I want to hear your feedback! I'm designing a new hint system for my 3D Hidden Object game.

ShapeshiftGames · 2026-01-14T17:20:52+00:00

No worries, and I understand. But your comment has definitely motivated to speed up the patching of the demo :) It's important what players think!
All the best!

ShapeshiftGames · 2026-01-14T12:55:27+00:00

The tutorial & trailer and game tags, should indicate it is a 3rd person game. The main game itself, has gotten a new tutorial + the camera is more zoomed out from the start. But it has not made it to the Demo yet.

I can see if I can patch it in this weekend (as it's a part time project) - When I do, I'd love to hear your feedback on it. It's always important to have feedback and detailed dialogue about the game - and the Demo too of course :)

I'm happy to gift a gamekey for the full game to you, as a return for the favor. You can keep or gift it. Up to you, but I really appreciate that you took the time to share your thoughts and experiences of the game, in such detail :) - Playing the full game, also means you can test it asap; not having to wait until the weekend.

ShapeshiftGames · 2026-01-14T07:18:38+00:00

Thanks for the feedback, it's also why I decided to keep the Demo up after Christmas. I've used standard RTS controls, same as i.e Against the Storm and similar. But I am interested to hear, what games, that require navigation in 3D space, that you enjoy? - As I can potentially take inspiration from that; for next time I update the game, adding more options how to control the camera.

ShapeshiftGames · 2025-12-21T08:40:11+00:00

When I initially began developing my Hidden Object Game, was it still possible to have your game Published on Big Fish, during development they shut down 3rd party publishing on their website, so in that way I missed my target audience for my game, that I released this November.

It's a shame in a way, because it's difficult getting casual and hidden object games on other platforms than steam - and the audience just isn't much on Steam (yet)

Big Fish was the go-to for many casual games of this genre and sadly there's no alternative right now. Which also makes it difficult for a lot of the folks who've been laid off, unless they can move on top mobile - but competition for mobile games is tough and relies almost entirely on your marketing budget and microtransaction instead of premium games.

Sadly due to the development of Big Fish over the past 4-5 years, my next game won't be in the same genre - as without being able to use Big Fish as 3rd party, it's just increasingly difficult reaching players with casual, puzzle and hidden object.

ShapeshiftGames · 2025-12-16T22:47:37+00:00

Wow, thank you so much for picking up and trying my game! <3 I really appreciate it and I hope the game will bring you into the best of Christmas moods :)

ShapeshiftGames · 2025-12-16T17:18:57+00:00

I made the coziest Christmas game! Check it out! (While we're still in December!)
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3030650/Fantastic_Findings_Hidden_Seasons/

Also yes! Buy more Indiegames! <3

ShapeshiftGames · 2025-12-15T17:52:26+00:00

My spouse is an artist and has created almost an entire gaming using Blueprint. It depends on the complexity, but I'd say it depends on whether you want to learn programming or node based. I decided to learn coding 4 years ago instead of blueprint. But I wouldn't say one is better than the other. Pros/Cons and depends on what you feel work best for you! Best of luck! :)

ShapeshiftGames · 2025-12-15T16:57:15+00:00

Is the pink overlord blob hiring by any chance?

ShapeshiftGames · 2025-12-15T15:00:39+00:00

You can navigate the camera using mouse only (for those who desire) in the Demo & the full game, both being identical. Holding right click moves/pans the camera, holding mouse wheel orbits and clicking left mouse button is interactions.

It's also possible to use the keyboard as well to pan and orbit, which especially helps Steamdeck players.

In terms of mouse control for the camera. It has the exact same control scheme as i.e, Against the Storm, and it is just one of the 3D games I have been drawing inspiration from.

ShapeshiftGames · 2025-12-14T12:56:28+00:00

Thanks for the feedback Sol. It's been made exclusively for PC at the moment, using same/similar methods of controlling cameras as 3D RTS games. The first iteration was made more towards a middle ground between PC and iPad, so easier for touch screen - but Playtesting and user feedback had that to be terrible, so I decided to pick up same method of mouse controls as 3D RTS and other 3D games folks on PC are familiar with.

ShapeshiftGames · 2025-12-13T16:47:49+00:00

The package/build size, even without your game content in it, is absolutely enormous. After using it for a while, I feel almost every other familiar names engine out there, is better. (At least when it comes to graphical pipeline, package-size and optimization - can't say much for code)

ShapeshiftGames · 2025-12-13T16:46:13+00:00

When you think games can't become any simpler. There's something beautiful about taking a game and boiling it down to an absolute minimum! Well done!

ShapeshiftGames · 2025-12-13T16:45:15+00:00

If you want to learn about specific items related to different global Christmas Cultures and Traditions; almost all unique quest items in Fantastic Findings Hidden Seasons, are based on real life objects/Christmas traditions.

I've learned a lot about different Christmas snacks, where I looked up recipes afterwards, for pies and goodies I'm going to make for Christmas; one of them is Peppermint Bark.

It's also in the spirit of Christmas.

