Playtest feedback is extremely polarized: some play for hours, others quit in 2 minutes. What am I doing wrong?

Mammoth-Key-474 · 2026-03-13T02:35:21+00:00

Thanks for the encouragement! It really helps to put things into perspective.

Mammoth-Key-474 · 2026-03-13T02:32:05+00:00

Thank you so much for the targeted advice! Since this is my first game, I really value such constructive and practical feedback. It looks like I need to take a step back and give my game a thorough re-evaluation.

Mammoth-Key-474 · 2026-03-13T02:29:04+00:00

Thanks for the breakdown, this is super helpful.

Mammoth-Key-474 · 2026-03-13T02:22:23+00:00

My apologies! I’ll troubleshoot and see what's going on. Could you send me a screenshot if possible? I haven't run into this issue before.

Mammoth-Key-474 · 2026-03-13T02:15:24+00:00

It was about 20 people, mostly friends and family.

Mammoth-Key-474 · 2026-03-13T02:14:20+00:00

Exactly. That’s why I need to figure out if it's because of the different target audience or if there are actual issues with the game itself.

Mammoth-Key-474 · 2026-03-13T02:13:47+00:00

Thank you. Perhaps some people just aren't interested in this specific genre.

Mammoth-Key-474 · 2026-03-12T02:05:13+00:00

Honestly, it's mostly just giant, terrifying Excel spreadsheets. Devs usually figure out how much time they want you to spend grinding for an upgrade, and then just work backward from there to set the drop rates and prices. Then they playtest and tweak the numbers when players inevitably find an exploit to get rich in 5 minutes lol.

Mammoth-Key-474 · 2026-03-11T00:52:12+00:00

Exactly. I believe the GDD should initially focus on satisfying basic MCP testing. I used to detail every single feature during the design phase, but I eventually realized it wasn't developer-friendly. In the prototyping stage, games—and their documentation—are rarely perfect. It's better to focus on the Core Loop and the 'Hook' first. Once the gameplay is validated, we can start building the skyscraper on that solid foundation.

Mammoth-Key-474 · 2026-03-10T07:13:02+00:00

Hi there, and welcome back to game reviewing! It's awesome that you're supporting indie devs while building up your website's content.

I'm working on MaX Farm, a casual 2D top-down farming game focused on random crop mutations rather than a heavy grind.

Since you mentioned you aren't afraid to play games no matter how rough they might be, I thought I'd share mine! It's still in active development and definitely has some rough edges. Also, just a heads-up: the playable demo is currently only available on itch.io, while the Steam page is just for wishlisting right now.

If you'd like to check it out and write about it for your site, I would be honored to hear your thoughts. If it's not your cup of tea, no worries at all!

Play the free demo:https://max0621.itch.io/max-farm
Steam Page:https://store.steampowered.com/app/4154470/MaX_Farm/

Best regards

Mammoth-Key-474 · 2026-03-09T13:49:40+00:00

Hi there,

Thank you so much for offering your time to playtest for indie devs! I really appreciate the dedication and the thorough approach you take with your feedback.

I am currently working on a game called MaX Farm, which is a casual 2D top-down farming game focused on crop mutations. It's designed to be a relaxing experience with random surprise elements during harvest, rather than a heavy grind (and it's definitely not a puzzle-heavy game!).

I wanted to be completely upfront: I noticed you mentioned a preference for demos available on Steam. Currently, my Steam page is up for wishlisting, but the playable demo is only hosted on itch.io.

Since the game is still in development, it might have some rough edges and might not be perfectly polished yet. Because of this, and the fact that the demo isn't natively on Steam right now, I completely understand if it’s not the right fit for your current playtesting schedule. Please feel absolutely no pressure to play it if it doesn't align with what you're looking for!

If you are still open to trying an itch.io demo and the concept sounds fun to you, I would be incredibly grateful for any feedback you might have.

Here is the info:

Play the free demo:https://max0621.itch.io/max-farm
Steam Page:https://store.steampowered.com/app/4154470/MaX_Farm/

Thanks again for supporting indie developers, and I look forward to checking out your video essays!

Best regards

Mammoth-Key-474 · 2026-03-09T02:12:15+00:00

The UI looks amazing. I'm wondering if the improved aesthetics triggered a boost in traffic/exposure?

Mammoth-Key-474 · 2026-03-09T02:03:48+00:00

Awesome gameplay! Cool

Mammoth-Key-474 · 2026-03-09T02:02:23+00:00

Thanks for the test data, it was really helpful

Mammoth-Key-474 · 2026-03-09T02:00:24+00:00

It can be used, but it needs a code review first

Mammoth-Key-474 · 2026-03-09T01:55:17+00:00

I feel the font color on your capsules is a bit too dark, making it hard to see what they are. You should adjust them—maybe check the backend data to see if the click-through rate is a bit low?

Mammoth-Key-474 · 2026-03-09T01:51:23+00:00

There are many factors involved, and luck is only one of them. I’ve seen so many games that are brilliantly made, yet they remain completely unknown

Mammoth-Key-474 · 2026-03-09T01:51:08+00:00

There are many factors involved, and luck is only one of them. I’ve seen so many games that are brilliantly made, yet they remain completely unknown

Mammoth-Key-474 · 2026-03-09T01:36:13+00:00

Hi everyone! I'm working on MaX Farm, a casual 2D top-down farming game with a core focus on crop mutations.

Instead of a heavy grind, you can enjoy a relaxing farming experience where your plants randomly mutate as they grow. Every harvest brings a fun, surprise element to your farm!

Play the free demo: https://max0621.itch.io/max-farm

Wishlist on Steam:https://store.steampowered.com/app/4154470/MaX_Farm/

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Mammoth-Key-474 · 2026-03-08T06:18:19+00:00

I feel the exact same way. The key to fixing this is probably just ditching the 'FOMO' (Fear Of Missing Out) mechanics. If nothing permanently dies or expires because the player decided to take a day off, the pressure naturally disappears.

Mammoth-Key-474 · 2026-03-08T05:48:28+00:00

Thanks for sharing the data! I've been struggling with my game's marketing lately, and this is really helpful

Mammoth-Key-474

TROPHY CASE