dev_me

About

dev_me is a single player strategy game. It was developed by MrMegawatts and was released on May 30, 2020. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Dev\_me" is a simulation game where you play as an indie game developer, managing your time and resources to meet basic needs, create games, and build a following. With a unique game topic system and skill-based character development, you'll face the challenges of working alone and decide whether to prioritize high-quality games or audience engagement. Your choices in programming, design, and marketing will significantly impact your success.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

61%

Audience ScoreBased on 66 reviews

gameplay8 positive mentions

grinding8 negative mentions

The game has a charming pixel art style and a compelling main gameplay loop that can be enjoyable for casual play.
It offers a laid-back experience, making it a nice way to relax after work.
The game has potential for improvement, and regular updates from the developers suggest that it may evolve positively over time.

The game suffers from unrealistic difficulty due to high rent increases and a grind-heavy gameplay loop that can feel tedious and frustrating.
Many players feel lost due to a lack of guidance and orientation, making it hard to progress effectively.
There are concerns about the game's current state, with some players perceiving it as abandoned by the developers, leading to dissatisfaction with the overall experience.

gameplay
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
45%
15%
The gameplay has potential, with charming pixel art and a compelling main loop, but currently lacks depth and variety, leading to a repetitive experience. Players express frustration with the energy mechanic, which feels punishing rather than rewarding, and suggest the need for more engaging elements like random events and skill progression. Overall, while there are promising aspects, significant improvements are needed for a more enjoyable gameplay experience.
- “The pixel art is charming and the main gameplay loop is compelling enough that I'll probably keep playing.”
- “The thumbs up is for the game's potential, and honestly the music and art are right up my alley, and considering they update regularly, I'm sure all the gameplay hiccups will get ironed out.”
- “Maybe random events, more opportunities to improve your dev (other than super expensive books—really, the book was more than my rent for like an hour of the game and you have to buy multiple books at that price), and some type of gameplay variation would be nice since the progress bar thing was kind of grating.”
- “Developing a game consists of choosing how much time to dedicate to gameplay/story/soundtrack/graphics, followed by clicking on work on game development and some more waiting.”
- “Some indication of skill learning in the main gameplay loop would be nice.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game excessively tedious and frustrating, with high in-game prices and rapid rent increases making it difficult to progress. Many report spending significant time on unfulfilling freelance jobs just to survive, leading to a lack of motivation to engage in actual game development. Overall, the grinding feels unrewarding and detracts from the enjoyment of the game.
- “Very grindy without any reward.”
- “The amount of sheer grinding to even get to the point where you can just make a game is ridiculous (over an hour for me).”
- “Getting to the point where you can actually make a game is tedious and such a terrible grind that it's not worth it.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their smooth animation and beautiful art style, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience. While there is room for improvement, players appreciate the visual aesthetics and find them relaxing, enhancing the gameplay loop.
- “There is more room to improve, but overall it is a nice game. The graphics and animation are so smooth, and the music is relaxing. This game eases my OCD.”
- “It's a very interesting game with a beautiful art style and a nice game loop.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
The music in the game is generally praised for being relaxing and well-suited to the overall aesthetic, contributing positively to the gameplay experience. While there is room for improvement, many players appreciate the regular updates and believe the soundtrack enhances the game's potential.
- “The music and art are right up my alley, and considering they update regularly, I'm sure all the gameplay hiccups will get ironed out.”
- “The graphics and animation are so smooth, and the music is relaxing; this game eases my OCD.”
- “Overall, it is a nice game; the music adds a calming element to the experience.”
- “Developing a game consists of choosing how much time to dedicate to gameplay/story/soundtrack/graphics, followed by clicking on work on game development and some more waiting.”
- “There are more room to improve but overall it is a nice game, the graphics and animation are so smooth, the music is relaxing, this game eases my OCD.”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The story aspect of the game is intertwined with the development process, emphasizing the balance between gameplay, narrative, soundtrack, and graphics. Players engage in a cyclical process of decision-making and waiting, which reflects the game's meta-narrative on game development itself.
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is reported to be highly unstable, with numerous bugs affecting the overall experience.
- “Way too buggy.”
- “Way too buggy.”