The Indie Dev’s Guide to Choosing Agile vs. Waterfall

“This game felt like it was going in five directions at once, like the developers kept adding features without any clear vision. It started strong, but by the end, it was a confusing mess.” This player review echoes a common frustration for indie developers: the feeling of being busy but unproductive. You’re pouring hours in, making progress on individual tasks, but the overall project feels stagnant or unfocused. This often stems from unclear goals and a lack of a structured approach to development.

The “Productive but Stagnant” Trap

It’s easy to fall into a trap where you’re constantly coding, designing, or creating assets, yet the core game isn’t solidifying. This happens when the overarching vision is murky or keeps shifting without a clear plan. You might be productive on a micro-level, but without a guiding methodology, your effort can feel scattered, leading to delays and burnout. This is where choosing the right development methodology, like Waterfall or Agile, becomes critical.

Waterfall Explained (Indie Lens)

Waterfall is a sequential, linear project management approach. Each phase, from planning and design to implementation and testing, must be completed before the next one begins. It’s planning-heavy upfront, aiming to define everything before development starts.

When it works for indies: Waterfall can be surprisingly effective for very small, clearly defined projects with a fixed scope. Think a classic arcade game with simple mechanics or a focused puzzle game where the entire design can be mapped out from day one. Indie developer Sarah M. shared, “For my first mobile puzzle game, Waterfall was perfect. I knew exactly what I was building, and the rigid structure kept me from scope creep.”

Common indie mistakes: Over-planning for uncertain elements or ignoring early feedback are major pitfalls. Trying to account for every possible scenario before writing a line of code can lead to analysis paralysis. Another indie, Tom P., learned this the hard way: “I tried Waterfall for an RPG. I spent months planning every detail, but then realized halfway through that some core mechanics just weren’t fun. It was too late to pivot easily.” The inflexibility of Waterfall can stifle creativity if the initial vision isn’t perfect.

Agile Explained (Indie Lens)

Agile is an iterative, flexible, and feedback-driven approach. Instead of rigid upfront planning, work is broken into small, manageable iterations (sprints in Scrum, continuous flow in Kanban). Development happens in cycles, with constant testing and feedback incorporated along the way.

When it works for indies: Agile excels in projects with evolving ideas, rapid prototyping, or uncertain scope. If you’re building a rogue-lite where the fun comes from emergent gameplay, or an RPG where the story might shift based on early player reactions, Agile offers the flexibility you need. Mark D., an indie developer working on a narrative-driven adventure, said, “Agile allows me to build a small slice, get feedback, and adapt. My game is much better now because I wasn’t locked into an initial design that might have been flawed.”

Common indie mistakes: A common trap is misinterpreting “flexible” as “no plan.” While Agile is adaptable, it still requires discipline and a clear understanding of your short-term goals for each iteration. Lack of discipline can lead to “feature creep” – constantly adding new ideas without completing existing ones. Emily R. admitted, “I tried Agile but ended up with a dozen half-finished features. I thought ‘flexible’ meant I could just do whatever, whenever. It turned into chaos.” Without a strong product backlog and focused sprints, Agile can become unfocused.

Making the Choice: A Step-by-Step Guide for Indies

Choosing the right methodology isn’t about picking a trendy buzzword; it’s about aligning with your project’s needs, team size, and personal work style.

Step 1: Define Your Game & Goals

How certain are you about the final vision for your game? Is it a clear-cut puzzle game with well-defined mechanics from day one, or a sprawling RPG with a story that might evolve as you discover new ideas? If your game has a highly predictable outcome and a fixed scope, Waterfall might offer the necessary structure. If the vision is likely to evolve, or you plan to discover the fun through rapid prototyping and player feedback, Agile is probably a better fit. Many indies stumble here, trying to rigidly define a game that needs room to breathe.

Step 2: Assess Your Team & Resources

Are you a solo developer? A duo? A small, distributed team? Solo developers often benefit from the structured discipline of Waterfall for simple projects, or the highly organized iteration of Agile to prevent burnout and maintain focus. Small teams might find Agile’s communication and feedback loops more efficient, especially if roles overlap. A lack of dedicated project managers means indies need a system that minimizes overhead.

Step 3: Consider Your Working Style

Do you thrive on detailed plans and predictable milestones, or do you prefer to iterate quickly and adapt on the fly? Some developers prefer the upfront certainty Waterfall provides, allowing them to focus on execution. Others find the continuous feedback and adaptive nature of Agile more creatively fulfilling. Your personal comfort with ambiguity and change should influence your decision.

Step 4: Think About Early Feedback

How important is it for you to get player feedback early and often? If early player feedback is crucial for validation and iteration (e.g., for a new gameplay mechanic or a multiplayer experience), Agile’s iterative cycles are designed for this. Waterfall, by contrast, typically delays comprehensive testing until late in the development cycle.

Step 5: Document Your Journey

Regardless of the methodology you choose, maintaining a game dev journal is non-negotiable for indies. This practice helps clarify goals, track progress, and learn from mistakes. Whether you use a physical notebook or a digital solution, consistently logging your daily tasks, challenges, and insights transforms busy work into productive progress. It keeps your overall vision in sight and allows you to reflect on what’s working and what isn’t. Start tracking your game development progress today with our specialized journaling tool at track your game development progress.

Conclusion

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Both Waterfall and Agile have their strengths and weaknesses for indie developers. The key is to understand your project’s unique needs, your team’s dynamics, and your personal working preferences. By honestly evaluating these factors, you can choose a methodology that turns your busy efforts into tangible progress, ensuring your game doesn’t end up as a confusing mess but a focused, polished experience.