Skip to main content

Browse GamesGame JamsUpload GameDeveloper LogsCommunity
Indie game storeFree gamesFun gamesHorror games
Game developmentAssetsComics
SalesBundles
Jobs
TagsGame Engines
itch.io Community » itch.io » Questions & Support

My game is indexed but still not showing up in search results

A topic by DemirDe1 created 11 days ago Views: 295 Replies: 23
Viewing posts 1 to 6
DemirDe111 days ago

Hi, I published a game recently using Name Your Own Price.

It shows “Indexed” on the dashboard, and it also appears in the Popular section of its tags, but it still does not appear in any search results, even after 3+ days.

Here are the details:

  • Classification: Game

  • Tags: 7 tags added

  • Views: ~+200

  • Downloads: ~61

  • Visibility: Public

  • Not paid (NYOP)

I tried refreshing the page, checking tags, and searching the exact game title, but it still doesn’t appear anywhere in the search bar.

Is this a known issue with the search index?
Is there something else I should do, or does it just require more time?

Thanks in advance.

Here is the link to the game: 

https://demirde1.itch.io/sinister-studying

~DemirDe1

Reply
No Time To PlayModerator11 days ago (1 edit)

Yes, as pointed out in the unofficial FAQ pinned at the top of this category, advertising your game outside itch.io might help. But there are 1.2 million games on itch.io; some of them simply aren't going to rank very high, especially when brand new. Popularity will come with time if you stay active.

Reply
DemirDe111 days ago

This isn't about ranking. I think you misunderstood me

There is not a single thing about my situation in this page. My game is already in the Popular section of its tags, has 200+ views, 60 downloads, and is marked as Indexed — yet it still does not appear in search at all, even when I type the exact title.

Other brand-new games with far less traffic show up instantly.

This looks like a search index bug, not a visibility issue. Please check the index on your end.

Again i am NOT saying anything about popularity

Reply
No Time To PlayModerator11 days ago (1 edit)

...I can't "check the index on my end" since I have no access to the database or the site code. And the people who do are unlikely to see your post here, like the rules of this category point out. But again, it's more likely that your game simply doesn't make it very high into the search results yet.

Reply
DemirDe110 days ago

Okay, so you are saying that for a game to appear in search results, it needs to get popular. However, the FAQ about indexing clearly states that “not being in the search list” is related to the indexing process, which my game already has.

Furthermore, I have another game that appeared in search results with only 30 views and 2 downloads. My current game has 200+ views and 60 downloads, yet it does not appear in search at all, even when I type the exact title.

Reply
No Time To PlayModerator10 days ago

Actually I'm not sure what gets a game to the top of search results, as opposed to the "popular" tab. But all these things are probably connected. It's just not so simple, so what works for another game might not work for yours.

Reply
DemirDe110 days ago

ok, thank you for your time

Reply
redonihunter9 days ago

Being indexed is not an unchangeable status. Every update, especially change in payments, can temporarily delist a project. And games can also be delisted temporarily without updates. Some even get quarantined.

If you activated payment for the first time, that is a likely explanation.

Read that part of the sticky faq again:

"Why did my game disappear from the site? It was visible before."

When you make certain changes to a game page, it gets flagged automatically so that someone from the staff takes a look again. Exactly what changes count is a secret so people don't try to cheat the system. You probably did nothing wrong. Please wait.

And to be clear: none of your games are indexed at the moment and none of them are quarantined. Searching by username does work! Also, if you are underage, read that part of the tos, please. https://itch.io/docs/legal/terms#2-users-and-publishers

Reply
DemirDe19 days ago

no, my game is indexed i got an e mail from itch io saying my game is indexed. (That is why i created the topic)And i’m telling again, it was at the front page a few days ago.  And it still is. You just need to scroll more. Some youtubers even played it. And 300 views and 80 downloads is too much for a game to be non-indexed. 

Reply
DemirDe19 days ago

So please stop repeating basic FAQ lines that don’t apply here.

The issue is very simple:

An indexed game should appear when you search its exact title. Mine doesn’t.

AND THE GAME IS %100 indexed

Reply
redonihunter9 days ago (1 edit)

You are correct, the game is indexed.

If you seek explanations, maybe this explains it.

Some indexing operations may hapen asynchronously, so it may take some time for your project to appear on the search pages as our backend processes the page.

Plus there are a lot of ddos attacks lately, disrupting Itch services. In any case, https://itch.io/search?type=games&q=demirde1 will find your games, if the search catalogue is up to date.

https://itch.io/games/tag-3d/tag-horror/tag-no-ai/tag-psx/tag-psychological-horr... 

Your reasoning with the views and downloads why the game is indexed lead me in the wrong direction ;-)  If you see your game on the browse pages, it's indexed. That's what indexed means. And if you can scroll more to see the game, that's a strong hint.

Reply
DemirDe19 days ago(+1)

Ok, thank you for your time :)

Reply
profilethings10 days ago

bro search up your username it works

Reply
DemirDe110 days ago

this isn't about just finding like that, the situation is clearly an indexing bug.

Reply
ragtorstone10 days ago (1 edit) (+1)

Yeah... usually, if you enter a game's name in the search bar, the game shows up in the results. Yours doesn't. Something's not working right.

I'm not sure if it affects anything, but does your game have a cover image in the description set?

Reply
DemirDe110 days ago

Yes, it has a cover image.

Reply
profilethings10 days ago

bro it works for everyone

Reply
A Fals Fiction9 days ago

You’re getting search results for “DemirDe1”?

Reply
A Fals Fiction9 days ago

Because it’s not working for everyone.

What I’m getting—

screenshot

Reply
profilethings9 days ago

first publish u games and set it to public and then search up u user

Reply
DemirDe19 days ago

Okay so im repeating this again and again. I have a published game that currently has +80 DOWNLOADS AND WAS PLAYED BY YOUTUBERS. 

Reply
A Fals Fiction9 days ago

Question

shows “Indexed” on the dashboard

I didn’t know we could see index status in our dashboards. Where is that?

Reply
DemirDe19 days ago(+1)

I’ve gotten an email from itch io stating that my game is indexed. I meant that my views and downloads are showing that the game is indexed. Not directly saying that my game is indexed. Sorry for my bad narration.

Reply
profilethings9 days ago

go on your profile and find the game

Reply
AboutFAQBlogContact us
Copyright © 2025 itch corp · Directory · Terms · Privacy · Cookies