The End of an Era: The Indie Game Website Enters Indefinite Hiatus

By Editorial Staff
December 20, 2021

In a poignant announcement that marks a significant shift in the landscape of games journalism, Lewis Denby, Managing Director of Game If You Are Ltd, confirmed today that The Indie Game Website (TIGW) will cease active operations and enter an indefinite period of hiatus effective later this week. For four years, the platform served as a vital sanctuary for developers operating outside the mainstream spotlight, championing the voices of solo creators and those from underrepresented backgrounds.

The Genesis of a Vision: Why TIGW Mattered

Launched in 2017, The Indie Game Website was born from a place of professional frustration. At the time, the gaming media landscape was heavily dominated by AAA titles, leaving a gaping void for smaller, innovative projects. For developers—particularly those working in non-English speaking regions or lacking the marketing budgets of larger studios—gaining visibility was an uphill battle.

"As indie game fanatics, we were frustrated by what we perceived as an increasing dearth of opportunities for indie developers of all walks of life to gain visibility," wrote Denby in the farewell editorial. The site was designed to bypass the traditional gatekeeping of the gaming press, operating as an editorial-led project that prioritized artistic merit and unique narrative voices over the commercial pressures typically dictated by advertising and traffic metrics.

A Chronology of Advocacy

The site’s trajectory was marked by a series of editorial transitions that helped shape its identity as a bastion of diverse gaming coverage:

• 2017: The Indie Game Website is established by Game If You Are Ltd to fill the void left by mainstream publications that ignored the burgeoning indie scene.
• 2017–2021: Under a rotating roster of leadership—including Neil, Jon, Jason, and Khee Hoon—the site maintained a rigorous editorial standard, publishing hundreds of reviews, deep-dive features, and developer profiles.
• December 20, 2021: The formal announcement of the site’s hiatus, signaling the end of its active publication schedule.

Throughout this four-year span, the site became a trusted source for "hidden gems." For many readers, it was the primary gateway to games that would have otherwise vanished into the noise of the digital marketplace. By separating the editorial mission from the company’s existing marketing agency arm, the team ensured that coverage remained independent and untethered from the fiscal demands of game promotion.

Supporting Data: The Cost of Independence

The decision to shutter the site was not made lightly. Since its inception, The Indie Game Website operated at a consistent financial loss. For the management at Game If You Are, this was a deliberate choice—an investment they were willing to absorb to maintain the site’s integrity and mission.

However, as the end of 2021 approached, the internal calculus changed. The team began to grapple with a difficult question: Is a traditional website the most efficient vehicle for supporting marginalized and minoritized indie developers in the current climate?

The management concluded that the capital required to keep the site afloat could be more effectively deployed in other, more impactful initiatives. The "monetary hit" the company was happy to take for years became a pivot point for a new strategy. By placing the site on the "back-burner," the company is reallocating its resources to better address the systemic barriers faced by developers who struggle to reach an audience.

Official Response: A Shift in Strategy

In his official statement, Lewis Denby emphasized that this is not a permanent death for the brand, but rather a strategic evolution.

"The reality is that we needed to make a decision on where our investment was best spent in order to achieve this goal, and that means The Indie Game Website—for now, at least—needs to be put on the back-burner," Denby stated.

The tone of the announcement is explicitly bittersweet. While there is sadness in losing a platform that served as a home for so many freelance writers and developers, there is a palpable sense of anticipation for what comes next. Denby hinted at major plans for 2022, specifically focusing on the financial and structural support of minoritized indie developers. While details remain under wraps until the New Year, the message is clear: the ethos of TIGW is not dying; it is simply changing form.

The Legacy of Editorial Excellence

One of the most significant aspects of the site’s existence was its commitment to diverse editorial voices. The editors of The Indie Game Website were empowered to amplify narratives that were frequently sidelined by larger, more conservative publications. By providing a platform for writers to discuss games through a lens of culture, politics, and lived experience, TIGW elevated the standard of indie discourse.

The site will remain live as an archive, serving as a digital library of the work produced by its contributors. Denby expressed deep gratitude toward the freelance writers who made the site what it was, noting that their unique perspectives were the lifeblood of the project. "All of their unique perspectives have made the site what it has become, and it’s been a joy to read all of the fantastic reviews, stories, and guides," he noted.

Implications for the Indie Ecosystem

The closure of a dedicated indie publication is always a sobering moment for the industry. It highlights the inherent volatility of independent media and the difficulty of maintaining a platform that does not prioritize "click-bait" or algorithmic optimization.

However, the implications of TIGW’s hiatus may be more positive than they initially appear. If, as Denby suggests, the company is moving toward direct, tangible support for marginalized developers—perhaps through grants, mentorship, or new infrastructure—this could represent a maturation of the support system for indie creators.

What This Means for the Future:

1. Direct Investment: The shift suggests that indie advocacy is moving away from passive observation (journalism) toward active participation (resource allocation).
2. The "Resurrection" Possibility: Because the site remains live indefinitely, the brand retains its equity. The possibility of a future revival remains on the table should the media landscape shift in a way that makes a traditional publication model sustainable or necessary again.
3. A Call for Community Support: With one less voice championing the indie scene, the burden of discovery now falls back on the community, indie platforms like itch.io, and the developers themselves to continue building networks of visibility.

Conclusion: Looking Toward 2022

As The Indie Game Website enters hibernation, it leaves behind a legacy of integrity and passion. It proved that a media outlet could exist to serve the creator rather than the advertiser. While the site will no longer see daily updates, its mission remains a North Star for the team at Game If You Are.

As Denby concluded in his final address, the focus for 2022 is on a new chapter of investment and advocacy. For the developers and readers who found a home in the pages of TIGW, the wait for the company’s next move will be met with a mixture of nostalgia and expectation. For now, the site stands as a digital monument to the hundreds of indie games that, thanks to this team, were not left to languish in obscurity.

"We’ll be keeping the website live indefinitely," Denby promised. "Who knows, maybe one day it’ll be the right time to resurrect it!" Until that day, the industry watches closely to see how the team at Game If You Are will translate their editorial passion into the next generation of indie support.