Indie video game developers are a vital part of the industry’s ecosystem. Although they are not widely known to the casual gamer, one could argue they are keeping video games “alive” amidst thousands of layoffs and restructuring in the larger corporations. In addition to that, some of the most innovative ideas and designs come from the indie dev–free to create however they wish. Their largest challenges? Financial and promotional support. So, how can we support indie developers?
1. Wishlist their game on Steam
Wishlist, wishlist, wishlist, wishlist! The number one thing indie devs have told me when I asked how we can support their games is to wish list on Steam.
- Log into Steam
- Seach for the game
- Below the trailer and photos, there will be an icon in the center to wish list it.
Wish listing does not bind you to purchase the game upon release. Game devs say that wish listing helps Steam measure interest in the game and is factored into the algorithm for discoverability. Even if you have no intention of playing the game on Steam (say, you prefer playing it on the Nintendo Switch), the wish listing still helps the game get noticed. The more a game is noticed, reviewed, and sold, it will likely give them more bargaining chips to expand.
2. Play the Demo or Early Access
If a demo or early access is available, try it out and provide feedback. Once a game does launch, leaving a review is also helpful (unless you are review-bombing which is a no-no).
3. Support their Kickstarter, if any
Some small teams struggle with funding, and they may open a Kickstarter account. If you are interested in an indie game in development, ask if they have a Kickstarter. If course, this this one involves money, do your research on whether this is a game you want to support, have the finances to donate, and understand the risks if the fundraising goal isn’t met.
- Go to Kickstarter and log-in or sign up.
- Find the game
- Read all the terms before making your decision
- Back the game, if you choose
4. Get Social
This is the most obvious and convenient step–follow the game developer and share anything they post. Utilize hashtags and tag any interested friends. Word of mouth still goes a long way in the industry.
We hope you keep an eye out for some AMAZING indie developed games in the 2024 pipeline. If anything catches your eye, please wish list them on Steam to show them your support. Boss Rush wrote some top games from PAX East to keep an eye on. We also mention our favorites in our Boss Rush Diaries:
- Boss Rush Day One at PAX
- Boss Rush Day Two at PAX
- Boss Rush Day Three at PAX
- Boss Rush Day Four at PAX
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The Boss Rush Podcast is the flagship podcast of The Boss Rush Network and Boss Rush Media. Each week, hosts Corey Dirrig, Stephanie Klimov, LeRon Dawkins, and Pat Klein come together with their friends, colleagues, and fellow creators to talk about their week in video games, discuss industry topics, conduct interviews, answer listener questions, and more. New episodes every Monday. Get each episode one week early and more perks over on the Boss Rush Network Patreon page.
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