How to Make an Indie Game for the First Time without Failing?
The YaninaGames team cherishes and appreciates all kinds of game development projects. Small, independent studios take a special place in our hearts because this is the voice of creative freedom. We love making indie games independently and tell beginners how to make an indie game even if they have no money or experience.
The following guide won’t provide you with boring technical details on how to program an asset or draw a background. There are tons of YouTube tutorials telling how to do this. We will focus on giving the guidelines for your future indie game developer career. You are free to decide if it is worth going this path or looking for something else.
About the Nuances of Indie Game Development
Indie games are typically made by independent creators. They are free from the companies or large publishers such as Sega or Ubisoft. It doesn’t matter if it is a 2D platform game or a 3D roguelike – if you don’t work under any major AAA publisher then what you make is considered an indie game.
Do you need a team to make an indie game? It depends on the complexity level of the indie game project. Indie game studios usually consist of a few experts including designers, programmers, artists, and sound engineers. But, many projects like Stardew Valley have been made by a single developer. You can create an indie game on your own, though, it is more challenging than working in a team.
While Ben Franklin didn’t actually say this, it has a sense of truth to it: “In this world, there is nothing certain except death, taxes, and Activision releasing another Call of Duty every year”.
From the middle of the 2000s, indie games have been getting more famous because of platforms such as Steam and Xbox Live Arcade. Players want fresh and imaginative experiences – and that’s exactly what they get with indie games. Indie games like Braid and Super Meat Boy started the explosion in popularity for indie titles, while Journey along with Chicory: A Colorful Tale brought it to the mainstream level.
How to Make An Indie Game Without Hassle – Pros
- Creative freedom;
- No crunch culture;
- Recognition;
- Devoted fan-based community;
How Hard Is It To Make an Indie Game – Cons
- Limited resources;
- No backup team to cover you up;
- Disturbed work-life balance;
- Marketing and monetization can be challenging;
How to Make an Indie Game – Some of the Best Titles for Inspiration
It is impossible to count all the beautiful indie games made during all these years since the 2000s. But still, we will name a few titles you may use as an inspiration source for your project whether in terms of visuals, graphics, sound, or mechanics.
The Binding of Isaac
The Binding of Isaac, made by Edmund McMillen, is a rogue-like dungeon crawler that has levels generated randomly. The player handles Isaac who needs to get away from his mother’s hold by moving through a frightening basement full of strange enemies. The game’s humorous dark side, unpredictability, and range of power-ups add uniqueness to every playthrough. Its challenging gameplay and replayability have earned it a dedicated fan base.
Undertale
Undertale, made by Toby Fox, is an RPG that turns around typical game rules. You manage a child who drops into the Underground – another universe full of monsters. This game has a special fighting method where you can select to fight or solve encounters without violence. Undertale is famed for its clever writing, characters you don’t forget, and deep emotions. The unique way of playing and telling a story has made it a top choice among indie games.
Hotline Miami
Hotline Miami, from Dennaton Games, is a violent top-down shooter known for its neon-soaked visuals and pulsating soundtrack. Players become a mysterious protagonist who gets cryptic messages asking them to carry out violent acts. The game’s fast and hard gameplay along with its stylish look have made it very popular among those who appreciate this genre. If you want to learn how to make an indie game with pixel art style, consider watching the documentary about the development of this project.
Spelunky
Spelunky, created by Derek Yu, is a rogue-like platformer that lets you explore caves that are procedurally created with traps, treasures, and enemies. The game’s permadeath feature combined with randomly generated levels makes it challenging yet satisfying to play again and again. Spelunky’s excellent controls along with its intricacies keep people coming back for more making this game an indie classic.
All these games were made with small teams or solo indie developers, sometimes on a limited budget. We advise you to start with the development of indie game assets – for example, you may try the premium 2D game development services offered by YaninaGames.
How to Make an Indie Game With No Experience – 5 Steps To Follow
- Pick a (Small) Idea
Fresh game devs frequently desire to make games similar to the ones they admire. If you’re a fan of big games such as Civilization or Stardew Valley, it’s easy to feel enticed to start creating one. Begin with simple ideas or genres. Think of game development as a skill that improves with time and patience, similar to learning an instrument.
