indie games Archives

AppWizard

April 14, 2026

Graveyard Keeper’s mammoth success proves that giving games away for free on Steam works

tinyBuild offered Graveyard Keeper for free for a weekend, coinciding with the announcement of Graveyard Keeper 2. This led to an all-time peak of 46,305 concurrent players on April 12, up from 17,000 at launch. The game ranked 47th on Steam's most played chart and reached number 39 on one Sunday. The giveaway increased wishlists for the sequel to 450,000 and generated nearly 0,000 in revenue from DLC sales, with around 125,000 DLCs sold at a promotional price of .99 each. The base game is typically priced at .99.

AppWizard

April 12, 2026

Steam Giving Away PC Game From 2024 for Free for Few Days Only

GGTech Studios will transition their 2024 3D platformer, eWorlds, from a free-to-play model to a paid option on April 16, 2024, with a price set at .99. Players can add eWorlds to their Steam libraries for free until that date. The decision to charge is aimed at maintaining the game's multiplayer servers. eWorlds has received Steam Deck Verified status, ensuring smooth gameplay on the device, and currently holds a “Very Positive” rating on Steam, with 87% of 325 user reviews being favorable. The game is compared to Super Mario Odyssey and has a runtime of a few hours, with mixed feedback on its latter half.

AppWizard

April 5, 2026

I bought a PS5 on launch day but I won’t be buying a PS6, even though its exclusives aren’t coming to PC anymore

Jess Kinghorn, a hardware writer, has been exploring indie games like Sato Killing Time Chat.exe and D14L-ogue. She pre-ordered her PlayStation 5 in 2020 for £450, which has since increased to £570/€650 due to a memory supply crisis. Sony may delay the PS6's release until 2028 or 2029. Jess is reevaluating the costs of console gaming, noting that major game releases add to the financial burden. She feels disconnected from PlayStation-exclusive titles due to limited availability on PC and is fatigued by big-budget games. Jess prefers smaller games like Home Safety Hotline, Perfect Tides, and Ambrosia Sky: Act One, which are more affordable. While she enjoys some PS5 titles, she is cautious about future console investments. In contrast, she finds the anticipated Switch 2 appealing at £396, despite hardware issues like Joy-Con stick drift.

AppWizard

April 4, 2026

Subscription service for indie games gets a rough reception

Indie Pass will launch on April 13, offering a subscription model for .99 per month, providing access to a curated selection of 70 indie games primarily from the indie.io catalog. Developers will be compensated based on the playtime of their games by subscribers. The service has received mixed reactions, with concerns about promoting games designed for prolonged engagement, the preference for direct purchases, and the lack of ownership of games. Critics, including George Broussard, argue that subscription models harm developers, while some see potential for discoverability for indie titles. Jess Mitchell from Indie Pass emphasized discoverability as a key incentive for developers. Publisher Devolver Digital humorously commented on the subscription model's viability. As the launch nears, Indie Pass must demonstrate its value to both developers and gamers amidst skepticism and competition in the gaming market.

AppWizard

April 3, 2026

March’s top new PC/console games; Steam’s wishlist email changes

Insights from the GameDiscoverCo newsletter highlight trends in game discovery and sales data for March 2026. Key points include: - The introduction of The Rage Index and The Abandonment Leaderboard by GDCo's Insights Lab. - The U.S. PlayStation hardware price analysis indicates challenges for the PlayStation 5 due to AI-related component shortages and inflation. - Valve has updated the Steam homepage in desktop Beta with enhanced features for user navigation. - The Nintendo Switch 2 saw a 154% increase in sales month-on-month following the launch of Pokémon Pokopia. - PlayStation Plus announced its April titles, including Lords of the Fallen and Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, while Xbox introduced Barbie Horse Trails and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 for Game Pass. - Antoine Mayerowitz discussed the need for better base pricing strategies for PlayStation. - Roblox’s Rivals gained popularity due to ranked play modes. - Amazon Luna is releasing a Masters Of The Universe-licensed game and free games for Prime members. - Indie.io is launching Indie Pass, a subscription service for PC indie games. - Rec Room is closing on June 1st, and Sony is acquiring Cinemersive Labs. - Slay The Spire 2 sold over 5 million copies, while Crimson Desert sold 2.2 million on Steam. - Slay The Spire 2 leads new releases revenue with over 0 million gross, followed by Crimson Desert. - MLB The Show 26 sold over 1 million units in the U.S. - Valve's changes to wishlist notification statistics aim to help developers optimize marketing strategies.

BetaBeacon

March 27, 2026

The cost of AAA game development reportedly exceeds $300M

AAA game development budgets in the US and Canada are mostly exceeding 0 million.

AppWizard

March 24, 2026

Indika forced me to confront some of life’s toughest questions, and I think it’s made me a better person

The author attended an all-girls Catholic high school where they observed a dissonance between the teachings of compassion and the actions of some devout Catholics who bullied peers. This experience led to a questioning of faith, which has diminished over time, although an appreciation for religious imagery remains. The author discusses the indie game Indika, developed by Odd Meter, which explores dark themes of faith and violence within an Eastern Orthodox convent. The gameplay combines puzzle-solving and parkour elements, with nostalgic pixelated segments. Indika's narrative is dark, lacking happy endings or divine intervention, prompting reflection on the nature of suffering and the absence of God in times of hardship. The game illustrates that even pious individuals can harbor darkness and encourages players to embody resilience and compassion in the face of evil.

AppWizard

March 19, 2026

This sweet new PC indie game is a Steam top seller, and a blast from the past — it’s a wonderful ’90s nostalgia trip, and on sale for launch too

Retro Rewind is a shop simulator game developed by Blood Pact Studios, an indie team from Canada, that invites players to manage a '90s video rental store. Launched on Valve's Steam platform, it quickly gained popularity, securing a spot on the Top Sellers chart and peaking at 4,505 concurrent players. The game has a "Very Positive" user review rating and features extensive customization options for the store. A free demo is available, and the game is currently offered at a launch discount of .92 until March 24, down from its standard price of .90.

AppWizard

March 17, 2026

Freak Steam game naming coincidence unintentionally results in some of the best indie marketing I’ve seen

Neon Polygons and Gamkat both released games titled "Piece by Piece," with Neon Polygons launching on March 13 and Gamkat on March 11. Dev Land Marketing's Gajda Andreea proposed a collaboration to combine both games into a "Piece by Piece Double Bundle," which is available on Steam for .57 / £15.60. This collaboration has gained significant attention, with a Reddit thread discussing it receiving over 2,000 upvotes, highlighting the effectiveness of adaptability and collaboration in marketing.

AppWizard

March 15, 2026

5 great indie games from GDC 2026

The GDC Festival of Gaming showcased several upcoming games. - At Fate’s End: An action-adventure game by Thunder Lotus, releasing in 2026 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. It explores sibling relationships through combat and exploration. - Mina the Hollower: Developed by Yacht Club Games, this game is inspired by Link’s Awakening and will launch this spring on PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and Xbox Series X/S. - The Melty Way: A platformer featuring a slime that melts as it progresses through levels, entering early access on Steam on April 24th. - Poke a Nose: A game where players control a severed hand to collect toilet paper and poke noses, targeting a 2026 release on PC, with a possibility of early 2027. - Super Meat Boy 3D: A 3D adaptation of the original Super Meat Boy, expected to launch in 2026 on PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and Xbox Series X/S.