Prototype vs. Polish: When to Kill Your Indie Game

Posted by Gemma Ellison
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August 2, 2025

Prototype vs. Polish: When to Kill Your Indie Game

My first foray into game development was a disaster. A beautiful, painstakingly crafted disaster. I poured my heart and soul into “Echo Bloom,” a side-scrolling puzzle platformer with a unique time-rewinding mechanic. The art was gorgeous, the music captivating, and I was convinced it was going to be a hit. I even launched a Kickstarter.

It failed. Miserably.

That failure, as painful as it was, taught me a critical lesson: sometimes, the most productive thing you can do as an indie developer is to kill your game. But how do you know when to pull the plug? It’s not about lacking passion or giving up easily. It’s about recognizing fundamental flaws early and making the hard choices that save you time, money, and sanity.

The Allure of the Polish Trap

We’ve all been there: months spent perfecting animations, polishing UI, and adding that one extra feature that will surely make the game shine. The problem? You’re polishing a turd. If the core gameplay loop isn’t fun, no amount of polish will fix it.

My mistake with “Echo Bloom” was focusing on aesthetics before nailing the core mechanic. The time-rewinding was clunky, the puzzles were frustrating, and playtesters weren’t having fun. I ignored the warning signs, blinded by the game’s visual appeal.

Identifying Prototype Problems: The Red Flags

Your prototype is your truth serum. It reveals the game’s potential (or lack thereof) in its rawest form. Here’s what to look for:

  • Lack of Core Fun: Are players genuinely enjoying the central gameplay loop? Are they smiling? Engaged? Or are they politely nodding while secretly checking their phones? If the core isn’t compelling, it’s time for a serious rethink.
  • Unclear Mechanics: Is the game easy to understand? Are players constantly confused about how things work? Confusing difficulty with complexity is a common trap.
  • Negative Player Feedback: Don’t dismiss negative feedback. Analyze it objectively. Are players consistently complaining about the same issues? This is valuable data.
  • Unrealistic Scope: Is your feature list growing exponentially? Are you adding features that don’t contribute to the core experience? Scope creep is a killer.

Actionable Steps: Assessing Your Game’s Potential

So, you suspect your game might be a dud. What now?

  1. Gather Honest Feedback: Get your prototype in front of as many people as possible. Use online forums, game jams, or local meetups. Emphasize that you want honest, critical feedback, not just compliments.
  2. Analyze the Data: Don’t rely solely on gut feelings. Track player behavior. Where are they getting stuck? What are they ignoring? Use analytics tools to get objective data.
  3. Scope Realistically: Cut features ruthlessly. Focus on the core. Can you achieve 80% of the fun with 20% of the features? Aim for that.
  4. Confront the Sunk Cost Fallacy: This is the hardest part. You’ve invested time, effort, and maybe even money into your project. But those are sunk costs. They’re gone. Don’t let them cloud your judgment. The question is not "How much have I invested?", but “What’s the potential return on future investment?”

Pivoting vs. Killing

Sometimes, a game isn’t fundamentally broken, but it needs a major overhaul. This is where pivoting comes in. Can you salvage the core mechanics by changing the genre, art style, or target audience?

If the answer is no, it’s time to kill the project. It’s a painful decision, but it frees you up to work on something with a better chance of success.

The Power of Documentation and Devlogs

Throughout the entire development process, documentation is king. If I had meticulously tracked my progress and playtest feedback on “Echo Bloom,” I may have spotted the issues earlier. Keeping a consistent devlog serves multiple purposes:

  • Tracking progress: It helps you visualize your progress.
  • Documenting decisions: It gives you a record of design choices and why you made them.
  • Organizing tasks: It helps you break down tasks and manage your workflow.
  • Building community: It allows you to engage with potential players early on.

Many indie developers, like the team behind Stardew Valley, maintained meticulous journals, documenting everything from code snippets to design revisions. Learn from their example. Start tracking your game development progress today!

But how do you stay consistent with a devlog? The key is finding a system that works for you, one that you can stick with even when motivation is low. This could be a simple text file, a spreadsheet, or a dedicated game development journal. Choose a format that fits your style and make it a habit. Make sure you set aside dedicated time each week to write in your devlog, even if it’s just for 15 minutes. It will pay off in the long run.

Assess Your Project’s Roadmap

Ultimately, knowing when to kill a project comes down to objectivity and self-awareness. Are you willing to honestly assess your game’s potential? Are you willing to pivot or abandon it if necessary? These are difficult questions, but they’re crucial for success in the indie game world.

Before you continue, take some time to honestly evaluate your current project. What are its strengths and weaknesses? What feedback have you received? Are you still excited about the core gameplay loop?

To help you get started, consider using our game development journal. It’s designed to help you track your progress, organize your thoughts, and make informed decisions about your projects. Start tracking your game development progress today.