When Konrad Pawlikowski wrapped up his quirky horror game, he made a rookie mistake in the gaming world: he didn’t promote it.
But as an indie developer balancing game creation with parenting an infant daughter and a full-time job crafting learning modules for an oil and gas company, he figured he could skip the marketing hustle for Please Stop Crying, his heartfelt first-person fatherhood sim.
In March, after a month of squeezing in development time, he released it on Steam for $2.99. Surprisingly, Please Stop Crying found its spotlight not on Steam, but on TikTok.
TikTok, renowned for its music discovery prowess, is now making waves in the gaming sphere. Indie developers like Pawlikowski are witnessing how the platform can boost smaller titles, akin to how it boosts lesser-known artists into stardom.
“I truly believe TikTok holds immense marketing potential for indie devs,” Pawlikowski, 25, shared. “As a game developer, it’s incredibly rewarding to see people enjoying your creation.”
Since its launch in 2019, TikTok’s live feature has opened up new avenues for content creators to engage with their audiences in real time.
Smaller streamers are finding success on TikTok Live, especially with lesser-known titles. Indie games, in particular, are enjoying a moment in the spotlight as these streamers attract fresh audiences eager to explore off-the-beaten-path gaming experiences.
