🎮 Starter Pack for Beginner Indie Developers 🎮 (Patreon)

This post gathers all the useful links to resources for artists and developers. Some were shared with me by game developers and artists, and a few I discovered on my own.

Notes:

A great game development tips, in my opinion, can be found from this guy: https://www.youtube.com/@PirateSoftware/

Presentation decks of some games that might inspire you: https://heyglitch.notion.site/Pitch-Decks-f56e38c13fe6417f8379859e74367e1a

🌟 Most important!

My most crucial advice in game development: start your first project with something very, very (I mean very!) simple. Many indie developers never finish their projects because they make them too complex and simply burn out. You might feel a huge passion for what you're doing and be sure that you won't burn out, but consider that you'll have to do not only fun things like drawing, programming, or composing music, but also challenging tasks like resource searching if you can't draw, following tutorials if you can't program, understanding all the licenses for music and art (it's a nightmare for me!), marketing, translations into different languages (especially if voiceovers are needed), and other boring or very irritating things. And if you have a family and a full-time job, developing your first game may end up not very joyful and even gloomy. 

But don't be scared! The dream should shine brightly, and you just have to help it not to fade. So, don't clutter your first project with all sorts of gameplay gimmicks and unexpected plot twists. Let your first project be small but alive.

⚙️ Game engines

Here's a list of some well-known game engines for different game genres, along with their pros and cons:

RenPy – An excellent engine for visual novels, especially for those who haven't programmed before (my choice). There are numerous tutorials and documentation available, but be mindful of your engine version, as features may differ between versions. Not suitable for those aiming to create a fighting game (though with effort, it might be possible!).

Unity – A versatile free engine that can handle almost everything! I won't say much about it; you've probably heard of it already. Games with revenue less than $1.000.000 dollars in the last 12 months are exempt from fees.

Unreal – A free engine for 3D and...

But it's okay! The article mentions changes affecting users using the engine for non-gaming projects (VFX artists, architects, etc.). Still, it's uncertain what they'll come up with next.

Godot – A free game engine and one of the simplest in terms of coding. Its interface is very reminiscent of Unity, and many believe it might replace Unity. After the Unity scandal this summer, some switched to Godot.

RPG Maker – As the name suggests, this engine is best suited for those planning to create RPGs. It was used for the sensational game "The Coffin of Andy and Leyley" last year.

🎶 Music and sounds

FMA  – In my opinion, the best site where you can find music of various genres. Please pay attention to licenses. 

To do this, start by selecting the main genre and click Search:

Then on the right, check the boxes where needed:

Often, composers require crediting their work. Follow the link to learn more about licenses on author's page:

Freesound – A highly popular site where you can find almost any sound in various variations. Don't forget to specify licenses in the filters to avoid issues later.

🎨 Art

Kenney – A website with assets for both 2D and 3D games to suit any taste.

Itch.io – Here, you can find a lot of backgrounds for 2D games, ranging from pixel art to hand-drawn, along with character sets and UI designs. Additionally, there is a collection of music and sounds, including both paid and free assets. Everything you need for RPGs or visual novels!

As a personal recommendation, Selavi Games is my favorite artist on this platform. He offers numerous stunning backgrounds. Some of them are generated using AI and then lightly edited, but I think it's okay for first project.

✏️ Fonts

1001 Fonts – A website offering fonts to suit every taste. Pay close attention to the licenses.

Google Fonts – Another site I personally use. Again, make sure to read the license for each font.

Font Library – A small but free collection of fonts.

📚 Universal Resources

OpenGameArt.org – A versatile site offering music, art, and more, although the resource search might be a bit cumbersome.

Pixabay – Provides music, sounds, images, effects, and more. Pay close attention to the license! The site's universal license states that you can use materials for free but must give attribution. However, I recommend checking the author's page for additional information on this.

And again, Itch.io!

🛍️ Marketing

Marketing is the most challenging aspect for me. Personally, I publish my game on Itch.io, but I aspire to release games on Steam in the future. I find valuable insights from Ihor Pospishnyi's information here.

Here are a few links from the list that seemed particularly interesting to me:

games-stats.com  – A tool allowing you to filter games by genre, release years, and other fields. Games are sorted by estimated revenue, presented in a table view with additional stats like reviews, score, and release date.

Catapult.gg – Ever seen those ads in free mobile games where a blogger insists there'll definitely be those puzzles (and then they show up once in a hundred hours of gameplay)? This seems like the hub where these people dwell. A site for influencers and publishers to register, offering the opportunity to advertise through small or emerging bloggers, helping popularize games.

SteamDB – A third-party website offering better insight into the Steam platform and its extensive database.

How to Market a Game – Chris Zukowski's advice on game marketing. You can subscribe to weekly tips.

How to Make a Steam Page – A tutorial on creating your Steam page, also by Chris Zukowski.

I hope these links help you navigate and find resources for your project. If you know any other useful sources, write them in the comments under this post, and I'll add them to the list! Let's help each other. Best of luck!✨