For instance, if you plan to create a platformer, concentrate on primary player actions such as moving left and right, jumping up and down, or having an end condition for winning the game. Keep the concept straightforward.
- Pick an Engine or Framework:
- Game Engines. Such as Unity or Unreal. They possess user-friendly graphical interfaces and come with many pre-existing functions;
- Frameworks. More code-focused. They offer flexibility but require more setup and coding skills;
- Non-programmers. Unity or Godot are very good options. These platforms permit you to commence without requiring immediate mastery of coding. As you proceed, the skills will be acquired naturally;
- Programmers. Use a framework in the language you are familiar with. This helps to concentrate on creating games. However, do not be hesitant when it comes to engines. They offer long-term benefits;
- 2D vs. 3D. Start with 2D indie games. They are more straightforward and assist in a quicker learning process. After getting used to it, shift to the 3D format;
Follow this subreddit thread to understand the nuances of indie game development. Here you can find useful advice about how to make an indie game of your dreams.
- Create the Prototype
Start by aiming for a Minimum Viable Product (MVP). Concentrate on the most essential and basic mechanics in this phase. Don’t worry about art or sound yet; use basic shapes or placeholder graphics.
This assists you in maintaining a small scope and learning about the components that create game enjoyment. Adjust your fundamental mechanics until they seem fitting. Well-designed core mechanics are the essence of an enjoyable game.
- Find Assets
Finally, you can include some assets for adding art and sound. You might make your own, but there are also many free options available on the internet. Look for websites such as itch.io and OpenGameArt to find what you need. Experiment with different assets. You’ll see how much they enhance your game’s feel.
- Turn it into a Complete Game
You possess a modest game that contains few mechanics and fundamental assets. Complete it by incorporating a game loop: achieving victory, facing defeat, and restarting the process. It does not mean that you cannot modify it afterward but rather signifies the end of an entire experience. You can now activate all the mechanics, such as a main menu or save system if needed.
Finishing a game provides something for you to share and receive feedback on. It’s also simpler to include more characteristics in the future when the main elements are done. Learning how to complete projects is an important ability for game creation.
Last but not least – if you really want to learn how to make an indie game from scratch never give up. Communicate with other indie game developers, attend meetups and hackathons, watch tutorials and share your struggles or achievements on social media. For inspiration, you may read this great Reddit post from a beginner indie developer.
How Much Does an Indie Game Cost to Make?
The expense of making an indie game can differ greatly based on many elements such as the game’s size, intricacy, and resources accessible to the developer. Normally, indie games are cheaper to create compared to AAA productions which may require multi-millions for development expenses. However, they still represent a considerable monetary commitment.
Here are some usual expenses you are to include when you think about how long does it take to make an indie game:
1) Software and Tools
Frequently, free versions are available for popular game engines such as Unity and Unreal Engine. However, some advanced functions might only be accessible via subscription or a single payment. The programs such as Adobe Creative Cloud may have a monthly cost of over $ 50, but alternatives like GIMP or Blender are free.
2) Assets and Resources
Hiring freelance artists or buying ready-made assets from marketplaces may range in value from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. The costs for music licensing or hiring composers and sound designers can vary from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, based on the level of quality and amount of work required.
3) Development Time
Now, if your game involves a team, this could be a big expense. A small group of developers, artists, and designers might cost you tens of thousands of dollars in one year. The expenses might also increase if you hire freelance developers or studios for particular jobs.
4) Marketing and Distribution
The expense of running advertisements on social media, gaming sites, or YouTube can be from a few hundred to some thousand dollars. Visiting offline events such as PAX or GDC for exhibiting the game might include costs for transport, staying arrangements, and registration charges.
5) Publishing Costs
When you choose to publish your game on platforms such as Steam, PlayStation, or Xbox, there might be a need for payment starting from $ 100 (this represents the fee related to Steam Greenlight) up to a certain percentage of sales revenue. The cost of QA testing is necessary for making sure the game has no bugs and is highly refined.
