What does Game Catapult do for indie game developers?
Game Catapult helps indie developers position, package, and launch Steam games with hook strategy, Steam page optimization, outreach messaging, wishlist campaign planning, and trailer guidance.
You Built the
Engine.
I Build the
Rocket.
Indie game marketing is not magic, but it is not luck either. I build Steam launch campaigns based on player psychology, store-page conversion, wishlist strategy, and market data so your brilliant game has a real shot at day-one success.
Does this sound familiar?
You've poured yourself into creating an incredible game. The code is clean, the art is beautiful, the gameplay feels right.
But now, the launch date looms. And a cold dread sets in....
The numbers flash in your mind: 3 years of your life. Maybe $50,000 of savings. All riding on this single launch. If it doesn't sell, you might not be just disappointed, but also financially ruined.
You check your Steam page: 112 wishlists.
You post a GIF on X: three likes (and one is your mom).
You see other, less-polished games suddenly blow up, and you're left wondering:
"What do they know that I don't?"
The most dangerous lie in indie development is the one we all want to believe: "A good game markets itself."
It's a fantasy. A comforting bedtime story that allows us to avoid the terrifying work of marketing. But in a market with over 400+ games launching on Steam every week, leaving it to chance is a recipe for heartbreak.
Great games fail every single day.
Remember Among Us? For two years, it was a commercial failure. A brilliant game, just lost in the noise. It wasn't until its core hook was discovered and amplified that it became a global phenomenon. Vampire Survivors wasn't an accident; it was a perfect, irresistible gameplay loop packaged into a hook that was impossible to ignore.
Potential is not enough. Your game is a pile of perfectly dry firewood. But it won't catch fire on its own.
You need a spark.
I turn indie game marketing into a launch system.
As your launch partner, I keep you in complete control. You keep 100% of your IP, your creative vision, and your revenue.
I skip the vague promises and instead implement a clear roadmap: Define the hook. Find the audience. Optimize the Steam page. Engineer the launch. The result is a game that gets discovered and a campaign that builds its own momentum.
Here is what a "Spark" looks like.
We don't just talk theory. We execute. Here is a live campaign from one of my partners, happening right now.
LIVE RESULT
Project: Whisper of the Swallows
The Problem: Great game, but stuck at a wishlist plateau. Needs visibility before launch.
The Strategy: We ignored the generic "survival game features." Instead, we crafted a narrative hook targeting a specific tribe: The Long Dark fans who wanted base building.
490+
Reddit Upvotes
~500
Wishlists
5 Days
To Hit #1
This post organically hit #1 on r/SurvivalGaming and is currently converting traffic into wishlists on auto-pilot.
r/SurvivalGaming โข
u/BlownLeaves
After 650 hours in The Long Dark, I spent 4 years building a
survival game...
View Live Post on Reddit
From One Developer to Another.
The path of an indie dev can be isolating. But a clear strategy and an expert outside perspective can change everything. Here's what my partners have to say about the process...
"...a mix of clear direction, hard truths, and incredibly useful insights."
"Working with Alan from Game Catapult has been one of the most valuable professional experiences I've had as an indie developer. He's consistently available, pragmatic, and focused on what truly matters. After years of building my game in isolation, his external perspective has been both refreshing and humbling: a mix of clear direction, hard truths, and incredibly useful insights."
"...define the game's strengths in a way that is more clear to players."
"From a developer's perspective, Game Catapult is a valuable opportunity to look at your own project from the outside and define the game's strengths in a way that is more clear to players. The collaboration takes place through efficient communication based on dialogue, so that the final result is not imposed, but worked out together."
You don't need a Publisher.
You need a Specialist.
Taking on a publisher is a massive decision that costs you equity, control, and a huge slice of your success. That's a great path for some. For everyone else who wants to own their victory, there's a better way.
