Hello everyone, I’m Makoto Nishizaki, an indie game developer from Japan.
By day, I work as a software engineer, building business software and web systems. In my free time, I develop games and have released several titles on Google Play, App Store, and Steam. Some of my games have received positive feedback and even helped me upgrade to a new PC with a powerful graphics card. Others have disappeared without a trace, leaving me with only the kind of stress you’d expect from a dinner with your in-laws.
Today, I’d like to share my thoughts on which platform beginner indie developers should choose for their first game release, based on my own experiences.
1. Clarify Your Motivation
First, ask yourself: Are you making a game because you want to create a game, or because you want to learn the technology behind it?
If your goal is to learn, your best platform might actually be YouTube. In this case, you don’t need to force yourself to finish a full game. Instead, you can share your insights and technical tips as videos. Honestly, if your main goal is monetization, you’ll often find it more rewarding to create content around game development rather than games themselves. Think of it like selling shovels to gold miners during a gold rush.
2. Who Is Your Audience?
Next, consider: Who would actually enjoy your game?
Even before worrying about quality, if your target audience is unclear—or worse, if only you as the developer would enjoy it—then the best place to “release” your game might just be your own hard drive. This isn’t to say your game has no value. It’s just that, for most people, watching home movies of someone else’s kids all night isn’t exactly entertaining.
3. Summary So Far
If your game is made without any outward-facing perspective, I don’t recommend releasing it publicly.
With that in mind, let’s talk about actual platforms and why some are better than others for beginners.
4. Mobile Platforms: App Store & Google Play
Smartphones are familiar gadgets, so many beginners naturally think of mobile platforms first. However, I strongly advise against releasing your first game on mobile.
There are several reasons, but the biggest is that smartphones have become everyday appliances. Users expect safety, reliability, and ease of use. Indie developers’ experimental or niche apps are not what most smartphone users want. Also, smartphone users are not necessarily gamers.
On top of that, releasing on Google Play has become more demanding. As of 2024, you’re required to have at least 20 testers use your app for at least two weeks before release. The review process is strict, and the technical challenges of developing for less powerful devices can quickly become frustrating. These skills also tend to become outdated fast.
In short, I do not recommend mobile platforms for your first game release.
5. Consoles: PlayStation and Nintendo Switch
Is it possible for indie developers to release games on PlayStation or Nintendo Switch? Surprisingly, yes—to some extent. Sony and Nintendo do offer paths for individual developers, but only barely. While the development environment is actually quite user-friendly and stable, realistically, these platforms are not open to most indie developers. It’s more about giving the illusion of opportunity than actually providing it.
And if you do manage to get through, you’ll be faced with a tower of legal documents—so tall it would dwarf you if printed out. You’ll need to read and sign everything, and depending on the situation, you might end up with several such towers in your room, until the floor collapses and you fall right into your downstairs neighbor’s knitting circle.
6. Steam: The Best Option for Indie Developers (Sort Of)
Finally, let’s talk about Steam, the leading PC game distribution platform. **In my opinion, as of 2025, Steam is probably the best option for indie developers releasing their first game. **There are many similar platforms, but Steam should be your starting point—at least, that’s my personal view.
But to be honest, my reason for recommending Steam is a bit pessimistic: **it’s simply less bad than the alternatives. **There are still plenty of challenges. The diversity of PC environments is a headache, and while Steam does offer opportunities for indie developers, it’s only relative to other platforms. Steam users have become very demanding, and they value polished visuals and overall quality. Even if your game has potential, if it lacks visual polish, it may not even get enough attention to receive a fair rating.
7. Final Thoughts
In summary, before choosing a platform, beginners should first consider whether they really want to release their game at all. Then, look at the characteristics of each platform and make your choice. What are you after—money, recognition, or a portfolio for job hunting? There are many goals, and it’s worth thinking about what you want before you start.
Thank you for reading!
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