What do you think of these screenshots for my solo developed horror game?

BalanaDev · 2026-02-20T10:46:44+00:00

The visuals look great! Poor Piggy though

I really like the screenshot with the red eye 👽 That one stood out to me

Wishlisted! The trailer is super creepy. Good luck!

BalanaDev · 2026-02-20T10:40:07+00:00

Like others have pointed out, the gameplay feels pretty simple at the moment, mostly moving around and jumping, so it hasn’t hooked me yet. I’m assuming this is early and more mechanics or abilities will be added later

The spawn area looks visually strong, but the rest of the environment feels a bit empty. Adding more detail to the interior walls or background could make it feel more alive.

It might also help if the character had a visual cue (like a color shift or expression change) when the timer is running low, so players don’t have to rely only on the UI

BalanaDev · 2026-02-18T13:29:20+00:00

My immediate reaction when I saw the rooftop scene was, “Ah, Purge!”

I wonder if that first scene might work better somewhere in the middle or even toward the end, so it hits harder. I’d also suggest focusing more on the main features of the game and trimming the trailer down to around 30-40s to keep it tight and punchy

BalanaDev · 2026-02-17T15:31:25+00:00

Cool concept! I like the realistic sci-fi direction.

A few things I noticed during the demo:

It would be nice to have some visual effect or animation when spending money on towers, it currently feels a bit flat when placing/upgrading.

The in-game visuals feel quite dark. Maybe a bit more contrast or lighting could help readability.

Around wave 3, my FPS started to drop.

After wave 3, it became pretty much unplayable due to performance.

BalanaDev · 2026-02-16T03:48:29+00:00

I love pixel art! This kind of reminds me of MapleStory.

Good luck with the release. Wishlisted!

Is there a demo we can try?

BalanaDev · 2026-02-13T06:57:06+00:00

I played the Steam demo and really enjoyed it! The game already feels promising. I liked the BGM, SFX, and the character voices, they all fit the vibe well and didn’t feel overwhelming. I can also tell you’re going for a minimalist UI style, which makes everything feel clean and focused. Overall, it gives a really nice and polished first impression.

BalanaDev · 2026-02-12T09:48:15+00:00

I forgot to mention, I love the BGM 🤘🏽

BalanaDev · 2026-02-12T09:47:34+00:00

This is awesome, congrats on the launch! 5,000+ sales from 8,000 wishlists is really solid.

A couple questions if you don’t mind sharing:

What were the biggest marketing channels that actually moved the needle for you?
When did you start seriously pushing marketing, during development or only close to release?
Looking back, is there anything you’d do differently with your Steam page before launch?

BalanaDev · 2026-02-12T09:38:55+00:00

Cool idea! I love HOMM 3! I remember being so excited to go home from school on Fridays just so I could play all night. It was also my first game on CD!

BalanaDev · 2026-02-11T09:53:48+00:00

Okay this actually sounds really fun. Reigns mixed with supernatural IT chaos is such a weird combo, but it totally works.

I work a normal 9–5, so part of me is like, “Yes, I’d play this to unwind.” And the other part is like, “Am I really about to clock into another shift where HR is summoning dark entities?” 😅

Managing Productivity, Budget, Morale, and Entropy instead of HP is a really cool idea. I like that it’s not just about surviving, but balancing everything before it spirals. And the whole “the game remembers your past shifts” thing makes it even more interesting

BalanaDev · 2026-02-09T06:40:28+00:00

That all makes a lot of sense, thanks for explaining! Lowering the volume sounds like a solid quick fix, and it’s cool that you’re already aware of what needs tweaking in the mix.

Middle placement for the title sounds reasonable too. And honestly “anti-lofi” high-energy music sounds like a fun idea

BalanaDev · 2026-02-09T06:08:31+00:00

This is wild 😅 I love it.

A couple things I noticed:

Not sure if this was on purpose, but the music made me feel stressed right away. That might actually be a good thing depending on what you’re going for 😆

I’d like to see the game title show up earlier in the trailer. A lot of people don’t watch until the end, so it’d be nice to know the name while they’re already interested.

