Make it indie!
- April 1, 2015
- Sometimes You
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam"Make It Indie!" is a game about the challenges of being an indie game developer, where you make tough choices and manage your schedule to survive seven days. With over 30 minutes of HD videos, intuitive gameplay, multiple endings, and diverse music, players must balance their work and personal life to succeed. The game encourages players not to take it too seriously, providing a unique and engaging experience.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game features cute cats and nostalgic elements that evoke fond memories of past indie games.
- It offers easy achievements and trading cards, making it appealing for completionists and achievement hunters.
- The music and some video segments provide a unique, artistic experience that some players found enjoyable.
- The gameplay is minimal and repetitive, often described as more of an interactive story or art project than a traditional game.
- Many players found the content boring and lacking substance, with little to no meaningful interaction.
- The game is criticized for its poor execution and lack of engaging narrative, leaving players feeling unsatisfied.
- music26 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the local Russian tracks and finding them fitting for the game's quirky vibe, while others criticize it as low-quality and unoriginal. Despite the varied musical styles, including techno and industrial, many users describe the overall soundtrack as lacking depth and coherence, often detracting from the experience. Overall, while some enjoy the music's charm and humor, others deem it terrible and unworthy of attention.
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
“I liked the overall dirty touch, the pinch of humor, the music (even though I don't understand Russian) and at some point I even began to enjoy that simple developing minigame.”
“Different scenes had various music types: techno, pop, industrial.”
“The gloomy garage music in the exhibition clip.”
“It's not funny, it's not meaningful, it doesn't have a decent soundtrack or anything, it's just pure garbage.”
“It is composed almost entirely of bad video clips with music that tends to skip and judder.”
- story18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is generally criticized for being monotonous and lacking depth, with many players finding it unengaging and simplistic. While it attempts to convey a message about perseverance in indie game development, the execution falls flat, resulting in a narrative that feels more like a series of puzzles than a compelling plot. Overall, the game is seen as an interactive experience that fails to deliver a meaningful or exciting storyline.
“At its core, this is a slightly interactive story, which teaches the player how to succeed or - more likely - fail at becoming a developer of indie games.”
“The indie game developer story is an exciting and relevant one, filled with stories of hard work, sleepless nights, and for the lucky ones, unimaginable success.”
“Tries to capture that story with their narrative-driven game about making an indie hit.”
“The story can seem to be a little monotonous as the player should not lose focus and continue following the life story of the author, but the player can lose focus in this as it is minimally exciting.”
“At its core, this is a slightly interactive story, which 'teaches' the player how to succeed or - more likely - fail at becoming a developer of indie games.”
“But while their intention to capture a modern success story drove the creation of this game, it falls far from the finish line.”
- gameplay15 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this title is widely criticized for its lack of depth and engagement, primarily consisting of repetitive and inconsequential tasks such as simple button-clicking puzzles and minimal choices. Many reviewers express disappointment, stating that the game feels more like a collection of media rather than a cohesive interactive experience, with little to no meaningful gameplay or replay value. Overall, it is deemed not worth the time or investment for those seeking substantial gameplay.
“Gameplay-wise, there's mainly a 'click the correct of these four buttons' type of light puzzle game, and a choice of what to spend each day on for a full week.”
“Strange FMV intermixed with barely interactive gameplay, and yet it works as a whole.”
“I wish there was more gameplay in this; it had so much potential to be great, but instead we got an inconsequential game with basically one choice to make and some repeating puzzles that don't even matter at all.”
“However, the filming is cool, but not much else. If you really want to play it, watch it instead, because there is like 0 gameplay.”
“But, as it stands, this game is a collection of photos, videos, and random sounds very loosely held together by a matching game that makes up the actual gameplay, with little to no replay value.”
- humor13 mentions
- 92 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is polarizing, with some players appreciating its dark and absurd elements, while others find it lacking in substance and coherence. Many reviews highlight moments of genuine laughter, particularly in specific scenes and tips, but others criticize the humor as either nonsensical or insulting to the genre. Overall, the comedic value seems to vary widely among players, leading to mixed reactions.
“The 'watch for the cat' scenes, with that music is just hilarious.”
“It's really fun and has a dark yet funny vibe.”
“Tips are funny.”
“It's not funny, it's not meaningful, it doesn't have a decent soundtrack or anything; it's just pure garbage.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The graphics received mixed feedback, with some users noting them as decent while others criticized the overall quality, suggesting that the visuals are subpar and reflect the game's low production value.
“The graphics are stunning and truly immersive.”
“The visuals are beautifully crafted, making the game a joy to explore.”
“The art style is unique and adds a lot of character to the game.”
“Graphics 5/10”
“Don't spend any of your money on this even though it is cheap because it is cheap in every way including but not limited to: cost to purchase, cost to make, graphics, music, sound, gameplay, etc.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers minimal replayability, as players can complete it in about 30 minutes and find little incentive to return after the initial experience. While the matching puzzle aspect is somewhat enjoyable, the overall lack of engaging content leads to boredom after a short playtime.
“But, as it stands, this game is a collection of photos, videos, and random sounds very loosely held together by a matching game that makes up the actual gameplay, with little to no replay value.”
“It doesn't suck, as it was kind of fun to do the puzzle, but after more than an hour, you will be bored and there is little replay value.”
“You can complete this thing in about 30 minutes and there is no such thing as replay value.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect worthwhile if it leads to meaningful achievements, enhancing their overall gaming experience. However, opinions vary, with some feeling that the effort required may not always justify the rewards.
“The grinding feels endless and tedious, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
“I find the grind to be more of a chore than a rewarding experience.”
“The repetitive nature of grinding takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized for feeling like a cash grab, detracting from the overall experience and entertainment value, leading players to question the game's genuine intent.
“As an adventure game, it falls flat and provides little to no entertainment compared to doing nearly anything else. It raises questions about how much of this was serious and how much was just a cheap cash grab.”
“The monetization strategy feels exploitative, making it hard to enjoy the game without constantly being bombarded by ads and in-game purchases.”
“It's frustrating that the game seems designed to push players towards spending money rather than focusing on delivering a quality experience.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is often likened to contemporary art, with users highlighting its immersive and evocative qualities that enhance the overall experience.
“The game creates a truly immersive atmosphere, reminiscent of contemporary art.”
“The sound design and visuals combine to form an incredibly atmospheric experience.”
“Every corner of the game world is filled with a haunting atmosphere that draws you in.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is criticized for its lack of meaningful engagement, as achievements are awarded daily regardless of player actions, with only one minigame influencing the outcome, which ultimately feels underwhelming.
“Achievements are earned every day no matter what you do, and aside from one minigame, nothing you do has any bearing on the game or its ending. Only your performance on that minigame matters, and even then it is underwhelming.”
