Indie Game Joe

Indie Game Joe

@indiegamejoe.com

I’m Joe, a former painter & decorator turned award-winning video game marketing consultant. Love sharing indie games! Discord: https://discord.gg/indiegamejoe

1K followers923 following118 posts

A beautiful classically hand-animated adventure game inspired by 70s and 80s-era Disney and Don Bluth movies - Play as a royal courier - Sword duels and RPG elements - Cinematic combat system - Large interconnected world Game is War of the Western Deep. #gamedev #indiegames #gaming

Gaming just feels really sad right now. Layoffs every other week. Told you must accept GenAI slop or you won't survive. If a game doesn't have 400k concurrent players it's a "dead game" I'm just tired. This isn't how I remember gaming, it used to feel more magical, yeah... #gaming #gamedev

hardware at absolutely insane prices, gamers laughing as 400 people just lost their jobs, physical media becoming less of a thing, vibecoder sloppers copying other hard working indie devs' games just to try make a quick buck. i'm just really sad i'm sorry guys

Build the cabin of your dreams with your dog in this cozy survival game - Dog is always by your side - Hunt, gather, and craft your way through the wild - 11 unique regions to explore - Single player or online co-op Game is Wild n Chill. #gaming #indiegames #gamedev

"Split up the chores however ya like. One friend hunts while another fishes, someone gathers firewood, and the fella who “knows carpentry” accidentally puts the window in backwards again." this looks... AMAZING! Wishlist: store.steampowered.com/app/3847920/...

store.steampowered.comWild n Chill on SteamWild n Chill is a laid-back wilderness escape where ya forage, hunt, and craft the off-grid cabin of your dreams. Far from the noise and nonsense, it’s just you, your trusty companion, and a pal or tw...

Making a game is art. It’s like an extension of you. I really think it’s one of the most vulnerable things a person can do. You tear off a piece of yourself, hold it up to the world and say, “Here’s what I love, and I hope you love it too”. Keep it up, indies! ❤️ #gaming #indiegames #gamedev

This indie dev is making a game where you can literally play as Ancient Egyptian wall art. - Switch between a 3D archaeologist and living 2D art - Survive puzzles that fight back - Progress by mastering both worlds It’s called Fresco. This mechanic is genius. #gamedev #gaming #indiegames

Hey indie devs! I have a wonderful Discord community (nearly 15,000 members) full of awesome devs and gamers. You are welcome to join, share your game, learn something new, or just chat! Rule #8, though: "Absolutely no AI generated content" You can join below! 👇 #gamedev #indiedev

Draw your own fish and watch it swim off and grow up in your own aquarium - Paint fish or anything you can imagine - Feed and raise them - Unlock new decor like sand and lighting - Set it all as your animated wallpaper Game is Drawquarium. #gaming #gamedev #indiedev

You know, all I keep hearing is that AI is about speed, and only the end result matters. Input, output, done. And I just feel really sad about it all To me, the end product was never the point of making something. The actual making was. That's where the magic and the art are. #indiedev #gamedev

Indie Game Joe reposted

But what is Tim and Elon's argument? What points do they raise? What insight do they offer? None... because Tim spends all day talking to LLMs he doesn't provide an argument or counter-point - he tells Kenney how to think. Think like me - he is trying to correct an LLM not speak to a human.

Kenney@kenney.nl

Last I'll post about this, but Elon Musk disagrees with me. This means I am onto something, and I feel more valid in my opinion than ever.

This city builder looks like it is running on a Macintosh from 1988 and the island you govern is hiding something - Rebuild a failing island settlement - Keep the lighthouse lit through storms - Dig up the island's secret in old letters Game is GlagStone.

You arrive as the new governor to find the lighthouse broken and the last governor missing, with strange wreckage washing up on the shore. Also, rain, snow and fog change what you can see. Planned for 2027! Wishlist: store.steampowered.com/app/4198840/...

store.steampowered.comGlagStone on SteamA 1-bit story-driven city builder inspired by late-80s Macintosh aesthetics. Rebuild a remote northern island settlement between warring nations and uncover the mystery at its heart.

This horror game keeps getting called AI but the monsters are real masks on real actors - Monster mask cast from the actress's face - Effects team from When Evil Lurks - 60 days of filming in Buenos Aires Game is Tenebris Somnia. It's out on Steam now. #indiegames

You play a 1950s housewife who secretly sabotages her lousy husband and makes every accident look innocent - Pushed to breaking point by a toxic marriage - Her rage opens up new choices and endings - Plan the perfect little mishaps Game is The Great Wife's Guide. #gaming #indiegames

The discourse around video games is so negative right now it's literally exhausting. Games are made to bring us joy and great memories. Too often we take that for granted. We’re lucky to experience this medium, and it’s worth remembering that.

Is every game great? Of course not. Critique is fine, and disappointment happens - we're allowed to feel that. But the relentless cynicism towards games in general, especially from devs who clearly make great games, just blows my mind.