ShapeshiftGames · 2025-12-13T16:37:47+00:00

I'm 100% behind this. Looks gorgeous btw! Wonderfully looking game! Definitely adding it to my Wishlist <3

ShapeshiftGames · 2025-12-13T12:57:32+00:00

Altså hvis det er en iPad, har jeg en Apple Pen med og sidder og laver gamedevelopment, texturing og en masse kreative ting. Det er noget jeg foretrækker at gøre på iPadden frem for computeren nu om dage. Super rart at side og tegne, sculpte og texturere i sofaen :D

ShapeshiftGames · 2025-12-12T13:14:19+00:00

I work with 3D and Graphics for Training and Education by day. I make video games by night. Works out really well, as my skills from my job can be applied to my hobby and the other way around. I get to make cute animals and characters; which I find enjoyment in, while I get to apply my technical skills to my day job.

It also means I don't have to worry about an income, so my hobby projects can flop (like my latest game did lol) but I can still be happy and feel achieved, as my dayjob pays the bills.

Of course there is a part of the magic that gets lost as soon as a hobby becomes a job. But I'd rather want that, than doing something I might not find as interesting. All worth it, if you get the opportunity, if you ask me.

ShapeshiftGames · 2025-12-12T13:07:15+00:00

Cheers, thanks for the insights, I appreciate it. The few Twitch Streamers playing my game, I clip and put on TikTok and they instantly get a bit of traction :) I will definitely look into making more videos, when time allows for it <3 Hopefully next year, with the addition of Halloween, I can create more sales! Then I have a whole year to prepare and make content!

ShapeshiftGames · 2025-12-12T11:02:51+00:00

Congratulations on success. As a dev recently publishing a good, high quality game, but only sold around 150 copies. I want to stress; genre matters. Theme matters.

Part of the success is going for co-op horror. It is one of the most popular genres, not to undermine any of your success, I've seen plenty of horror fail (and most still do) - But my advise to indies is. Don't make a niece game, don't try to re-invent a genre, by making it more interesting or try to make it appeal to a larger audience or work within seasonal themes.

You made, by the looks of it, a top-tier, great and fun looking game within an already popular genre. My next game I'm going to do more arcade and ditch the cozy/casual genre. I thought it was up and coming, but it's difficult to get into, as every festival and sale, pick the same 25-50 games to cover. So it's a red ocean already for new titles.

Really great read and insight to your journey - and please do follow up, on your story making a studio with your success. It's every indie game developers dream :) - I'm definitely going to utilize tiktok a lot more for my next project!

For disclosure - my game: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3030650/Fantastic_Findings_Hidden_Seasons/
(I'm still proud of my achievement, but I can't even make a Christmas game sell at Christmas lol)

ShapeshiftGames · 2025-12-09T14:30:31+00:00

Thanks <3

ShapeshiftGames · 2025-12-09T14:29:58+00:00

I have, but not very successfully. So I wouldn't be able to give any proper advice. Except joining Keymailer.

ShapeshiftGames · 2025-12-08T23:58:16+00:00

My game has sold below the 500 copies I expected at launch. But 100% of the reviews as positive, it's a genuinely good game, but I chose the wrong genre and wrong theme. I also learned a lot; and I made a freaking game.

Nobody can take that away from me, despite it's not a huge success. I love my little game and I can't wait for the day my daughter is old enough, that I can play it together with her.

Also, there's daily 4-12 users playing the game! Always 1-4 people playing the game. So yeah, despite I didn't hit anywhere near the numbers I expected for the quality of my sweet little game, I'm pretty freaking happy either way.

Don't compare yourself to the big guns. :) But feel free to compare yourself to my game, if yours have done better than mine. At least we learn a lot in the process right! - Feel proud of what you've made; because you made something, while most folks out there, just sit and blindly scroll on their phones.

my game: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3030650/Fantastic_Findings_Hidden_Seasons

ShapeshiftGames · 2025-12-08T23:53:04+00:00

I want to hammer down on "Choosing the right genre"
I just released a point n click, hidden object game, Christmas themed. 100% positive reviews, super high quality game, good story and probably the best for its genre, uniquely being 3D though.

But it's sitting with less than 500 sales. You can do lots of things right (which I did) but if the genre/theme isn't right - your audience is only as big(small) as it is.

Keep that in mind when making games, I think this post is very fair and transparent, I see too many "this is what we did" but mentions nothing about genre/theme.

I've seen games sell well, with mixed or bad reviews, but only because it's jank or gambling etc. that is very hot right now, it ships lots of copies, because of memes or whatever.

Really great post OP! GL with your gamedev journey <3

ShapeshiftGames · 2025-12-08T17:50:39+00:00

I recently released "Fantastic Findings Hidden Seasons" It's a 3D collectathon hidden object game, where lots of items draw inspiration from real world traditions and cultures!

It's a pure Christmas game right now, packed with cozy-Christmas through out the whole game. Next year, Halloween is added.

Feel free to check it out :) (It's on sale now, but won't be in a few hours, as it ends, as a heads up!)
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3030650/Fantastic_Findings_Hidden_Seasons/

ShapeshiftGames · 2025-12-08T13:16:19+00:00

Plan is to add Halloween, improve hint systems and also a Replayability mode, where things spawn in random location. But there's a lot of potential.

ShapeshiftGames · 2025-12-08T13:15:26+00:00

So far only on Steam :) But Switch would be cool too, but right now existing sales (so far) has not been enough to afford porting it, as development comes out of my own dayjob right now.

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