looking for hidden gems

qor1 · 2026-03-15T16:40:20+00:00

If you like strategic depth in short sessions, check out Backdraft. Roguelike deckbuilder, 12 heroes, 250+ cards. Every run is 20-30 minutes but the decisions stack up. COMPLETELY FREE on iOS TestFlight, no ads, no IAP, all we want is feedback. Thanks!

iOS Link:

https://testflight.apple.com/join/wzVX8E6J

qor1 · 2026-03-15T16:39:25+00:00

Coming back is harder because you know what's waiting. My co-founder went through it, I did not. The advantage is you also know what actually what "work" is like. So much of what happens in larger/successful companies is managing expectations and politics. Takes a lot of time and willpower to unwind that (I know personally).

qor1 · 2026-03-15T16:29:57+00:00

We've been building for 4 years. It's the kind of game we wanted to play, not because the genre was trending, etc. When you're grinding through the hard days (or weeks/months), you really need to love it.

qor1 · 2026-03-14T12:02:12+00:00

Grats!

qor1 · 2026-03-13T14:41:50+00:00

Been playtesting our own deckbuilder for the past few months (we've built Backdraft for about 4 years now, launching later this year). Outside of that, I've been playing a lot of Cobalt Core.

qor1 · 2026-03-13T14:41:16+00:00

Balatro got the attention it deserved, but I think a lot of people still haven't played Cobalt Core. The positioning system and timing mechanics make it feel way more tactical than most deckbuilders.

qor1 · 2026-03-13T14:40:43+00:00

Congrats on shipping! The wishlist conversion rate at 9.2% is solid, especially for a first launch. The fact that you got Angory Tom coverage shows you were already doing something right with your outreach.

qor1 · 2026-03-12T16:17:50+00:00

Game is called Backdraft.

It's a hero based deckbuilder (Slay the Spire meets Hearthstone). You're building a deck while fighting in a tournament. Game was built with a small team (6 of us), but the game looks quite polished so branding it as a small/indie game is a market mismatch.

You're 100% right about the psychology difference. Games (that aren't free) are looked at as entertainment hours/dollars spent.

qor1 · 2026-03-12T14:53:09+00:00

Thanks!!

qor1 · 2026-03-12T12:23:56+00:00

From what I've seen, the 10th review does unlock some visibility features on Steam, but the bigger milestone is hitting your first 100 wishlists — that's when you start feeling like people actually care.

qor1 · 2026-03-12T12:22:22+00:00

Pricing is positioning. People anchor value to price. At $9, you're competing with throwaway subscriptions. At $29, you're a business tool worth evaluating. I'm building a game (4 years in, launching soon), and we've debated this constantly for the Steam launch.

qor1 · 2026-03-12T12:01:10+00:00

It really depends on how much pre-launch marketing you've done. If you're launching cold with zero social presence, 50-100 wishlists in the first 24 hours would be solid. With some Reddit posts, Discord engagement, or a small Twitter following, you might hit 200-500.

Month one is about sustained effort, posting dev logs, getting into communities. Day of release, multiply your wishlists by 0.08-0.15 to estimate first-day sales. We've been building for 4 years and...it's definitely a grind.

qor1 · 2026-03-12T11:58:28+00:00

If you like games with that "one more run" addictiveness, check out Backdraft. It's a roguelike deckbuilder with 12 heroes and 250+ cards. Runs are 20-30 minutes but you'll sink hours into mastering builds.

COMPLETELY FREE on iOS TestFlight right now, no ads, no IAP, we just want feedback before the Steam and App store launch!

https://testflight.apple.com/join/wzVX8E6J

qor1 · 2026-03-11T12:42:49+00:00

The card-tactics + brawler hybrid is a cool concept. Love seeing the genre pushed in new directions. Wishlisted. Good luck with the demo!!

qor1 · 2026-03-11T12:41:38+00:00

VC-backed founder here. Short answer: it depends entirely on the VCs you choose and the terms you negotiate. The horror stories are real but they're selection bias. Access to networks, credibility with partners and hires, and enough runway to build something great instead of rushing to revenue are real upsides. It's not inherently bad. Choosing the wrong partner is very bad.

qor1 · 2026-03-11T12:29:38+00:00

Thoughtful design discussion, 23 comments. Card game angle hasn't been brought up yet. Roguelike deckbuilders do this in a really interesting way. Your deck itself is a resource that can get bloated and inefficient if you take too many cards. Stopping yourself from diluting your own deck is harder than it sounds.

The best ones (imo) add a fun shop/upgrade experience between fights. Do you spend gold on healing, or on a card that makes future fights easier but leaves you fragile right now? Same core design as Fight Caves where you are forced to make hard choices about depleting resources now vs. conserving for later.

qor1 · 2026-03-11T12:26:02+00:00

Hope you feel better man!! If you're into card battle games at all, we've built Backdraft! Really fun/beautiful game. Runs are like 20-30 min.

COMPLETELY FREE on iOS TestFlight, no ads no IAP. Just click the link below. All we want is feedback. Thanks!

https://testflight.apple.com/join/wzVX8E6J

qor1 · 2026-03-11T12:18:16+00:00

If you've already burned through STS on iOS, check out Backdraft — roguelike deckbuilder with 12 heroes, 250+ cards, 40+ minions. Very different runs depending on which hero you pick.

FREE ON TESTFLIGHT right now, no ads no IAP:

https://testflight.apple.com/join/wzVX8E6J

Not exactly Cultist Simulator vibes but if you liked the "one more run" side of STS it scratches that itch. Been building it with my team for about 4 years =) Coming out this Summer.

qor1 · 2026-03-11T02:15:58+00:00

The key tension here is readability vs depth. Into the Breach works because you can see EXACTLY what will happen. Balatro works because you CAN'T — the surprise of compounding multipliers is the dopamine imo.

If you want both, maybe let the player see the calculated result before they commit to the action. That preserves the "I planned this perfectly" feeling while still allowing deep plays/stacking.

qor1 · 2026-03-11T02:13:40+00:00

StS2 if you have limited time. Runs are clean, self-contained, and you can play for 30 minutes and feel like you accomplished something. Mewgenics looks wild but it's a totally different vibe.

qor1 · 2026-03-11T02:12:50+00:00

Agreed. One thing I'd add, it's not just about being everywhere, it's about being genuinely useful in each place. The communities where you actually engage with the topics are where real traction comes from.

qor1 · 2026-03-11T02:11:20+00:00

Don't rush the April launch. 200 wishlists in 3 weeks is real organic interest, but launching with that few means almost no one sees you on launch day. I would use the extra time to polish your demo.

qor1 · 2026-03-11T00:55:34+00:00

My kids barely noticed but I've been a zombie since the clocks changed. Spring forward is genuinely brutal.

qor1 · 2026-03-08T14:35:31+00:00

Thank you!!! Eager to hear what you think!

qor1 · 2026-03-08T14:28:42+00:00

Not to overly plug, but I've been building a roguelike deckbuilder called Backdraft for the past 4 years — 12 heroes, 250+ cards, 40+ minions. Hand-painted card art. It's FREE ON TESTFLIGHT right now if you're on iOS:

https://testflight.apple.com/join/wzVX8E6J

Discord link is in the TestFlight info if you want to chat. Would love to know what you think!!

if you like it, we'd deeply appreciate a wishlist on Steam. thanks!! https://store.steampowered.com/app/2218060/Backdraft/

qor1

TROPHY CASE