How Does Indie Game Genres & Subtractive Design Work?

Indie games are like building blocks, you can make them small and simple, or big and wild, depending on what you want to create.

Indie game genres are like different kinds of building blocks: some are cars, some are castles, and others are spaceships. Each has its own rules, but they all start with the same basic idea, you pick one, and then you play with it.

Subtractive design is like taking away parts of a toy to make it simpler or more fun. Imagine having a big, complicated robot that can do everything, walk, talk, shoot lasers. But if you take away the laser part, maybe it becomes easier for someone to control, and even more fun because they have to use their imagination for what’s missing.

1. Pick your block, choose a genre like puzzle games or adventure games.
2. Simplify it, remove extra features so it's easier to play with.
3. Make it special, give it something unique that makes it stand out from other blocks.

Sometimes, the best toys are the ones that don’t have all the bells and whistles, they just have what you need to make the game your way. Indie games are like building blocks, you can make them small and simple, or big and wild, depending on what you want to create.

Indie game genres are like different kinds of building blocks: some are cars, some are castles, and others are spaceships. Each has its own rules, but they all start with the same basic idea, you pick one, and then you play with it.

Subtractive design is like taking away parts of a toy to make it simpler or more fun. Imagine having a big, complicated robot that can do everything, walk, talk, shoot lasers. But if you take away the laser part, maybe it becomes easier for someone to control, and even more fun because they have to use their imagination for what’s missing.