Kickstarter Flop? Refocus Your Indie Game's Core.

Kickstarter stings. It’s a public rejection, a punch to the gut that leaves you questioning everything about your game. But it doesn’t have to be the end. In fact, it can be the catalyst for making your game better.

Dusting Off: The Post-Kickstarter Autopsy

Your Kickstarter failed. Accept it. Now, dissect it. Don’t wallow in disappointment, instead, become a forensic investigator of your own campaign. This is about objective analysis, not blame.

Start by ruthlessly reviewing your campaign page. What claims did you make? What visuals did you use? What price point did you set?

Look at the comments section, even the harsh ones. What did people actually say they didn’t like? Did they think the art style was inconsistent? Was the gameplay unclear? Was the reward structure confusing?

Don’t just focus on the negatives. Were there any elements that seemed to resonate with people? Did a particular character design get positive feedback? Did people express excitement about a specific game mechanic?

I remember when our first Kickstarter for “Starlight Brigade” failed. We were devastated. We thought we had a killer concept: a procedurally generated space opera. But the comments section revealed a harsh truth: people were confused. They didn’t understand the core loop, and the procedural generation felt overwhelming rather than exciting.

That failure, as painful as it was, was the best thing that could have happened to us.

Identifying The Core: What (Almost) Worked?

The key is to isolate the core of your game: the elements that sparked even a flicker of interest. Forget about feature creep and scope bloat. Focus on the fundamental experience you’re trying to create.

What is the one thing that makes your game unique? What is the single, most compelling reason someone would want to play it?

This is often harder than it sounds. You’re too close to the project.

Ask yourself: if you had to pitch your game to someone in a single sentence, what would you say? If you can’t articulate the core in a concise and compelling way, you have a problem.

With “Starlight Brigade,” despite the confusion surrounding the procedural generation, people consistently praised the art style and the quirky, lighthearted tone. That was our core. That was the spark.

Pivot or Perish: Rebuilding the Foundation

Once you’ve identified your core, it’s time to pivot. This doesn’t necessarily mean scrapping your entire project. It means streamlining, refining, and focusing on what matters most.

This is where tough decisions have to be made. Cut features. Simplify mechanics. Reduce scope. Be brutal.

Remember that procedurally generated space opera? After the Kickstarter failure, we stripped it back to its bare essentials. We ditched the procedural generation altogether and focused on creating a hand-crafted, story-driven experience with a strong emphasis on character development and humor. The art style remained, the lighthearted tone remained, but the gameplay became much more focused and accessible.

We also radically reduced the scope. We went from planning a sprawling, open-world adventure to a linear, episodic narrative.

This was a difficult decision. We had poured months of work into the procedural generation system. But we realized that it wasn’t serving the core of our game. It was actually detracting from it.

Funding the Phoenix: Beyond Crowdfunding

A failed Kickstarter doesn’t mean you can’t get your game funded. It just means you need to explore alternative strategies.

Consider these options:

• Small Grants & Indie Funds: Many organizations offer grants specifically for indie game developers. Research these thoroughly and tailor your application to highlight your revised, more focused project.
• Contract Work: Use your skills to earn money that you can reinvest in your game. Even a few hours of freelance work each week can make a difference.
• Early Access (with Caution): If you have a playable build, consider releasing it on Early Access. But be transparent about the game’s development status and actively solicit feedback from players. This can also backfire if you are not ready to update the game on a frequent basis.
• Publishing Deals: While it’s harder to secure a publishing deal after a failed Kickstarter, it’s not impossible. Focus on showcasing the unique aspects of your game and demonstrating your commitment to finishing the project. A focused, polished demo is essential.
• Self-Funding (Bootstrapping): If you’re passionate about your game, consider self-funding it. This may mean working a full-time job while developing your game in your spare time. It’s a grind, but it’s achievable.

We ended up bootstrapping “Starlight Brigade.” We worked part-time jobs and poured every spare moment into development. It took longer, but it allowed us to retain creative control and stay true to our vision.

Marketing on a Shoestring: Building an Audience

Marketing is crucial, even if you don’t have a big budget. Focus on building an audience organically.

• Social Media (Strategically): Don’t just spam social media with generic posts. Share behind-the-scenes content, engage with your followers, and participate in relevant communities.
• Devlogs: Regularly post devlogs that detail your progress and explain your design decisions. This can help build anticipation and generate interest in your game.
• Game Jams: Participating in game jams is a great way to hone your skills, experiment with new ideas, and get your game in front of a wider audience.
• Networking: Attend industry events (even virtual ones) and connect with other developers, publishers, and journalists.
• Free Content: Create free assets, tutorials, or tools that are related to your game. This can help attract new players and build your brand.

We started posting regular devlogs on our website and on social media. We shared our design process, our challenges, and our successes. We also created a free demo of the game and made it available for download. This helped us build a community of players who were excited about our game.

The Long Game: Perseverance and Patience

Developing an indie game is a marathon, not a sprint. A failed Kickstarter is a setback, but it’s not the end of the world.

Learn from your mistakes, refocus your efforts, and keep pushing forward. If you’re passionate about your game and willing to work hard, you can still achieve your dreams.

It took us years to finish “Starlight Brigade.” There were times when we wanted to give up. But we kept going. We believed in our game, and we were determined to see it through to the end.

And we did. It wasn’t easy, but it was worth it. Because “Starlight Brigade” got made. And it was a good game.

Don’t let a failed Kickstarter define you. Let it refine you.