How indiexpo is growing up during this 2023!

Here's the detailed description of indiexpo's statistics for the period from January 2023 to June 2023, along with considerations on how to improve these statistics in the second half of 2023:

User Demographics:

During the first half of 2023, indiexpo witnessed significant engagement from young developers and gamers. 42.83% of users fall within the 18-24 age group, clearly demonstrating indiexpo's appeal to young enthusiasts of free indie games. This is a positive sign for the indie developer community, indicating that the games featured on the site are capturing the interest of the younger generation.

Age & Genre

An noteworthy point to highlight is the increasing female user base compared to previous years (even if the male user base is still the biggest). But this growing female participation can be seen as the result of inclusivity initiatives and a broader diversity of content offered by indiexpo. This positive trend should be encouraged and promoted in the second half of 2023 to further expand the female user base.

Top 10 Countries for Visits:

Top 10 Countries

indiexpo is a global platform attracting developers and gamers from around the world. Among the countries significantly contributing to the number of visits, China is in the first place, followed by the United States, Italy, Russia, and Germany. These data reflect the increasing popularity of free indie games on an international scale and the significance of a platform like indiexpo as a promotional platform for indie developers.

To fully grasp the meaning of these data, it's valuable to consider the historical context of the gaming industry. For instance, China has witnessed explosive growth in the gaming sector in recent years, driven by the increasing availability of mobile devices and an evolving gaming culture. This has made China a key market for indiexpo, and it suggests that this trend could continue to grow in the second half of 2023.

Traffic Source:

The majority of visits (67%) come from direct traffic, indicating that indiexpo has built a strong online presence and a base of loyal developers and gamers who visit the site directly. 

Traffic Source

This is a positive sign as direct traffic often indicates a strong and recognizable brand. In the second half of 2023, indiexpo could further focus on retention strategies to maintain and increase the number of direct developers and gamers.

Top 10 Social Sources of Visits:

Social media plays a significant role in driving traffic to indiexpo. Platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Reddit contribute substantially to the traffic, representing 25.52%, 25.16%, and 20.76% of visits from social media, respectively. These social platforms not only provide a channel for promoting indie games but also influence the developer and gamer communities.

It's important to note that these social media platforms have a crucial role in the gaming world, influencing trends, the discovery of new games, and the sharing of gaming experiences. In the second half of 2023, indiexpo could seek to further solidify its partnerships with these social platforms by collaborating with content creators and promoting quality indie games through these channels.

Devices Used:

The increase in traffic from mobile devices, constituting 42% of the total, suggests the importance of optimizing the site to provide a seamless user experience on smartphones and tablets. This trend may continue to grow, driven by the increasing adoption of mobile devices worldwide.

Devices

An interesting point to note is that many developers are responding to this trend by uploading HTML5 games to indiexpo. These games can be easily played online on mobile devices without the need for downloads or installations. In the second half of 2023, indiexpo could further encourage developers to create mobile-optimized games, thereby enhancing the site's appeal to the growing mobile audience.

The most used mobile devices on indiexpo

indiexpo's statistics for the first half of 2023 indicate positive growth and development opportunities. For the second half, the site could focus on inclusivity strategies, collaborations with major social media platforms, and mobile optimization to continue expanding its user base and supporting the indie game developer community. indiexpo is clearly playing an essential role in promoting and sustaining the free indie game sector.

The Top 6 Benefits of Developing an Indie Game in HTML5

HTML5 games are games that are developed using HTML5, a markup language that is used to structure and present content on the World Wide Web. HTML5 games are typically browser-based games that can be played on any device with a web browser and an internet connection, without the need for additional software or plugins.

Now it is possible to develop HTML5 games also with tool as Construct (2 & 3), Rpg Maker (MV & MZ), Unity3D (in WEBGL), GODOT, Game Maker and other.

