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Dealing with anxiety when submitting games

A topic by JonathanPirone created 8 days ago Views: 205 Replies: 20

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JonathanPirone8 days ago (1 edit) (+2)

Hey guys, I wanted know if I was ever the only one to think with this mindset - Do you guys sometimes find yourselves in situations where you feel extremely anxious to submit projects? What is some advice you would give someone in scenarios like this?

I am aware the itch.io community is known for being one of the most supportive communities out there for game developers. However, even with that notion, I felt this sense of nervousness when submitting games. Generally, I am very proud of the projects I developed, but perhaps there is a fear of potential over-criticism on my games, which would drive my development morale lower.

I submitted a project to the 20 Second Game Jam 2025 and despite the really positive feedback from fellow developers, there was always a sense of anxiety and thoughts that I didn't do a great job or wish I could have done better. I cannot express my gratitude for this community enough, and you guys are absolutely awesome. Maybe there is a story you would like to share as well so we can all relate and help one another for this.

Stay blessed everyone! <3

DarkBloodbane8 days ago(+2)

I had severe anxiety when uploading my submission for a game jam. So anxious that I reuploaded the game after made small fixes and did it again for couple times.

It was bad experience so now everytime I want to upload my game, I make sure everything is good and all files are complete before uploading.

JonathanPirone8 days ago(+1)

I totally get where you're coming from. I've been triple checking my projects, going through every aspect of my projects to ensure that everything is okay. A wonderful mindset I've tried to develop is that no project is perfect. Even AAA games have their flaws, but what's important is the self accomplishment that you've found while making the project.

sossinayDev7 days ago(+2)

Yeah, same thing for me. That’s probably also one of the reasons why I don’t upload a lot of projects. I always overthink everything and find it difficult to finish a project. But as DarkBloodbane already said, no game is perfect. I guess my brain just doesn’t get that…

It’s always a good idea to playtest your game (especially if its for a game jam), I try to invest some time to that, but again my brain is like “If you give this to the playtesters now and it’s bad, they will have a bad first impression and continue to not like the game after the next patch”.

I think it’s just a part of the whole gamedev thing. I mean you made the game and if someone doesn’t like it that’s (probably) gonna make you feel bad.

Anyways, go have fun creating games!

JonathanPirone7 days ago(+1)

Thank you so much for sharing your point of view! I totally understand how difficult it may become to upload something, as the pressure may be too much for many. Investing time into play testing is always a fabulous idea, and I think that if the game performs as you wish and intended, then it's really up to the players to envision what you envisioned. Honestly, to see how minds are so different and how we perceive games differently is super interesting. :)

Have a blessed day, and thank you for your kind words!

KuroGamedev6 days ago(+2)

Severe? Nah. A little, sure, because in my head I am like, "Okay, what bugs did I miss, this time?" :D

JonathanPirone6 days ago

I can relate to that one, I'm always so vigilant and really want to check everything xD As a former QA tester, this is something I'm super strict about haha

RATASOFTWARE.INC6 days ago(+1)

Hey! I just wanted to say that what you’re feeling is completely normal. Hitting that “submit” button can be terrifying, no matter how many games we’ve made or how supportive the community is. Anxiety tends to creep in precisely because we care about our work — it means the project matters to us.

What truly counts is enjoying the process: experimenting, learning, creating something that didn’t exist before. Feedback (positive or negative) will always come, but it doesn’t define your worth as a developer. The fact that you keep building and sharing your projects already says a lot about your passion and dedication.

Thanks for opening up about your experience — it helps all of us feel a little less alone in this. Keep going, keep creating, and most importantly, try to enjoy the journey as much as the end result.

JonathanPirone6 days ago(+1)

Wow, thank you for saying that — it really means a lot. You’re right, the nerves only show how much we care about what we’re making. I’ll try to keep reminding myself that the process is just as important as the outcome. Hearing that others feel the same way definitely makes me feel less alone in it. I really appreciate the encouragement!

Have a blessed day! :)

Chronowyn Cardworks6 days ago (1 edit) (+1)

Sometimes you just gotta take a DEEP breath and take the plunge. Our most recent game (SYSTEM//PURGE) has undergone so many iterative adjustments that I didn't think I was ever going to actually hit that big 'publish' button, but I'm glad I did, because within 8 hours I got my first 2 sales with the ONLY advertising being in a single subreddit - as of the time of this post the game is now on the "Top Selling" page, with a CTR of around 2.5% The REAL test is going to be from tomorrow, when the big Black Friday sale starts.

Best of luck and regardless of the final result, hold your head high - you did it. You put your project out there.

