Scratching the itch.io

If you’ve recently launched a game on itch.io and are struggling to get noticed, you’re not alone. It can be challenging to stand out in a sea of indie games. However, with the right strategies and consistent effort, you can significantly increase your game’s visibility and downloads. Here’s a comprehensive guide based on my own experiences and analytics to help you maximize your game’s potential on itch.io.

Pre-Launch Strategies

1. Polish Your Game Page

For example when I launched my program, EFPSE Scripter, I learned firsthand how crucial a polished program page is. Here’s what I focused on:

High-Quality Screenshots: I made sure to showcase my aplications best features because lets face it programs are way less exciting the games and in this case is targeting a very niche market so the right visuals can make a huge difference.
Captivating Title: I chose a title that was both unique, memorable and descriptive. It’s essential to stand out in search results and attract interest.
Clear Description: My description highlighted the programs unique aspects and core functions. I kept it concise as to not lose the interest of the viewer.

2. Target the Right Audience

Using relevant tags and accurate categorization was vital. By ensuring that my games and programs were tagged properly and placed in the correct category, I made it easier for players interested in specific genres to find them.

3. Build Anticipation

Before launching, I reccomend creating a devlog and shared progress updates on social media. Building anticipation with regular updates helped keep my game on potential players’ radars and generated buzz.

4. Utilize Analytics Tools

I’ve used itch.io’s analytics to track my uploads performance. For instance, EFPSE Scripter had 614 views and 117 downloads, this is a conversion rate of 19.06%, which means that nearly 20% of people who view your the scripter page end up downloading it. This is a good conversion rate for and gave me insights into where my traffic was coming from and how users interacted with my aplication page. Analyzing these metrics allowed me to make data-driven decisions to improve my all of my uploads visibility.

Launch and Promotion

1. Engage with the Community

I actively participated in game development communities. Engaging with these communities allowed me to build relationships, share my game, and offer helpful advice. It’s important to be relevant and non-spammy in these interactions.

2. Leverage Social Media

Social media was a powerful tool for promoting EFPSE Scripter. I shared trailers, gameplay clips, and updates on platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. By using relevant hashtags, I was able to reach a wider audience and create buzz around my game.

3. Offer a Free Demo

All of my applications and games are free but offering free demo is a strategic move. It allowed players to experience the game before purchasing the full version, which increased the likelihood of downloads and positive word-of-mouth.

4. Utilize Itch.io Features

Itch.io’s features like collections and community interactions are beneficial. Being part of collections and engaging with the community helped increase my game’s exposure.

Post-Launch Actions

1. Respond to Feedback

Encouraging reviews and feedback is crucial. I made sure to actively respond to comments and constructive criticism. Using this feedback to make improvements showed players that I valued their input. This also goes for your social media when promoting, stay engaged and make sure you reply to as many comments as you have time for.

2. Keep Creating

Building a strong portfolio is essential. By consistently creating high-quality games, I’ve been able to grow my audience and establish a solid reputation in the gaming community.

3. Create an Email List

It is oldschool but it works. Building an email list to keep interested players updated on new releases, patches, and special offers is a great way to keep in touch with truly interested followers.

Additional Tips

1. Participate in Itch.io Game Jams

Game jams have been a fantastic way for me to gain exposure and improve my development skills. Each jam forces you in to tight constraints that are not always in your primary skill set so by doing this you are forcing yourself to learn something new or improve on a skill you have the basics of.

Slenderscam was a submission for a game jam, it pushed me to improve my scripting skills and some how managed to cobble together a working game that was somewhat coherent and fun to play!

2. Use Temporary Price Drops

Running temporary price drops or offering free weekends on itch.io can generate buzz and attract new players. This strategy has proven effective in boosting downloads and gaining more attention.

3. Leverage Reviews and Ratings

Encouraging satisfied players to leave positive reviews and ratings can build credibility and attract new players. Highlighting positive reviews on your game page or in promotional materials is a good strategy. A lot of content creators love to play indie games and will often leave a link in your comments to their videos. This s good for you and good for them.

4. Highlight Achievements and Milestones

Sharing achievements or milestones, such as awards or significant player counts, can attract more attention and boost interest in your game.

The Importance of Community Engagement

Being active in the right communities has been crucial for several reasons:

Networking: Connecting with other developers and players has led to valuable collaborations and feedback.
Visibility: Sharing my game in communities increased its exposure.
Feedback: Engaging with communities provided insights to improve my game.
Collaboration: Participating in community events like game jams fostered collaboration and skill development.

Tips for Community Involvement

Research: Find communities that match your game’s genre or theme.
Be Engaging: Contribute to discussions and offer advice without spamming.
Follow Guidelines: Respect community rules and etiquette.
Participate in Events: Join game jams and challenges to showcase your work and learn from others.

Building a successful presence on itch.io involves a combination of pre-launch preparation, effective promotion, and ongoing engagement. By creating a polished game page, engaging with communities, and utilizing various promotional strategies, you can boost your game’s visibility and downloads. Remember, patience and persistence are key—building an audience takes time, but with dedication and quality, success is within reach.