Me and my brother recently launched our first indie game, PedalVerse, and it’s been a wild ride. Along the way, we learned a TON about game development, marketing, and everything in between. We wanted to share our top 10 lessons to help fellow developers save time, energy, and frustration.

Here’s a quick summary of what we’ve learned:

1️⃣ Make a Game Design Document (GDD)

A GDD is your game’s blueprint. It keeps your vision clear and your development structured. Without it, it’s easy to lose focus or waste time on unnecessary features. We used Notion for ours and it was a game-changer!

Why it’s important:

• Helps you define core mechanics, story, art style, and roadmap.
• Keeps your team (or yourself) aligned.
• Valuable for pitching your game to collaborators or investors.

Bonus: We’re sharing our exact Notion template for free: Grab it here.

2️⃣ Keep the Scope Small

It’s tempting to dream big, but starting small is smarter. Focus on completing a polished, manageable project.

Why it’s important:

• Smaller projects are easier to manage and finish (6-9 months is ideal).
• Completing the development cycle teaches you more than abandoning a huge project.
• Avoid burnout and maintain motivation.

Remember*:* A polished small game is better than an unfinished large one!

3️⃣ Your First Gameplay Idea Isn’t Perfect

Game development is an iterative process. Your initial concept might sound great in theory but could feel underwhelming in practice.

What to do:

• Prototype early and test your ideas.
• Be open to feedback and ready to tweak or scrap features.
• Use iteration as an opportunity to innovate and refine your game.

Pro tip*:* Playtest with friends, family, or even strangers — they’ll catch things you might miss.

4️⃣ Don’t Build in Private

Sharing your journey online isn’t just about marketing; it’s about building a community around your game.

How to do it:

• Post screenshots, videos, and updates on social media.
• Use platforms like Twitter, Youtube, Instagram, and Reddit to connect with players.
• Share behind-the-scenes content to humanize your brand and engage with your audience.

Goal*:* By launch day, you’ll have a community ready to support your game.

5️⃣ Marketing Takes as Much Effort as Development

No matter how great your game is, it won’t succeed if people don’t know about it. Marketing is just as important as development.

What we learned:

• Start marketing early. Don’t wait until the game is finished.
• Share updates consistently. Regular posts keep your game in the spotlight.
• Decide whether to market under your game’s name or as part of a studio brand.

6️⃣ Make a Trailer Early to Sell Your Game

Trailers are your game’s first impression. They grab attention and build excitement.

How to make a great trailer:

• Keep it short (1-2 minutes) and focus on the first 5 seconds to hook viewers.
• Highlight your game’s unique mechanics, visuals, or story.
• Avoid long intros with logos — dive straight into the action.

Pro tip*:* A strong trailer can drive wishlists, attract media attention, and even boost pre-orders.

7️⃣ Make a Playable Demo

Demos let players experience your game firsthand, generating excitement and trust.

What makes a good demo:

• Focus on a polished slice of your game.
• Keep it short but impactful — leave players wanting more.
• Use feedback from demo players to refine the final product.

Goal*:* A strong demo can drive wishlists and generate word-of-mouth buzz.

8️⃣ Build and Optimize Your Steam Store Page Early

Your Steam page is your game’s storefront. Treat it with care.

How to optimize:

• Use eye-catching visuals (key art and screenshots matter).
• Write a clear, engaging description of your game.
• Add well-researched tags to ensure discoverability.

Learn more*:* Check out this free course by Chris Zukowski to make optimized steam store page and in-depth tips.

9️⃣ Participate in Fests as Much as Possible

Game festivals and showcases, like Steam Next Fest, are fantastic for marketing your game.

Why they’re valuable:

• Free exposure to thousands of players.
• Opportunity to gather feedback before launch.
• Build momentum and visibility for a strong release day performance.

Pro tip: Aim to participate in multiple festivals to maximize your reach.

🔟 Just Make Games

At the end of the day, the best way to learn is by doing. Each project teaches you something new and helps you grow as a developer.

Mindset:

• Start small, iterate, and finish your projects.
• Focus on learning and improving with every game you create.
• Stay consistent and believe in your vision.

Remember*:* Success doesn’t happen overnight, but persistence pays off!

If you prefer watching instead of reading, we made a video on this topic: Watch Here. 🎥

Also, PedalVerse is currently 50% off on Steam! Check it out. 🚴‍♂️

We’d love to hear your thoughts! What are some lessons you’ve learned as an indie dev? Let’s discuss in the comments! 🙌