An Era Ends: The Indie Game Website Enters Indefinite Hiatus

By Editorial Desk
December 20, 2021

In a poignant announcement that has rippled through the independent development community, The Indie Game Website (TIGW) confirmed on Monday that it will cease active operations and enter an indefinite hiatus starting later this week. The publication, which has served as a vital lighthouse for the indie scene since 2017, leaves behind a legacy of championing marginalized voices and uncovering hidden gems that might otherwise have been swallowed by the relentless churn of the mainstream gaming media.

While the site’s archives will remain accessible to the public, the decision marks the end of a chapter for a platform that prioritized editorial integrity and artistic exploration over the conventional pressures of traffic-driven journalism.

The Genesis: Filling a Void in the Media Landscape

When The Indie Game Website launched in 2017, the gaming media landscape was—and remains—a daunting environment for smaller developers. The impetus behind the site was clear: Lewis Denby, Managing Director of Game If You Are Ltd, recognized that the sheer "noise" of the industry created an insurmountable barrier for solo developers and small studios.

This issue was particularly acute for developers outside the traditional English-speaking hubs of North America and Western Europe. For a developer working in a non-traditional market, gaining visibility in a major outlet often required a substantial marketing budget or an existing reputation—luxuries most indie developers simply do not have.

TIGW was conceived as an antidote to this. It was designed as an editorial-led space where the primary mandate was not the monetization of clicks, but the discovery of high-quality, boundary-pushing interactive art. By decoupling editorial coverage from commercial pressure, the site allowed its contributors to focus on the merit of the games, fostering a culture of discovery that introduced readers to titles that were often invisible to the broader gaming press.

Chronology: Four Years of Championing the Independent Spirit

The trajectory of The Indie Game Website was defined by its rotating editorial leadership, each of whom brought a distinct vision to the platform.

• 2017 – The Foundation: The site launched with a mission to bridge the gap between niche developers and global audiences. Under its initial leadership, the platform quickly established a reputation for deep-dive reviews and human-centric stories.
• 2018–2020 – Expansion and Iteration: Throughout these years, the site underwent various shifts in editorial guidance, moving through leadership tenures under Neil, Jon, Jason, and Khee Hoon. Each transition brought a refined focus, with the publication expanding its remit to cover a more diverse range of cultural perspectives.
• 2021 – The Pivot: As the industry evolved, so did the financial realities of running an independent publication. By late 2021, the team began grappling with the sustainability of their model. Despite the site consistently running at a financial loss—a deficit the parent company was happy to absorb in the name of the mission—the leadership began to question if their resources were being utilized with maximum efficacy.
• December 20, 2021 – The Hiatus: The formal announcement marks the transition from active editorial cycle to a state of hibernation, as the parent organization shifts its focus toward new initiatives for the upcoming year.

The Economics of Advocacy: Why the Site is Closing

In his parting address, Lewis Denby was remarkably transparent about the site’s financial status. The Indie Game Website never aimed for profitability. It was, in effect, a philanthropic endeavor subsidized by the parent marketing agency, Game If You Are.

"The Indie Game Website has always run at a loss," Denby noted. "We were okay with that, because it has always been very important to us, and we were happy to take a monetary hit in order to keep it afloat."

However, the closure is not necessarily a story of failure, but rather one of strategic realignment. The central question posed by the leadership—how can we best shine a spotlight on indie developers who would normally struggle to cut through the noise?—led to the realization that the current model of daily editorial coverage was perhaps no longer the most effective tool.

The team determined that to better serve the community, their investment capital needed to be directed elsewhere. By putting the website on the "back-burner," the organization is freeing up both financial and human capital to experiment with new ways of supporting underrepresented and minoritized creators.

Implications for the Indie Ecosystem

The departure of TIGW from the active media landscape leaves a palpable gap. In an era where "discoverability" is the single greatest challenge for any independent developer, the loss of a dedicated, high-quality platform that actively seeks out diverse voices is a blow to the ecosystem.

The Challenge of "Noise"

The indie market is currently saturated. With thousands of games released annually on platforms like Steam and itch.io, the "discovery" problem is a structural issue. TIGW acted as a filter, helping players navigate this ocean of content. Without such curated spaces, smaller, experimental, and non-Western titles face an uphill battle for visibility.

The Shift Toward Direct Support

The industry is currently witnessing a trend where traditional journalism is being supplanted by creator-led initiatives, community hubs, and direct-to-consumer marketing. The move by Game If You Are suggests that the future of indie advocacy may lie in direct investment, mentorship, and community-building programs rather than the traditional review-based model.

"I am excited about the future, and some of the plans we have in place for 2022," Denby teased. "In particular around how we are going to invest in supporting marginalised and minoritised indie developers."

Reflections: An Official Farewell

The response from the editorial team and the wider gaming community has been one of deep gratitude. Throughout its four-year run, TIGW became a training ground for writers who brought unique, often overlooked perspectives to the table.

"I am overwhelmed by the achievements of all of The Indie Game Website’s editors," Denby wrote. "How they have striven to expand the site’s remit, amplifying important voices—both of people making games, and of people writing about them."

For the writers, the site was more than a job; it was a platform to advocate for the artistic legitimacy of indie games. For the readers, it was a reliable compass in a chaotic market. The decision to keep the site live as an archive ensures that the work produced by these writers remains a part of the permanent record of indie gaming history.

The Path Forward: What Happens Now?

While The Indie Game Website will stop publishing new content, the ethos that drove it is promised to continue. The parent organization, Game If You Are, is expected to unveil new, more targeted initiatives in early 2022.

The gaming community will be watching closely to see how these new programs manifest. If the past four years are any indication, the shift will be intentional, focused on equity, and deeply committed to the voices that the mainstream media often ignores.

As Denby concluded in his farewell: "Even though it will enter hibernation this week, it is our absolute aim to ensure TIGW’s ethos continues into 2022 and beyond. Who knows, maybe one day it’ll be the right time to resurrect it!"

For now, the site stands as a digital monument to a dedicated team, a massive library of thoughtful critique, and a testament to the idea that with the right intention, media can be a powerful force for change. The hiatus is not a deletion; it is a redirection. And in the volatile world of indie game development, that might just be the most necessary evolution of all.