JonathanPirone6 days ago(+1)

That’s really inspiring to hear — congrats on SYSTEM//PURGE making it to the Top Selling page! It’s reassuring to know that even with all the doubts, hitting publish can lead to such great results. I’ll definitely try to keep that in mind and focus on the fact that putting the project out there is already a huge win. Wishing you the best with the Black Friday sale — sounds like an exciting milestone ahead!

Have a blessed day! :)

DangerHealtZ5 days ago(+1)

Um... Well, actually, no. When you're developing a game and simultaneously finding an audience that supports you and is waiting for the release, it's much more appealing to me than releasing a completed project. I can't fully get this feeling, as I'm used to communicating with my audience through development blogs (outside of itch.io, of course. It's still challenging for me to find some fans here). Regardless, if you've succeeded, I can only congratulate you

JonathanPirone5 days ago(+1)

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I totally get what you mean—there’s something really motivating about building alongside an audience and feeling that anticipation grow. For me, I’ve found that releasing a completed project has its own kind of reward, but I agree that the journey of development blogs and community interaction can be just as fulfilling. Finding fans on itch.io can definitely be tricky, but I think your approach of keeping people engaged during development is a strong way to build lasting support.

Have a blessed day! :)

Arne Brandt5 days ago(+1)

I think everyone has this, at least a little ^^ The best way is to adopt the "make it exist first, then make it better" or "start small and then expand".

You can't do everything right at once. But you can ask others to give you honest(!) feedback. & gradually improve your project.

JonathanPirone5 days ago

Yeah, that’s a really good point. I think starting small and then building up makes the whole process less overwhelming, and it’s easier to stay motivated when you can see progress step by step. Honest feedback is definitely valuable too—it’s not always easy to hear, but it’s what helps a project grow. I like the way you put it: make it exist first, then make it better. That mindset really takes the pressure off trying to get everything perfect right away.

Have a blessed day! :)

Noah Lewis1 day ago(+1)

You’re definitely not alone! Anxiety when sharing your work is very common, even in supportive communities like itch.io. My advice: focus on the fact that submission is a learning experience, not just a judgment. Celebrate completing the project, take feedback as constructive, and remember that every game you share helps you grow as a developer.

JonathanPirone1 day ago

That’s such a kind and encouraging perspective! I really like how you framed submission as a learning experience rather than just something to be judged—it takes a lot of pressure off and makes the whole process feel more meaningful. Finishing a project is already a huge accomplishment, and sharing it is like opening the door to new growth. Feedback can be tough sometimes, but it’s also proof that people are engaging with your work, which is a win in itself.

Have a blessed day! :)

Gutto Ze22 hours ago(+1)

I have this feeling when submitting my own work as well. I thought that, with time, it would go away but it doesn't. You do get better at dealing with it, though!

You gotta understand that it's impossible for everyone to like it, so do it even though you know some people won't enjoy it. It's completely fine.
And if there's someone that actually goes out of their way to express that they HATED what you did, well... it says more about them than the work itself. Don't take it personally. The people willing to give constructive feedback are rarely (if at all) aggressive.

Everyone deals with this in their own way, the only advice I can give you is to investigate and find out exactly what causes this feeling. It might be something unrelated.

JonathanPirone22 hours ago

I really appreciate you sharing this! It’s reassuring to know I’m not the only one who feels that way when putting work out there. You’re right, it doesn’t completely go away, but learning to handle it better makes a big difference. I like what you said about not taking it personally when someone reacts harshly; constructive feedback usually comes from people who actually care, while people actively wanting to bash the game for the sake of making you feel negative says a lot about their character than your game. Investigating the root of the feeling is a good idea too—I hadn’t thought about how it might be tied to something outside the work itself. Thanks for the perspective, it helps a lot!

Have a blessed day! :)

Sanct1312 hours ago(+1)

Oh yea, used to have sever anxiety when submitting games for the public to view, but that was on another site with really toxic people, this site is nothing like that. The worst that would happen here is maybe no one playing your game, which is far better than where i use to upload, XD

Just keep in mind, you're pry over thinking it, peeps are either gonna love your game and comment and rate and all that good stuff, or they're just gonna ignore it and move on, either way no reason to let it bother you.

JonathanPirone12 hours ago(+1)

Thanks for sharing that. I can definitely relate. Putting your work out there can feel nerve‑wracking, especially if you’ve had bad experiences on other sites. It’s reassuring to hear that itch.io has a more positive vibe.

You’re right, I probably am overthinking it. At the end of the day, it’s better to have people either enjoy the game or just move on than deal with negativity. I really appreciate the encouragement — it makes hitting that “publish” button a little less intimidating.

Have a blessed day! :)

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