There are many things that have led the independent video game industry to be the successful and popular place it is today. Over the last decade, there has been an unprecedented rise in the popularity of indie games and their developers.
The success of popular indie games such as Undertale, Stardew Valley, and Minecraft has enabled independent game developers to realize and make a living from making games for a wider audience rather than just for other developers or gaming competitions.
Indie Games have got more popular because the cost of entry to make has gone down significantly and they are more readily available to play. The games cater to a wider audience by offering refreshing gameplay and genres that triple-A titles cannot provide. Furthermore, they’re much easier to find because of social media and services like Steam, Humble Bundle, and sites like IndieGameCloud.
Indie games have existed since the first video game was created, maybe you remember them as Shareware games, but it wasn’t until the last decade that they became so widely accepted by gamers around the world.
This article will explore exactly when and why indie games reached this level of popularity among gamers, as well as what we can expect from them going forward in future years.
The Year of the Indies
Before 2008, we had a few popular indie games but not nearly the amount we have today. In 2008, we saw the releases of “Super Meat Boy” and “Braid”, which are considered to be some of the most important indie games in history.
In fact, Super Meat Boy was the first indie game to be included as part of the Humble Indie Bundle, a now-famous collection of games that is regularly updated with new titles.
The popularity of Braid and Super Meat Boy, both critically and commercially, helped to solidify the idea of the indie game as a form of art, as well as a financially successful niche in the gaming industry.
This helped pave the way for the many other indie games that would follow. It’s important to note that these games were not made by individuals who work alone and in secret but rather as teams of people who come together to make games as a creative outlet. This has become a common theme among the indie game development community.
How Did Indie Games Become So Popular?
Indie games come in wide varieties, including first-person shooters, puzzle games, fantasy RPGs, and much more. This diversity has helped to contribute to the popularity of indie games, as it allows gamers to play the type of game that they want to play without having to rely on the latest release in a blockbuster franchise.
Regarding the widespread popularity of indie games, it’s important to note that their success is not limited to any specific genre or type of game.
Indie games have also become more popular in recent years due to their lower cost of entry and people having a device that can play them.
In the 1990s and 2000s, the average gamer had to spend $60 on a new game in order to play, which limited the number of people who could afford to play these games – and that’s if they even owned a computer to play the games being created!
Today, indie games can be purchased for as little as $1 and be played on consoles, computers, and phones, which the majority of the population has now. This means that even the most casual gamer can afford to play and has led to a wider variety of people playing and enjoying indie games, which has in turn contributed to their overall popularity.
Why Are Indie Games So Popular?
As we’ve already discussed, one of the reasons indie games are so popular is that there is a wide variety of them available to players. This means that gamers can pick up virtually any type of game they might be interested in, whether it be an action RPG or a puzzle game.
Another reason indie games are so popular is that they have become a source of inspiration for many other games.
In recent years, several popular AAA games have taken ideas and elements from indie games, showing that these games are not only financially successful but also highly influential.
For example, Uncharted 4, a popular action-adventure game, took some inspiration from Braid, a puzzle game originally released as an indie game.
This type of influence has helped to cement the place of indie games in the world of gaming, making it clear that they are here to stay.
What Led to the Rise of Indie Games?
The success of indie games is likely due to a combination of factors, including the rise of DIY culture, the accessibility of game development tools, the popularity of independent podcasts and Let’s Play videos, the ability to get the games, and the overall decline of the traditional gaming industry.
The DIY Culture
Over the last decade, DIY culture has become extremely popular. This has led to the rise of many different subcultures, including indie gaming.
DIY culture has allowed indie gaming to become a more accessible hobby for people of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels. The accessibility of game development tools has also contributed to the rise of indie gaming.
In the past, it took a significant amount of money and skill to create a video game.
Today, however, it is possible for virtually anyone to create their own game.
Let’s Play VIdeos
The popularity of independent podcasts and Let’s Play videos have likely helped to increase the visibility of indie games. Unlike major studio releases, indie games are more accessible to streamers and Let’s Play hosts, which has led to many of these personalities discussing and recommending indie games.
It is Easier to Get Indie Games
It is easier than ever to find and get new indie games with so many services, websites, and sharing platforms available.
This became even more true when the gaming store hub Steam removed the Greenlight feature to allow indie games on Steam. This made it so that instead of having the most voted-on indie game get onto steam anyone could now get on it!
And now with people knowing what indie games are, there is a market for them which led to many sites being created that are dedicated to selling indie games and developers sharing their creations.
The Decline of Traditional Gaming
The decline of the traditional gaming industry also played a role in the rise of indie gaming.
Due to an overall decline in video game sales and the rise of the mobile gaming industry, many major video game companies have downsized or closed their doors entirely. This has led to a decline in the overall quality of games created by major studios, which has opened up a vacuum that indie games have been able to fill.
What Does the Future Hold for Indies?
It’s impossible to know exactly the future of indie games, but there are a few things we can predict.
First of all, we can expect to see more and more indie games rise in popularity, especially as the number of people who stream Let’s Play games continues to grow.
It is also likely that indie games will continue to influence major releases, as major studios continue to look for inspiration outside of themselves.
Finally, we can expect to see more and more indie game development teams become successful, particularly as platforms like Twitch and YouTube continue to grow.
The future has never been brighter for indie developers and games alike. With so many new games being created there is certainly no shortage of games! What do you think was a pivotal moment for indie games? Let us know in Discord!