain experience and build relationships. Collaborate on projects.

6. Understand the Business Side of Indie Game Development

Making a game is only half the battle. Selling it is the other half.

Learn how to manage your finances and create a realistic budget. Use tools like Google Sheets to track income and expenses.

Develop a plan for reaching your target audience. Implement effective marketing and promotion strategies. The Indie MEGABOOTH provides opportunities to showcase your game at events, offering valuable feedback sessions and increased visibility.

Understand copyright, trademarks, and other legal issues. Research different platforms and choose the best option for your game. Explore various distribution platforms and revenue models.

7. Develop a Strong Online Presence

In today’s digital world, if you’re not online, you don’t exist.

Showcase your work and provide contact information. Create a website or online portfolio.

Share your progress on Twitter, engage with the community on Mastodon, and host your game on Itch.io. Create devlogs, tutorials, and behind-the-scenes posts.

Share your knowledge and build your reputation by participating in online discussions. Establish yourself as a game developer. Build a personal brand.

8. Embrace Continuous Learning and Experimentation

The game industry never stands still. If you’re not learning, you’re falling behind. One important aspect of learning is understanding the trends and technologies shaping the future; stay updated on The Future of Game Development: Trends and Technologies. If you’re looking for assets to use in your game, consider checking out Strafekit, an asset marketplace that provides developers with unlimited game assets to use in their projects.

Follow industry news and trends to stay up-to-date. Don’t be afraid to try new things. Experiment with new ideas.

Get input from other developers and players. Seek feedback. Game development can be brutal, but don’t give up. Be persistent.

The indie world awaits. Ready to take the first step?