This indie dev is making a game where you play as one of millions of sperm racing to win the ultimate prize, life itself - Wiggle, dash, and outcompete rivals - Collect resources to evolve & grow stronger - Customise your sperm's look It's called Become. Would you play this?

"Master the currents, collect sugars and proteins, and evolve your cell to be the fastest, toughest, and most efficient swimmer to achieve the miracle of life." now this is a cool concept for a game! wishlist here store.steampowered.com/app/3710850/...

store.steampowered.comBecome on SteamBecome is a short single-player third-person adventure where you embark on life's most fantastical journey, as one of millions of sperm. Survive the perilous microcosm, wiggle, dash, and outcompete ri...

This indie dev is making a game where you play as a shepherd dog called Hubert, protecting his flock and the only human who trusts him - Herd sheep across the farm - Something calls you from the woods - Brave harsh weather and danger It's called Hubert. Would you play this?

Game devs, if your trailer or gameplay clip relies on sound to make sense, it’s already losing most viewers. Most people scroll with their phones muted. If it can’t show what the game is in three seconds of silence, they won’t stick around for the sound. Let’s talk 👇🧵 (1/9)

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So, if your trailer or clip works in silence, it’ll be brilliant with sound. Design for silence first. Clarity - curiosity - click - wishlist. Good trailers speak. Great trailers sing :) (9/9)

Thanks for reading. I hope this helps. I always say marketing isn’t about selling something, it’s about making people feel something. That’s at the heart of how you communicate your game.

Game devs, if your trailer or gameplay clip relies on sound to make sense, it’s already losing most viewers. Most people scroll with their phones muted. If it can’t show what the game is in three seconds of silence, they won’t stick around for the sound. Let’s talk 👇🧵 (1/9)

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Tips that help: - Short captions or on-screen text - Clear cause-and-effect moments - Framing that guides the eye - End with a payoff, scare, reveal, or joke Then layer music and SFX for extra punch. (7/9)

And to be clear, sound is of course hugely important. It builds atmosphere and emotion. Make it work in silence first so the audio becomes a powerful bonus, not the only thing carrying the message. (8/9)

Game devs, if your trailer or gameplay clip relies on sound to make sense, it’s already losing most viewers. Most people scroll with their phones muted. If it can’t show what the game is in three seconds of silence, they won’t stick around for the sound. Let’s talk 👇🧵 (1/9)

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When you design for sound-off first, sound becomes a bonus emotion, not a crutch. It enhances what’s already clear. Teach yourself to communicate the idea visually first, then let sound amplify it. (5/9)

How to test it: - Mute your trailer or clip - Watch with no context If a stranger can’t tell what your game is in 3–5 seconds, the issue isn’t sound, it’s clarity and structure. (6/9)

Game devs, if your trailer or gameplay clip relies on sound to make sense, it’s already losing most viewers. Most people scroll with their phones muted. If it can’t show what the game is in three seconds of silence, they won’t stick around for the sound. Let’s talk 👇🧵 (1/9)

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Your trailer or clip should speak visually. A viewer should grasp what your game is within three seconds of silence. Show a moment, emotion, or reaction that makes them think, “I get it.” That clarity stops the scroll/swipe. (3/9)

Think about it: when a clip catches your eye but the sound is low or off, what do you do? You turn the volume up. You unmute. That’s the goal: visuals strong enough to earn the sound. (4/9)

Game devs, if your trailer or gameplay clip relies on sound to make sense, it’s already losing most viewers. Most people scroll with their phones muted. If it can’t show what the game is in three seconds of silence, they won’t stick around for the sound. Let’s talk 👇🧵 (1/9)

Many players watch videos with the sound off; some studies say up to ~85% on Facebook. People scroll in public, at work, or on breaks. Creating trailers and clips “sound-off first” can teach you how to communicate your game visually and more clearly. (2/9)

Game Devs! Wider store pages + MP4/WEBM support in descriptions. ☑ 1200px-wide store pages (main col 780px) ☑ MP4/WEBM now supported in descriptions ☑ GIFs auto-converted for smaller file sizes ☑ New image/video alignment tools Opt-in via Steam client beta to see changes #gamedev #indiegamedev

🚨 Game devs! BREAKING! Steam just upgraded the Trailer Player - Better quality & playback - Most trailers auto-upgraded - Pre-2020 uploads? Re-upload for best quality - 4:3 & vertical now fully supported - Missing source files now flagged in Steamworks Full changelog 👇 #gamedev #indiedev

If you are an indie dev posting about your game, here is something nobody tells you. It is not the algorithm’s job to make people care. It is your job. The algorithm only reflects what resonates with people. If your content is not clear or interesting, they will scroll. #gamedev #indiedev

Going viral is the exception, not the rule. Most games grow step by step, not overnight. The goal isn’t one big moment. It’s to get better each time you post, to see what connects, to keep going, and to know when to pivot or try something new.