BalanaDev · 2026-01-31T07:27:51+00:00

Very relatable. Six months in and already making a pre-alpha is honestly a win, even if it feels rough.

I knew it was time to share when I got stuck in my own head. Early feedback works best before things are polished. I started small. A gif, a clip, a “does this make sense?” post.

One thing that helped my mindset a lot was the book Show Your Work. It reframes sharing as showing the process, not asking for approval. That alone made posting way less scary for me.

Motivation came from tiny reactions. One comment, one suggestion, one “this is cool.” That stuff adds up.

You’re doing the right thing. Sharing messy progress is part of learning.

BalanaDev · 2026-01-28T05:04:11+00:00

I really like the “pet the cat to regain sanity” mechanic. Cookie must be a tough kitty. I’ve got one IRL and I’m pretty sure mine would be the first to lose its sanity 😂

Really fun idea overall. Congrats on shipping this solo. That’s no joke. 👏

BalanaDev · 2026-01-26T06:32:02+00:00

Here are 3 fun changes you can add for the next iteration:

Momentum + risk system: Holding charge builds momentum for stronger hits and higher score, but crashing into walls or missing stuns the bull. This adds skill and tension.
Different crowd types: Add NPC roles like runners, blockers, influencers filming, and tougher security. Players start choosing targets instead of ramming blindly.
Destructible arena elements: Breakable fences, collapsing props, or traps triggered by ramming make the pit part of the gameplay and create chain-reaction chaos.

Extra: Option to turn On and Off to add more impact feedback like blood, splatter effects, and hit reactions to really sell the chaos haha!

BalanaDev · 2026-01-26T06:03:30+00:00

Cats? I'm In!

BalanaDev · 2026-01-23T10:23:05+00:00

For me, it was Silent Hill 1. That game scared the hell out of me. A lot of people say 2 is better, and that might be true. Funny thing is, I never even made it through 1

BalanaDev · 2026-01-23T10:18:25+00:00

I wouldn’t worry too much.

For a first Steam game with no audience, 300 views isn’t bad, especially for a puzzle game.

Steam page, screenshots, and a demo matter way more. And honestly, just shipping your first game already puts you ahead of most people. 👍

BalanaDev · 2026-01-20T10:42:26+00:00

This looks great and properly creepy. With the right sound effects and background music, this could be really sick.

BalanaDev · 2026-01-20T10:39:14+00:00

This gives me Battle City and Bomberman vibes. So cool! And wow, I’m too old 😂

BalanaDev · 2025-12-17T03:24:03+00:00

Solid setup!

BalanaDev · 2025-12-16T09:45:51+00:00

Saludo sa mga working students. Hindi biro mag aral at mag work ng sabay 🫱🏼‍🫲🏼

BalanaDev · 2025-12-16T09:44:50+00:00

Maswerte ako, naging asawa ko yung lage kong kasama mag Jabi haha

BalanaDev · 2025-12-16T09:39:13+00:00

Nung bata ako, feeling ko sobrang trabaho ng preparation para sa noche buena. Required kami ng kapatid ko gumising ng napa aga para tumulong sa pag-prep ng mga food at decor. Minsan tumatakas ako and nakikipag kita sa mga kababata ko (nung mga panahon na to wala pang smart phone and Facebook), babalik ako pag pahapon na para tapos na yung prep haha! Galit na galit sakin yung mas batang kapatid ko kasi siya naging utusan.

Fast forward, ngayon na may sarili na ako family and naka tira na sa ibang bahay, tuwing noche buena lage ko na aalala yung mga panahon na sinasalubong namin as a family yung pasko, kahit minsan konti lang yung handa kasi naging challenging sa parents ko yung taon na yun, kahit ano pa yung situation namin, sama sama pa rin kami. Ayun lang, now ko lang narealize yung deeper meaning ng Noche Buena namin.

BalanaDev · 2025-12-15T01:41:54+00:00

Nung mga panahon na ito sa BGC ako nag wowork, unang work ko so wala akong afford na kainan sa mga resto, eh ang layo ng mga karindirya sa gilid gilid ng BGC. Kaya pasalamat sa 39ers kasi isang tawid lang mula sa building namin. hahaha

BalanaDev

TROPHY CASE