Reddit marketing for Indie games: where to start

Gamers on Reddit are enthusiastic, opinionated and quick to tell you what is wrong. That is exactly what a small studio needs.

They also see a lot of game posts. What stands out is a developer who shares the work honestly and listens when people react.

What your buyers are asking

These are the kinds of questions that come up again and again. Each one is a chance to be the helpful answer.

• What are some good indie games like [popular game]?
• Any underrated games from the last year?
• What would make you try a new game?
• Is [game] worth buying on sale?
• How do I find co-op games for two players?
• How was this made?

Where to look

• r/indiegaming. Players and developers sharing smaller games. A common first stop.
• r/IndieDev. Developers sharing progress and getting feedback.
• r/gamedev. The craft of making games. Good for learning, with strict rules on promotion.
• Genre communities. Communities for roguelikes, puzzles or cozy games hold your exact players.
• r/playmygame. A place built for sharing your game and asking people to try it.

Rules change and every community is different, so read the sidebar and pinned posts before you write anything. Our guide on how to read subreddit rules shows what to check.

What tends to work

• Short clips or screenshots that show the game in a few seconds.
• Development posts that share a real decision and what you learned.
• Replying to every comment, especially the critical ones.

What to avoid

• Posting the same trailer in many communities.
• Asking for wishlists with nothing else in the post.
• Getting defensive when someone says the game is not for them.

An example of a good answer

Here is the kind of reply that helps. The product and company in it are made up, and the point is the shape: answer first, reasons next, a short honest note about the connection last.

Question: Any cozy puzzle games where you can play for ten minutes at a time?

Look for games built around short levels with no timers. A few good ones are the usual favourites in this community, and I would sort the list by review quality rather than by sales. Heads up, I am a solo developer working on a small puzzle game called Mossy, so I am not neutral. It has five-minute levels and no timers, and there is a free demo on the store page if you want to try it. If it is not your thing, no hard feelings, but I would love to know why.

Post ideas you can use

• A short clip of one mechanic and how it changed during development.
• A post about what playtesters got wrong, and what that taught you.
• A post on how you decided on your price.
• A free demo announcement in the right place.
• A look at a feature you cut and why.

How to tell if it is working

Watch store page visits, wishlists and demo downloads after each post. Notice which clips earned comments, because they show what players find interesting. Our guide to measuring Reddit marketing results has the full setup.

Common questions

How often can I post about my game?

Check each community's rules. Many allow it once in a while with real updates. Posting the same thing again does not help.

Should I post a trailer?

A short clip of actual gameplay does better than a polished trailer in most communities.

Do wishlists matter?

They help on stores that use them. Ask for them gently, after you have shared something worth reading.