A Guide on Indie Games + How to Develop Your Own

Many believe that there’s little difference between AAA and indie games. But from the developer’s side, the distinctions are clear. Both share common workflows and tools. And yet indie games stand out in meaningful ways. What makes a game “indie” anyway?

It’s not just about where a game came from. Its inspiration, unique stylistic choices, and features all contribute to its uniqueness. Understanding their growing impact can offer a fresh perspective. 

Read on to learn about indie games, including their rich history, famous developers, and standout titles. By the end, you’ll have a clearer picture of this rich corner of the gaming world.

What are indie games?

Indie games are video games developed by small teams/individuals. This is usually without major financial or creative support from large publishers. Indie game studios have more freedom to take risks, explore unique concepts, and apply a personal touch. Out-of-the-box visuals and game mechanics are typical indie game components.

Many factors determine whether a game is indie or not, such as origin, aesthetics, and budget.

How did indie games get so popular?

Originally, large companies such as Nintendo, Sega, and Sony dominated the video game world. But in the early 2000s, indie games started getting more popular. Game designer Kevin Toms famously used his knowledge of board games and soccer to develop the hit game, Football Manager. 

Despite this, indie developers struggled to get their games off the ground. They either had to find a distributor or start a publisher. Then Steam came along and changed everything. This platform allowed small indie companies to self-publish, bypassing gaming giants.

Indie game popularity kept rising until the present day. Based on this Video Game Insights Report:

• In the first three quarters of 2024, 99% of games released on Steam were indie games.
• 58% of units sold were indie.
• 2024 was the first year that indie games have made as much money on Steam as AAA games.
• Indie revenue share doubled in the last six years. 

All these figures prove how far indie games have come in the 21st Century. 

Famous indie game developers

Like how A24 created a huge buzz in the film industry, many indie developers have stood out in gaming with innovative titles and dedicated fanbases. Here are some of the most successful indie game studios:

Indie game developer	Founded	Country of origin	Notable games
Mojang Studios	2009	Sweden	Minecraft, Caller’s Bane
Playdead	2006	Denmark	Limbo, Inside
Supergiant Games	2009	USA	Bastion, Hades, Transistor
Team Meat	2009	USA	Super Meat Boy, Super Meat Boy Forever
Toby Fox	2015	USA	Deltarune, Undertale

Best-selling indie games (by number of copies sold)

Some of the best-selling indie games of all time include:

Game title	Developer	Genre	Game engine	Released	Number of copies sold (as of December 2024)
Minecraft	Mojang Studios	Sandbox, survival	LWJGL	2011	300+ million
Terraria	Re-Logic	Action-adventure, sandbox	XNA Framework	2011	58.7 million
Human: Fall Flat	Curve Games	Puzzle-platform	Unity	2016	50 million
Rocket League	Psyonix	Sports	Unreal Engine 3	2015	40 million
Stardew Valley	ConcernedApe	Farm life sim, role-playing	MonoGame	2016	30 million
Castle Crashers	The Behemoth	Action role-playing, hack-and-slash	Engine built from scratch	2008	20 million
Among Us	Innersloth	Party, social deduction	Unity	2018	15 million
Valheim	Iron Gate Studio	Sandbox, survival	Unity	2021	13.6 million
Cuphead	Studio MDHR	Run and gun	Unity	2017	10 million
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth	Nicalis	Roguelike	Engine built from scratch	2014	10 million

The pros and cons of developing indie games

It’s important to weigh the advantages and disadvantages when considering a career in indie game development.

Pros of developing indie games: 

• Creative freedom: Those who have indie game developer jobs don’t answer to large publishers with specific audiences. They can experiment with wild ideas and make the game they envision. 
• More flexible hours: Indie studios can set their release dates and work at a pace that suits them. While hours can still be long, there’s less crunch culture and more flexibility.
• Easier monetization: Indie game studios don’t have to pay royalties to large publishers.
• Strong sense of community: Building a community around your indie game can be inspiring and help you find ways to improve it.
• More recognition for yourself: Unlike major publishers with many names in the end credits, indie developers get more recognition for their game’s success.

Cons of developing indies games: 

• Lack of support: Indie game developers are self-starters. They work across the production roadmap, from ideation to marketing. There’s less time to take off and less guidance than what you’d get at a major game developer.
• Time-consuming: Developing an indie game can be a long process. It can be a hotbed for long work days and early burnout. 
• Can be expensive: Indie game studios lack the resources of mainstream publishers. So they need to spend more on voice actors, art assets, sound engineers, and console export fees. Also, they might have to spend a lot of their budget on just a development team.

How do you make an indie game?

Every indie game is made differently. But there are some important factors to consider when making your title.

The creative process is what’s most important. Get inspired by other games. Consider the important details that will define your game. These include game genre, visual style, game assets, game engine, and programming languages.

Indie game developers need to find that secret sauce; a gimmick or gameplay element that makes them unique.

Here are some other key factors when developing an indie game:

• Team structure: Indie teams are usually small. Each person can have multiple responsibilities (programming, design, art, marketing, etc.). 
• Managing budget: Indie game studios must be more careful with expenditures.  Marketing, tools, and distribution can create a dent quickly if not managed properly. 
• Marketing: Indie developers need to be hands-on with marketing efforts. They might manage social media accounts, attend gaming events, and work with influencers.
• Distribution channels: What platform will you use to distribute your game? Steam, Epic Games Store, and itch.io are popular examples.
• Feedback/iteration: Indie studios need to leverage user feedback to improve their game. Refine your product through iterative development.

Indie Games FAQs

What programming languages are used to make indie games?

Indie game developers use various programming languages, including:

• C#: Often used with Unity, C# facilitates game development across platforms in a straightforward way.
• C++: Often used with Unreal Engine, C++ is more popular for performance-intensive, advanced projects.
• Indie game developers commonly use Python and JavaScript for mobile games.

How much does it cost to make an indie game? 

Unlike the multi-million dollar budgets of AAA games, indie titles can cost tens/hundreds of thousands, depending on size. Bigger indie game budgets can be in the millions. This is usually to cover salaries, marketing, licenses, and legal fees.

Minecraft was an indie project but Microsoft ended up acquiring it for $2.5 billion! Some indie games are published by large companies (e.g. EA published Klei Entertainment’s Shank).

How much can you make as an indie game developer?

According to Game Developer, 10% of Steam developers have made more than $100k in gross revenue. The average indie developer revenue per game is just short of $15,000. Some developers hit the jackpot with one groundbreaking title. But this is often the exception.

What metrics determine whether an indie game is successful or not?

Like any game, it’s important to leverage data to refine future strategies in indie games. For example, trends in simultaneous online players can differentiate successful games from less successful ones. Launch timing can also play a role as data can show correlations between release dates and player engagement.

Offering games on certain Steam stores can impact sales and ratings. Developers can identify patterns that contribute to higher success rates by analyzing metrics like the SteamHub formula or the Wilson Score.

The future of indie games is brighter than ever before

While the definition of “indie” is broad, these games have established themselves as a vital part of the gaming landscape. Indie game studios are an ideal platform for creativity and innovation. 

Whether you’re an aspiring or current game developer, we hope this guide has deepened your understanding of this valuable, multi-billion-dollar industry. And who knows? Maybe it’s your turn to create the next big indie game…