Method
We started IndieGame(dot)Fan to help highlight solo-developers and self-published games on Steam through a collective page. We are not trying to be the "authority" on what is indie and who is indie, we are just looking to give the community a space to have a discussion and to contribute to a much clearer and transparent definition.
We feature only games that are independently developed and self-published. A game is not eligible if a third-party publisher is credited, funds development in exchange for publishing rights, controls release strategy, owns the IP, or handles commercial publishing on behalf of the developer. Only regional publishing is allowed and each instance is reviewed for scale and purpose of regional partnerships.
*Currently only tracking Steam Games.
| Situation | Eligible? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Solo dev self-publishes on Steam/itch.io | Yes | No publisher |
| Small team forms its own studio and publishes itself | Yes | Developer-controlled |
| Game uses Kickstarter, Patreon, grants, or personal funds | Usually yes | Funding is not publishing control |
| Game has a publisher listed on Steam, console store, press kit, or trailer | No | Publisher involved |
| Game has a marketing agency but no publishing rights | Maybe | Require disclosure |
| Game is distributed through Steam, itch.io, Epic, GOG, console stores | Yes | Storefronts are not automatically publishers |
| Game is made by a studio owned by a large company | No / not eligible | Not independent by ownership |
| Game is part of a corporate IP | No | Large IPs control game design options. |
We use public Steam Store data as the starting point for review. Each game is tracked by its Steam AppID, then we read the listed developer, publisher, release status, pricing, tags, and store metadata.
Publisher data is treated as an eligibility signal. If a game lists a third-party publisher, it is usually not eligible. If the developer and publisher appear to be the same studio, or a developer-controlled label, the game may still be eligible.
We also look at publisher patterns across Steam. For example, we count how many games are attached to a publisher name and how many separate developer names appear under that publisher. This helps identify cases where a publisher is operating as a commercial publishing label rather than a self-publishing developer.
Steam data is not the only source of truth. When something is unclear, we may review store pages, press kits, trailers, official websites, and developer disclosures before making a decision.
IndieGame Fan does not feature Adult Only games, regardless of developer or publisher status. Even if a game is independently developed and self-published, it is not eligible if it is classified or presented as Adult Only.
Some companies pass the automated filtering process and are then reviewed manually by us and the community. This table explains why a company may be excluded from IndieGame.Fan lists. If you feel a company has been excluded by mistake, please reach out through the contact information on the About Us page.
| Companies | Explanation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pocketpair | Developer turned into a publisher. | |
| Starbreeze Publishing AB | Developer turned into a publisher. | |
| Embark Studios | Large developer | Heavy outside investment. Not indie. |
| Game Science | Corporate ownership % | Tencent owns a large percentage. Not indie. |
| TiMi Studio Group | Other | Unclear involvement with major AAA games. |
| Bungie | Corporate ownership % | Latest signs point to Sony as owner. Not indie. |
| Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. | Corporate ownership % | Microsoft owns them. |
| Ultra Games HK | Other | Unclear involvement of major corporate companies such as Tencent. |
| Scopely | Publisher | |
| Eclipse Glow Games | Corporate investment | Backed by Tencent. |