But why to develop a game in HTML5? Here 6 Reasons:

1. HTML5 is cross-platform and can run on any device with a modern web browser, which makes it easier to reach a wider audience.
2. HTML5 games can be easily distributed and played online, without the need to go through app stores or install additional software.
3. HTML5 allows for rapid development and prototyping, as it allows developers to easily make changes and iterate on their ideas.
4. HTML5 has a large and active community of developers and resources, making it easier for indie developers to find help and support when needed.
5. HTML5 has a wide range of tools and libraries available for game development, including frameworks like Phaser and Pixi.js.
6. HTML5 games are compatible with modern web standards and technologies, which makes them easy to integrate with other platforms and services.

HTML5 games are created using a combination of HTML5, CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), and JavaScript, and can be designed to be both simple and complex, ranging from simple, casual games to more advanced, immersive games with rich graphics and gameplay.

What are you waiting for? 

3 interesting HTML5 Games to Play right Now:

Binary Boy

Immortal Sins

NeoTrap

An Unforgettable RPG Adventure Combining High Fantasy and Sci-Fi: Starcaller

As an exiled priestess with hidden powers, players must guide Avarran as she embarks on a journey to restore order to the planet Vaerok. This is Starcaller, an indiegame developed by Cosmic Wheels during the 2020 and still played by a lot of indiexpors! The game combines elements of high fantasy and sci-fi in a retro-style RPG adventure that is sure to appeal to fans of both genres.

One of the most notable aspects of Starcaller is its focus on exploration. Players will have the opportunity to discover a wide range of environments, each with its own unique challenges and secrets to uncover. From ancient ruins to futuristic cities, there is always something new and exciting to discover. The retro style of the game adds to the sense of adventure, and the hidden areas and puzzles scattered throughout the world provide plenty of challenges for players to overcome.

In addition to exploration, Starcaller also places a strong emphasis on dialogue and character building. As Avarran, players will be able to interact with a wide variety of characters and make choices that will shape their story.

The dialogue is well-written and the characters are interesting and well-developed, making it easy for players to become invested in their journey. The character building aspect of the game is particularly well done, with a variety of skills and abilities to unlock as players progress.

Overall, Starcaller is an exciting and immersive game that is sure to appeal to fans of RPG adventures. With its focus on exploration, dialogue, and character building, it offers a unique and engaging experience that is sure to keep players coming back for more.

Starcaller is still in early development, but it has already shown a lot of promise!

Win Prizes by Completing Exciting Quests!

During this first semester, besides fixing a few things (such as the Advanced Search, which now has a better design and a new filter for searching games by year), we have finally released a new important feature that we are excited about: Quests!

What are the Quests? How do they work?

We have revolutionized the Events section!

You can go to the event page, "Accept" the mission assigned (which can be to "find an object", "survive as long as possible", "get a certain number of points", etc.), then play the game and receive 100 gems as a reward!

Why this new feature?

Many sites similar to ours often organize events/jams for developers. We didn't want to follow this path, which has already been widely used by others (also because in the end, a contest can be organized very well on a forum, social media, or elsewhere). We wanted to focus more on games and players.

How to create missions linked to your own games?

The fundamental thing is that the game is playable online. Then just contact the staff (by email or on Discord) to enable the scoring system and create linked missions!

A more effective notification system has not yet been integrated, but every day we are refining and perfecting this feature!

Try to win some missions and let us know what you think!

We are sure that players will love this new gaming experience, where they can accept fun challenges and win gem prizes!

Experience terror like never before in Fleshforward - the ultimate survival horror game!

Fleshforward is a survival horror game, developed using Rpg Maker VX Ace, that takes players on a journey through a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies. The game features a mix of action combat, stealth mechanics, and a glimpse of the main campaign from the first game in the series.

The developers at Linked Rooms Games have made several improvements and added new features to the game, including faster dialogue, improved zombie AI, new keys for controls, and improved menu functions. One of the standout features of Fleshforward is the immersive gameplay.

The game does a great job of building tension and creating a sense of fear and uncertainty as players navigate through the dangerous world. The action combat is intense, and the stealth system adds an extra layer of strategy to the gameplay.

The improved zombie AI is also a welcome change, as it makes the enemies more unpredictable and challenging to take down. In addition to the gameplay, the game also boasts improved graphics and sound effects. The new sound effects, such as those for when the player is hit by a zombie or when their stamina reaches zero, add to the overall atmosphere of the game. The improved User Interface for the menu and the added Guide for playing on Mac are also nice touches that make the game more accessible and user-friendly.