According to the experience of the YaninaGames team, simple indie game development will cost you about $ 250,000 and $ 500,000 on development along with the following marketing budget that requires about $ 200, 000. So, aim for $ 500, 000 as an average budget for an average indie game. The size of the team, the launch schedule, and the game’s scope – all these factors affect the complete budget.
How To Make Money As An Indie Game Developer?
As per the study of Video Game Insights, from 44,000 developers on Steam, 57% earned less than $ 1,000 in total revenue and only 3% got over $ 1 million. This shows that making significant money through indie games can be unpredictable and tough for many people.
The truth is that earnings for indie game developers can differ greatly, depending on how well the game does in terms of sales or downloads. Many factors influence this, like the game’s quality and uniqueness, marketing efforts put into it, pricing strategy used for sales (one-time payment versus in-game purchases), size of target audience, and market conditions. You could earn a small amount if your game doesn’t become popular but on the other hand, even one successful creation can bring in substantial income.
An average is hard to establish because earnings might range from nothing to millions of dollars. The average salary for an indie game developer is about $ 50k – $ 70k per year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to make an indie game?
An independent game’s development process might take anywhere from a few days to many years. The indie game development time is affected by a number of factors – the difficulty level of included mechanics, budget, working hours, coding experience, and the complexity of the game’s graphic style. Some indie games like Hollow Knight: Silksong may take years to create even in a team. Some indie gems like Only Up could take only a few weeks to make (though, using stolen assets for your project is a bad idea).
How long does it take to make an indie game by yourself?
According to the experience of many solo developers, the creation of a small indie game with low poly or pixel art styles can take from 2 years to make, on average.
How to make an indie game for free?
Make use of free game creation tools such as PlayCanvas, Unity (free edition), or Godot. Use free resources for game creation and programming languages such as Python, Lua, and JavaScript. To create game graphics assets, use free graphic design programs like Krita, Inkscape, or GIMP. Interact with the independent game developer community to promote resource sharing and teamwork. If necessary, think about raising money on your own or through crowdsourcing websites like Kickstarter or Patreon.
How to make an indie horror game?
Are you inspired by indie horror games like Tormented Souls or Amnesia? Then you can try to make your horror projects. Such games are relatively easy to create even with a small team and budget; also, they are popular on Steam and among YouTube streamers.
Create a basic game concept first, then concentrate on fundamental elements such as player movement and a winning condition. Use Godot or Unity, two game creation engines that are easy for beginners to use. Use internet tools like Udemy, books, and YouTube to learn the fundamentals of programming.
Make simple games to hone your abilities and boost your self-esteem, then add more complexity over time. Put a complete game loop in place and finish it off with some visuals, music, and polish.
How to make an indie game in Unity?
Creating a successful indie game with the flexible Unity engine involves following several key steps:
- Play a variety of games to understand what works and what doesn’t;
- Identify a unique gameplay element, gimmick, or art style that sets your game apart;
- Choose your game genre and art style;
- Design the game mechanics and story;
- Select a game engine (e.g., Unity, Unreal Engine, GameMaker);
- Do the playtesting to identify bugs and areas for improvement;
- Incorporate feedback from testers to refine the game;
- Create a marketing plan to build hype before the launch;
- Use social media, influencers, and gaming communities to promote your game;
- Launch the game on multiple platforms to reach a wider audience;
How to make an indie video game and monetize it successfully?
To maximize revenue, indie developers can use several monetization strategies like direct sales on Steam and itch.io, in-app advertising, selling the game-related merchandise, including the game into bundles or subscription services like Xbox GamePass, in-game events, and selling the downloadable content.
Conclusion
Indie game development can be a tough challenge for a beginner developer, yet it can bring so much satisfaction as well. The expenses are different for each project, but with good preparation and imaginative marketing methods, indie developers might attain both recognition from critics and financial success. Keep in mind that the most important thing when you learn how to make an indie game is to create a top-notch project with soul, interesting gameplay, and interested players.
