As an indie game developer, one of the biggest challenges after finishing a game is getting it in front of an audience. After months or even years of hard work, it’s natural to want people to play, enjoy, and share your creation. When I finally launched my game, Reddit seemed like the perfect place to connect with gamers and fellow developers. After all, Reddit is full of passionate communities, and I was eager to share my work. But what happened after posting my game on Reddit taught me a lot about community, feedback, and marketing.
One of the first things I realized is that Reddit isn’t a single audience but rather thousands of sub-communities, each with its own vibe and rules. At first, I posted my game in a popular gaming subreddit, hoping for maximum exposure. But the post quickly got lost in the flood of new content and didn’t get much traction.
I then started exploring more niche subreddits related to indie games, game development, or my game’s genre. These smaller communities had fewer members but were more engaged and genuinely interested in my game. By tailoring my posts to fit each community’s culture and guidelines, I saw much better interaction and feedback.
Lesson: Don’t just post everywhere. Find the communities where your game belongs and engage with them authentically.
Initially, I thought the key to success was a slick promotional post —flashy screenshots, a catchy description, and a direct link to buy or download. However, Reddit users are quick to spot overt self-promotion and often react negatively to it.
What worked much better was sharing my journey—talking about the challenges I faced, the creative decisions I made, and the lessons I learned while building the game. This kind of authentic storytelling invited people to connect with my project on a personal level, sparking real conversations instead of just clicks.
Lesson: Be genuine. Share your story instead of just selling your product.
Posting on Reddit opened me up to honest, unfiltered feedback. Some of it was tough to hear—bugs I hadn’t noticed, design choices that confused players, or features that felt missing. At first, criticism stung, but over time I learned to appreciate it as an opportunity to improve.
Not all feedback was constructive, and there were occasional trolls, but engaging respectfully and focusing on the helpful comments made a big difference. I even implemented some community suggestions, which boosted goodwill and showed players I was listening.
Lesson: Expect honest feedback and use it to grow. Don’t take negativity personally, but welcome constructive criticism.
Posting at the right time and engaging with commenters was crucial. I experimented with different posting times and made sure to reply to questions and thank users for their support. This kind of active participation helped keep my posts visible longer and built a sense of community around my game.
Lesson: Timing your posts and interacting with your audience can significantly increase your reach and build relationships.
Success on Reddit didn’t happen overnight. Some posts fizzled, and others sparked small bursts of interest. But by consistently sharing updates, progress, and engaging with communities, I gradually built a dedicated player base.
Lesson: Building awareness and support takes time. Keep showing up, contributing, and improving.
Posting my game on Reddit was an eye-opening experience that taught me more than just marketing tricks. It showed me the value of community, the importance of honest conversations, and the power of persistence. If you’re a developer thinking about sharing your game on Reddit, my advice is to listen carefully, be authentic, and engage thoughtfully. Reddit can be a fantastic platform—not just to promote your game but to grow as a developer and connect with passionate players.
So, ready to take the plunge? Your game might just find its biggest fans in places you didn’t expect.
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