Are indie games more popular now?

Thanks to social media platforms like TikTok, indie games are now getting more attention than ever. From humble beginnings, these popular indie games have blossomed into successful juggernauts that could rival releases by major publishers, both in terms of critical acclaim and financial success.

Are indie games becoming more popular?

Indie games remain popular in 2022 as well. According to the Video Game Insights Report, in the first half of 2022, 6,015 new games were released on Steam, 5,895 of which were indie games. At the same time, 4 out of the 10 top-grossing games were indie releases: Core Keeper, Dread Hunger, Raft, and V Rising.

Are indie games growing?

The indie game development market has seen significant growth in recent years, but it is not necessarily saturated. According to a report by the International Game Developers Association (IGDA), the number of independent game developers around the world has grown significantly over the past decade.

When did indie games become popular?

The common take on indie games on personal computer took shape in the early 2000s from several factors. Key was the availability of online distribution over the Internet, allowing game developers to sell directly to players and bypassing limitations of retail distribution and the need for a publisher.

Why do indie games become popular?

Indie games have risen in popularity this year among all types of gamers, including hardcore players. The rise of indie titles may be attributed to the rising popularity of Steam, which offers its users a huge library of titles from independent developers.

Why Is Indie Gaming (Arguably) More Popular Than AAA Gaming?

Why AAA games are better than indie?

A larger budget allows AAA studios to invest in cutting-edge technology and head-hunt top talent in the industry. They have the resources to create more polished games with more features than most indie games.

What percentage of indie games are successful?

Yes, only 3% of indie developers ever make more than $1m, but that's still over 1,500 indies who have done so. Let's see what they do that others don't.

What is the biggest indie game ever?

1 Minecraft

Minecraft was originally developed by Marcus "Notch" Persson until he had enough money to be able to hire more people to help him develop it. He created the company Mojang which is probably the largest indie game success story.

What percentage of games are indie?

Indie video games are on the rise in the U.S., according to a study by market research and data analytics firm YouGov, with 17 percent of PC and console gamers playing indie labels in March 2022 compared to only 13 percent in March 2021.

Can you make a living off indie games?

According to VG Insights, only 15% of all solo game developers take home more than $100,000 annually. VG Insights also reported that only the top 5% of indie games released each year make over half a million dollars each, and the average game only makes $13,000.

Is Minecraft no longer an indie game?

It is comfortably Microsoft's biggest games IP, and has remained relevant and popular for more than a decade. Yet it's also one of the original indie games, responsible for every major games publisher launching an indie label to "find the next Minecraft." But Mojang is not an indie anymore -- not by any stretch.

What percentage of games on Steam are indie?

96% of games on Steam are indies, but they generate only 28% of total revenues due to them being cheaper than AAA titles. 26,000 of indie games don't even reach 300 units sold.

Who is the most popular indie game developer?

What was the first big indie game?

The phrase Indie Game started being used commonly around the early 2000's. Before that, they were termed as amateur, enthusiast, or hobbyist games. One of the first known examples of an indie game is Spacewar! which was released in 1963 but there is still some debate as to which is the first indie video game.

What percentage of indie games fail?

For every successful project, game development or other software development venture I have started, there are probably twenty that have been started and killed before every showing anyone. 70% of all indie games are commercial failures.

What are most indie games coded in?

Java. The indie game industry owes a lot to Java. Because of its open-source material and beginner-friendly syntax, Java is one of the go-to's for game developers in need of a solid coding language.

What is the average indie game size?

Indie games tend to be smaller, but they're still bulky—there's no guarantee that an indie game will be any smaller than a AAA game. For example, Rogue Legacy only needs 550 MB to install while Guacamelee needs about 1 GB and Tabletop Simulator needs about 3 GB.

Is it worth becoming an indie game developer?

Some of the most captivating and innovative video game experiences have come from passionate and dedicated indie developers. So to say that small game projects can't be good is a lie. However, as an indie developer you'll never get the chance to work on the biggest projects in the industry.

How much do indie game developers make a year?

Average salary for fulltime indie game devs is $11,782/year.

What is the biggest size game right now?

Why do some indie games fail?

Indie games fail sometimes because of a poor marketing strategy: Either the team didn't build an audience or didn't find a way to interest the gaming world enough to make it play the game. The second reason comes from the game itself: The lack of game design skills or the level of immersion is too low.

Who is the richest indie game developers in the world?

Mojang. It's the big one. With over 200 million copies sold, Minecraft is not only the best selling indie, but the best selling game ever, at least at the time of publishing. As of the end of 2021 they had a mind-blowing net worth of 1.7 billion dollars.

How much to sell an indie game for?

In short, pick a price that is comparable to other indie games and then charge 20% more. If people are really really excited about your game, charge 50% more than you think you should.