Hinterland's director on the rise of indie game popularity: players are tired of the AAA approach and are interested in unconventional genres
The year 2024 was marked by the release of numerous indie hits on Steam, including Palworld, Manor Lords, Content Warning, Balatro, Backpack Battles, and others. The success of some of these games came as a surprise. Rafael van Lierop, the founder and CEO of Hinterland, the studio that developed The Long Dark, listed on LinkedIn the possible reasons for the indie boom.
Content Warning
He identified three such reasons:
- The general audience fatigue with the AAA approach and the insufficient "value" of high-priced games;
- The social aspect of Steam. Unlike other gaming platforms, Steam is not just a digital store but also a platform for communication. This fosters the virality of games;
- Players' interest in genres that are unpopular with major publishers or not fully explored by them. This includes genres like city builders, RTS, and survival games.
