Hello there! 

Recently I made my first demo for a project I've been working on, and I think some people might be experiencing the same thing.

The question is "Am I just really bad at promoting my game?". I see so many great games that probably won't reach it's full potential because not many people are able to find and play it, and I started thinking about it. What's the best way of promoting your game? Already having a fanbase? Waiting for someone 'popular' to play it? Slowly promoting it in other websites? 

What's the best way of promoting your game?

Define best.   Usually it is money and letting others promote your game. Would you play games like Destiny     or Skyrim if you had never heard of them? Would you search for them? How? They had massive advertisments.  Skyrim at least had an existing fan base. But Destiny back than had a hundreds of millions advertisement budget.

 There are more games than time to play. You need to look interesting at the right time at the right place.Ok, there might be people actually looking for horror visual novel and search. You only have 3000 other titles here matching that tags. Sogood luck, If I try 1 game every day, in maybe 5 years i try your game. Or not. There are new every day.

It is cute that you tagged singleplayer for a visual novel ;-) . only 600 other games have that with horror.

Hello this is Gulshan Negi

Well, promoting a game can be difficult, particularly for independent developers with limited resources. A few potential techniques to advance a game include building a fanbase through online entertainment and different channels, connecting with powerhouses and game writers, going to gaming occasions and meetings, and making a convincing trailer or demo. In the end, it's important to keep trying new approaches until you find what works best for your game and your audience. Keep in mind that promoting your game is an ongoing process that necessitates patience, effort, and time.

Thanks

OMG I'VE BEEN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM!

I tried asking the AI, with the hope that the following strategies could provide some insights to everyone.

Itch.io is a popular platform for indie game developers to showcase and sell their games. To effectively promote your game on itch.io, follow these strategies:

1. Optimize the game page:

- Create an eye-catching banner and cover image that represent your game's theme and style.

- Write a clear, concise, and engaging game description that highlights its unique features and gameplay.

- Include high-quality screenshots, gifs, or videos that showcase the visual appeal and gameplay mechanics of your game.

- Add relevant tags to improve visibility in search results and reach the right audience.

2. Price your game fairly:

- Research similar games on itch.io and determine a competitive price point for your game.

- Consider offering a "pay-what-you-want" model, which allows users to pay the amount they feel the game is worth.

- Launch discount sales or participate in itch.io's seasonal sales events to attract potential buyers.

3. Engage with the itch.io community:

- Interact with other game developers on the platform by commenting on their games and participating in forum discussions.

- Join game jams hosted on itch.io to showcase your skills and gain exposure for your work.

- Utilize itch.io's recommendation system by creating a collection of games you enjoy and recommend to others.

4. Leverage social media:

- Create a regular posting schedule for Twitter, Facebook, and other platforms to share updates and news about your game.

- Engage with your followers by responding to comments, sharing behind-the-scenes content, and running giveaways or contests.

- Utilize relevant gaming hashtags and collaborate with streamers or YouTubers to showcase your game to a larger audience.

5. Publish a devlog or blog:

- Share regular updates about your game's development process, including artwork, level designs, or gameplay tweaks.

- Offer insights into the challenges and lessons you've learned as a game developer.

- Engage with your audience by asking for their feedback and suggestions.

6. Reach out to the gaming press:

- Compile a list of websites, blogs, and YouTube channels that cover indie games similar to yours.

- Create a press kit that includes a concise description of the game, high-resolution images, gifs, videos, and your contact information.

- Write personalized emails to these outlets, introducing your game and requesting coverage or reviews.

as I learned the hard way: if your game is not on steam, it might as well not exist 😔

Submitting your game to a game jam will help. I joined two jams so far and both my games got at least some views/feedbacks.

so making a demo/early version for jam -> polishing the game may be a good approach

Hey, I remember reading this game page before while scrolling. (it was a long time ago and it's vague, but I remember)

I don't really have any objective advice. But just subjectively, I feel like what you put here in your 2nd reply to "The Coding Ninja" was more interesting to me than the game page summary. I feel like the game page's summary is too vague and you could convey more about the plot of the game in the summary.

Keep in mind this is just my personal thought though. I feel like a LOT of media summaries are too short for me. (e.g. games, books)

Forums, discord, Facebook 

YouTube is hit and miss the rest a guaranteed to bring attention to your work

I've been having the same problem! I really wish to promote my game, even just the demo :(