You're Missing The Best Time Ever To Make A Video Game

Inside Conference: https://howtomarketagame.com/inside Chris's Free Blog: https://www.howtomarketagame.com/free Join the Discord:   / discord   This episode with Chris Zukowski of How To Market A Game dives deep into the reality of indie game development, breaking down what it actually takes to succeed on Steam in today’s so-called “golden age” of small, fast-to-make games. We explore why genres like incremental games, roguelites, and management sims are dominating, how to validate your game idea using demos and itch.io, and why most indie games fail—even when developers follow all the “right” marketing strategies. From building wishlists and leveraging Steam Next Fest to working with content creators and understanding what makes a game “have it,” this podcast is packed with actionable insights for beginner and experienced indie devs alike. If you're trying to grow your game, launch successfully, or avoid wasting years on the wrong project, this is a must-listen conversation about indie game marketing, game design strategy, and how to actually make money as a solo developer. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 04:45 Conference Origins 09:30 Small Games Thesis 15:10 Industry Misconceptions 20:40 Why Small Wins 26:15 Speed Advantage 31:50 Scope Discipline 37:20 Dev Reality Check 42:55 Marketing Mindset 48:30 Finding Players 54:05 Platform Strategy 59:40 Algorithm Leverage 1:05:10 Viral Mechanics 1:10:45 Monetization Truth 1:16:20 Real Examples 1:21:30 Final Advice 1:26:00 Closing Thoughts Work like Blake: Affiliate Links My laptop: https://bestbuycreators.7tiv.net/1GO4za My microphone: https://bestbuycreators.7tiv.net/3kO4MX My audio interface: https://bestbuycreators.7tiv.net/dyZ6qq My earbuds: https://bestbuycreators.7tiv.net/7XxYBr My corner lights: https://bestbuycreators.7tiv.net/5kL4B9 My softboxes (lighting) https://bestbuycreators.7tiv.net/1GO4Ka My favorite gaming system: https://bestbuycreators.7tiv.net/n4bmZo My mouse: https://bestbuycreators.7tiv.net/3kO4qX #IndieGameDev #GameDevelopment #SteamGames #IndieDev #GameMarketing #SoloDev #GamedevTips #IndieGames #SteamNextFest #ItchIO #GameDesign #Roguelike #IncrementalGames #GameDevPodcast #MakeGames