The hottest Indie games Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Technology Topics

Queen's Wish: A Portmortem Of Mixed Success

The Bottom Feeder • 994 implied HN points • 11 Mar 26
🕹 Technology Indie games
  1. The Queen's Wish series was finished with a free epilogue DLC, but its commercial run was mixed: the first game’s Kickstarter succeeded while the second game bombed, and remasters were used to stabilize finances.
  2. The games tried bold innovations—a family-and-royalty-focused narrative, mission-based tactical combat, and an empire-simulation with crafting and fort upgrades that tie systems together.
  3. The biggest failures were the visuals and exposure: poor graphics, weak marketing, and design changes that alienated longtime fans hurt sales, teaching the creator to prioritize a unified visual style and balance innovation with retaining customers.

A Detailed Review of Like 8% of Mewgenics

The Bottom Feeder • 581 implied HN points • 05 Mar 26
🎭️ Culture Indie games
  1. Mewgenics is a highly polished, addictive indie game that mixes cat-breeding meta-progression with grid-based tactical combat and roguelike-style mission runs. The design is huge and the soundtrack is excellent.
  2. The breeding system is the most novel part, but it’s opaque and the interface is clumsy, so managing and understanding cats feels frustrating and requires extra googling and grinding.
  3. A long development let the small team recombine proven indie ideas into a fresh, successful new IP, but the game is a big time-eater that won’t fit every player’s life.

Video Game Thoughts Bonus Bag #9

The Bottom Feeder • 606 implied HN points • 23 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Indie games
  1. Queen’s Wish is getting a free epilogue called The Judgment in March to properly finish the story, even though Queen’s Wish 2 sold poorly.
  2. Many modern TV mystery shows rely on vague 'mystery-box' storytelling that can feel manipulative, while clearly structured series and movies that pick a definite path give more emotional payoff.
  3. Both indie games and big-budget films show the value of craft and art: indie titles often shine through unique visuals and weird ideas, and sincere, clearly told films can be deeply satisfying.

Coming Soon ... Avernum 4: Greed and Glory!

The Bottom Feeder • 824 implied HN points • 30 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Indie games
  1. Avernum 4: Greed and Glory is a new indie RPG set to release in October 2025. It continues a beloved series that has been around since 1994.
  2. The new game is a remaster of the 2005 title, aiming to improve on the original while telling fresh stories in its unique underworld setting.
  3. The developers are asking fans to wishlist the game on Steam, as it helps increase visibility and support for the upcoming release.

Video Game Thoughts Bonus Bag #6

The Bottom Feeder • 630 implied HN points • 26 Jun 25
🎭️ Culture Indie games
  1. Steam has big sales now, so it's rare to see anyone pay full price for games. Deals pop up often, especially for indie games.
  2. Indie game developers face tough times with many good games struggling to make money. Even well-made titles can fail at launch despite a lot of effort.
  3. The author is still active in game development and is excited about an upcoming project called Avernum 4: Greed and Glory, highlighting ongoing creativity in the indie scene.
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That Time I Tried To Get Johnathan Blow To Publish a Game to Windows 8

Meanwhile, on the other side of my brain... • 99 implied HN points • 29 May 24
🕹 Technology Indie games
  1. Setting realistic goals is crucial for success, rather than unachievable targets that can lead to frustration.
  2. Building genuine relationships and solving real problems with developers can lead to lasting goodwill.
  3. Understanding and meeting the needs of developers is key to successful developer relations, instead of focusing solely on unreachable goals.

UFO50, the Only Game You'll Ever Need

The Bottom Feeder • 727 implied HN points • 01 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Indie games
  1. UFO50 is a unique collection of 50 smaller games, each designed to be completed in just a few hours. This makes it easy to enjoy different game styles without a huge time commitment.
  2. The games in UFO50 showcase clever design ideas that keep gameplay fresh and interesting. Even if one game doesn't appeal to you, you can find multiple others that will.
  3. Making short games like those in UFO50 can be a challenge in the market, but they provide satisfying experiences for players who might not have the time for longer games.

Who's top of Steam Next Fest for October 2023?

The GameDiscoverCo newsletter • 255 implied HN points • 16 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Indie games
  1. The top games at Steam Next Fest for October 2023 were a diverse mix of genres and styles, with a focus on deep building and crafting mechanics.
  2. There is a discussion about the existence of an 'indie games bubble,' highlighting challenges in funding new games and market saturation.
  3. Game discovery news includes updates on Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Sony testing PC trophies for PSN, and Epic Games Store's new features.

Video Game Thoughts Bonus Bag #3

The Bottom Feeder • 484 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Indie games
  1. Steam Next Fest is a good opportunity for indie game developers to showcase their demos, despite the overcrowded market.
  2. Indie game developers often struggle to come up with completely new game ideas, leading to a trend of mixing and matching existing genres.
  3. The video game industry is facing challenges such as burnout, harsh recession period, and layoffs, impacting both developers and players.

#PitchYaGame is LIVE

The PitchYaGame Awards • 58 implied HN points • 03 Nov 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Indie games
  1. PitchYaGame is live, showcasing independent video games globally
  2. Participants should use hashtags universally across all platforms and limit pitches to one per game per platform
  3. PitchYaGame is a voluntary movement that showcases indie games twice a year in June and November

God of War Ragnarok: Five Game Systems In One Bag

The Bottom Feeder • 290 implied HN points • 22 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Indie games
  1. The game design for God of War Ragnarok involved combining multiple game systems, resulting in a complex and overwhelming experience for players.
  2. Despite the extensive features and upgrades in the game, many of these elements were found to be unnecessary and not essential for effective gameplay.
  3. Feedback on game design suggests that prioritizing clear, substantive upgrades and reducing the number of systems could lead to a more enjoyable and balanced gaming experience.

#11 - What's behind the interface of Lethal Company

A Good Interface • 2 HN points • 28 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Indie games
  1. The user interface of Lethal Company is successful because it matches the game's genre and atmosphere with carefully chosen colors, shapes, and ornaments.
  2. A key aspect of the UI design is displaying the right amount of information, ensuring the player remains immersed without feeling overwhelmed.
  3. To make the UI easily understandable, leveraging common icons, patterns, and familiar elements is crucial. It helps simplify the learning curve for players.

The Iterative Digest #106

The Iterative Digest • 0 implied HN points • 14 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Indie games
  1. Nintendo Direct had big announcements like Game Boy/GBA titles on Switch, Metroid Prime Remaster, and more
  2. Nintendo announced a 10% pay rise for its developers despite lower profits
  3. A 32-part documentary on the making of Psychonauts 2 was released by Double Fine