IMHO there have always been two indie game eco systems: the one where the game doesn't matter, only everything surrounding it. You know, the bad amateur games around politics, art slop, nostalgia bait, meta crap like who the dev is, etc. Stuff that gets hipsters gushing but nobody actually plays them unironically. And then there are games by small professional developers who actually design gameplay, but that's "boring" and doesn't make for a good article so they get less hype.
A good recent example of outside factors influencing success is Mewgenics. It went semi-viral despite being a tactical strategy game because 1) it's the dev who made Binding of Isaac and 2) he was savvy enough to give almost every big streamer/YouTuber a "voice acting" credit for fucking cat meows.
The actual game, however, is both very niche and (I think) mediocre. A much better tactical strategy game, MENACE, released in the same window and pulled only a fraction of the players. So as with AAA development, indie games can also succeed based on retarded criteria. Saving grace: shit's usually only $15-25.
It's funny, I really thought Menace would get more of a push from the same outside factor of who the dev is too. Battle Brothers is well known and generally beloved too, but I guess it's just not in the same league as the binding of isaac fanbase size. Plus I do think all the incestuous streamer PR did most of the legwork on Mewgenics' success.
IMHO there have always been two indie game eco systems: the one where the game doesn't matter, only everything surrounding it. You know, the bad amateur games around politics, art slop, nostalgia bait, meta crap like who the dev is, etc. Stuff that gets hipsters gushing but nobody actually plays them unironically. And then there are games by small professional developers who actually design gameplay, but that's "boring" and doesn't make for a good article so they get less hype.
A good recent example of outside factors influencing success is Mewgenics. It went semi-viral despite being a tactical strategy game because 1) it's the dev who made Binding of Isaac and 2) he was savvy enough to give almost every big streamer/YouTuber a "voice acting" credit for fucking cat meows.
The actual game, however, is both very niche and (I think) mediocre. A much better tactical strategy game, MENACE, released in the same window and pulled only a fraction of the players. So as with AAA development, indie games can also succeed based on retarded criteria. Saving grace: shit's usually only $15-25.
It's funny, I really thought Menace would get more of a push from the same outside factor of who the dev is too. Battle Brothers is well known and generally beloved too, but I guess it's just not in the same league as the binding of isaac fanbase size. Plus I do think all the incestuous streamer PR did most of the legwork on Mewgenics' success.
Menace fuckin rules. And since it's from Overhype it'll get support for years to come.