Overall, Fleshforward is a solid survival horror game that offers a thrilling and immersive experience for players. The improvements and new features added by Linked Rooms Games only add to the overall enjoyment of the game.

If you're a fan of old-school survival horror games, or just looking for a good scare, Fleshforward is definitely worth checking out.

Unreal Engine vs Unity: The Ultimate Showdown for Game Development!

Developing a game can be a complex and time-consuming process, and choosing the right game engine can make a big difference in the success of your project. Two of the most popular game engines are Unity and Unreal Engine, both of which offer a range of features and tools for game development.

Unity is a cross-platform game engine that is widely used for both 2D and 3D game development. It is popular among indie developers due to its user-friendly interface, wide range of features, and low learning curve. Unity also has a strong community of developers and a wealth of resources, including tutorials and documentation, which makes it easier for new developers to get started.

Unreal Engine, on the other hand, is a more powerful and feature-rich game engine that is primarily used for 3D game development. It is known for its cutting-edge graphics and advanced rendering capabilities, which make it a popular choice for AAA game development studios. Unreal Engine has a steeper learning curve than Unity, and it may take longer for new developers to become proficient with the engine.

Ultimately, the decision of which game engine to use will depend on your specific needs and goals for your project. If you are a beginner or working on a smaller project, Unity may be the better choice due to its ease of use and wide range of features. If you are an experienced developer or working on a larger, more complex project, Unreal Engine may be the better choice due to its advanced capabilities and powerful tools.

In conclusion, both Unity and Unreal Engine are excellent choices for game development, and the right choice for your project will depend on your specific needs and goals. Both engines offer a range of features and tools that can help you create high-quality games, and it is worth taking the time to research and evaluate each one to determine which is the best fit for your project.

2 Suggested Games Made using Unity3D

Path of Shadows

Knock Knock Soulsman

2 Suggested Games Made using Unreal Engine

0R8

Aviano

Revisit the Spirit of 1980's Home Computer RPGs with Dungeons of Dreadrock!

One of the things that really impressed me about Dungeons of Dreadrock is the level of replayability it offers. With 100 levels to explore and a wide range of enemies and environments to encounter, there's plenty of content to keep you occupied for a long time. But beyond that, the game also offers a lot of optional content that you can choose to pursue or ignore as you see fit. Its author, Christoph Minnameier, made a great (and huge) work!

For example, you can spend time searching for hidden treasure or completing side quests for the various NPCs you meet throughout the game. These optional activities add an extra layer of depth to the game and give you more things to do beyond just progressing through the main story.

Another aspect of the game that I really appreciated was the way it handles death. In many games, dying means starting over from the beginning or from a recent save point. But in Dungeons of Dreadrock, death is treated more like a minor inconvenience. When you die, you respawn at the last checkpoint you reached, and you get to keep all of your progress and loot.

This means that you can take risks and experiment with different strategies without worrying too much about losing everything you've worked for. It's a much more forgiving system than what you typically see in games, and I found it really helped to keep the gameplay enjoyable and stress-free.

One final thing that I really enjoyed about Dungeons of Dreadrock was the sense of humor that runs throughout the game. The game takes itself seriously when it needs to, but it also has a lot of fun with itself and doesn't take itself too seriously. This is evident in everything from the silly names of some of the enemies (like the "Dread Beetles") to the humorous dialogue of the NPCs you meet. It's a nice touch that helps to keep the game light and enjoyable, even when you're stuck on a particularly tricky puzzle or fighting a tough boss.

The pixel art is amazing and each detail is perfect!

In conclusion, Dungeons of Dreadrock is a fantastic adventure game that combines challenging puzzles, engaging combat, and a sense of humor. It's a game that's easy to pick up and play, but it offers a lot of depth and replayability for players who want to delve deeper. If you're a fan of oldschool dungeon crawlers or just enjoy a good puzzle-based game, then you owe it to yourself to give Dungeons of Dreadrock a try playing the free version on indiexpo website! You can play it on your PC or also to download the Android version.