❤️ How to support an indie game
So there's an indie game you want to support.
Maybe you love the concept.
Maybe you love the developers.
Maybe you just like what you see and want to show your support.
Whatever the case, fortunately it's pretty straightforward:
- Wishlist it
- Buy it
- Review it
- Share it
OK yeah I know this all sounds obvious, but it isn't. Everybody likely knows all of this stuff already, but we all need to be reminded. Maybe even poked and/or prodded a bit to actually do these things, ya know? So let's do that:
1) Wishlist it
This is the easiest one. Press that button. This one right here:
It's free and it really does help the developer out.
Pressing that big ol' button tells Steam "hey this is a cool game" and their little magic robots run up to it and rub its shoulders. Then it appears in slightly more widgets sprinkled around the Steam store, and slightly more players will see it.
With wishlists, the more the merrier, so get in there.
Matt Hackett
2) Buy it
Buy that game.
Buy it, buy it with reckless abandon! Don't wait for a sale, just get in there.
Full price? You don't care, you absolute legend you, you supporter of the arts, you indie game warrior and magical wizard of power, you're just gonna buy that game!
Indie game devs survive because of generous supporters like you.
That's right. Buy that game, get it in your library, and feel good about supporting a little dev who could really use a hand. You done good, thank you kindly.
3) Review it
I know, this is harder. I'm bad about this myself.
What do I write? What should I say? Where am I??
Just try not to overthink it.
If you don't know what to say, simply say "good game". Or consider:
- I like this game
- buy it now
- super fun
- Loved it
- GG
You can't go wrong!
4) Share it
For some people, this will be the easiest step. Maybe you already love posting about indie games on Reddit or TikTok or the charred husk of Twitter or whatever.
For others, this will be the most difficult step. Maybe you feel weird posting online, or you don't know what to say, or just don't want to mess with this stuff. That's OK! Your purchase (and review) are enough, thank you so kindly you legendary gamer.
Either way, here are some ways to support that cool game you found:
- Post about it on the social medias (we all know this one, it's good stuff)
- Directly suggest the game to your favorite streamers and YouTubers
- Tell your friends (word of mouth is powerful)
- Stream/upload your own gameplay
That's it! Really, if you only do one thing: buy the game. That's enough to keep the lights on. You get the game and the devs get to keep working. win/win
👁️ Valadria & friends games to support
Now that you know how to love a game real good, here are some games that would love your love:
- Pixel Washer - My game! Power wash beautiful pixels as a cute piggy
- Star Spark - Valadria community member Jeremy Jackson's turn-based fighting game
- Cellar Creek - Pixel Washer contract level and economy designer Mike Zehr's cozy exploration game
- Wizwag - Pixel Washer contract programmer transmutrix's retro Zelda-style action game
- Dark Room - Made by a 12-year old How to Make a Video Game All By Yourself reader! Amazing
- Tossdown - Another book reader and fellow Acclaim-published dev!
- Set Sail Games - Multiple games (!) by friend and fellow podcaster Thomas Stewart
- [Redacted] The Safehouse - Remember last time when I wrote and video'd about this quickly made game by my friend Ben?
- Vaporwave Pinball - Friend across the sea Jamie D's chill pinball game
- Acclaim - My publisher's growing roster of cool indie games
(Did I forget you and/or your game? Ping me on the Valadria Discord.)