Here's the difference:
| Feature | A Traditional Publisher | Game Catapult (Your Partner) |
|---|---|---|
| Your Revenue | They take a 30-50% revenue share, after recouping their costs. | You keep 100% of your revenue. You own your success, fully. |
| Your Company | They often require equity in your studio. | You keep 100% of your company. I'm your partner, not your owner. |
| Creative Control | They have final say on features, deadlines, and direction. | You are the boss. My expertise is in marketing your vision, not changing it. |
| Your Focus | You're one game in a large, competing portfolio. | You get my focused, senior-level attention. I only work with a few clients at a time. |
| The Cost | A permanent cut of your revenue. | A transparent, predictable investment in your launch. |
Why work with me?
One cohesive strategy
I don't delegate your work out to interns. The strategist who defines your Hook is the same person writing your Steam copy and advising on your trailer. This ensures your message never gets diluted.
I speak indie
I know why "juice" matters. I know that a perfect gameplay loop GIF beats a press release every time. I know your community lives on Discord, not Facebook. You won't waste time explaining the basics to me.
I'm fast.
Marketing opportunities are fleeting. A streamer plays a similar game, a new meme format takes off on Reddit... I move fast to capitalize on trends while they are still relevant.
An investment, not an expense
A launch can be the difference between $1,500 and $100,000+. Investing a fraction of that outcome to de-risk your project isn't an expense. It's the best ROI decision you can make.
Data over guesswork
Instead of guessing what works, I test it. From A/B testing your Capsule Art to analyzing competitor tags, every decision we make is backed by market reality.
An actual partner
I keep my client list small to be deeply embedded in your project. You are not hiring a company. You are gaining a partner as invested in your launch day as you are.
The Game Catapult Arsenal:
Steam
Launch Marketing Built in Stages
I offer specific outcomes designed to build upon each other. Start with strategy, upgrade to execution, and scale with assets.
Outcome 1:
The Launch Blueprint
Strategy & Validation. I define your game's soul and guide you through your first month of execution.
Includes the Hook Document, Player Profile, and Messaging Arsenal.
PLUS: 30 Days of Personal Strategy Consultation. I help you implement the plan. I answer every strategic question about your Marketing Timeline (e.g. "Does Early Access make sense for me?") and review your social posts.
Outcome 2:
The Wishlist Machine
Conversion & Traffic. A Steam page is useless without traffic, and traffic is useless if it doesn't convert.
I overhaul your Steam Page (Capsule, Copy, Tags) so it converts visitors into wishlisters.
PLUS: Personal Outreach Writing. I write custom, word-for-word emails for you to send to Streamers, Press, and Festivals.
Outcome 3:
The Discovery Engine
Assets that convert. Video content designed to stop the scroll in 2026.
I craft your Official Launch Trailer (45s cinematic to convert fans) AND Micro-Trailers (5-10s loops designed for TikTok/X).
PLUS: Unlocks the Full Partnership. Includes Personal Consultation until Launch Day, Launch Day War Room, and the 7,000 Wishlist Guarantee.
The Marketing Timeline:
Your 0-to-100 Launch Roadmap
Included FREE with every Outcome.
It's a complete, phase-by-phase plan covering the entire lifecycle of your game: from Pre-Production and the Demo Launch, to Steam Next Fest and the critical 24-hours after release.
It tells you exactly what to post, when to post it, and who to email. It even guides you on how to find and pitch festivals so you never miss an opportunity.
If you only had this one document, you would know more about marketing a game than 99% of developers. You stop guessing "what should I do today?" and start executing a winning plan.
The Full Game Catapult Partnership
While each outcome solves a specific problem, the real magic happens when we combine them.
For studios that want to maximize their chances of success, I offer the Full Partnership. You get all three outcomes, plus:
- Unlimited Consultation until Launch Day: I am your dedicated partner for every question, panic moment, and pivot.
- Launch Day War Room: I am available on Discord for the full 24 hours of your launch day for live management and momentum building.
- The 7,000 Wishlist Guarantee: If I control the strategy, the store, and the assets, I guarantee the results. (See below).
A note on my pricing
I don't sell generic packages. Every launch is unique, so every partnership is custom-built. After our initial strategy call, I'll create a tailored proposal based on your specific goals.
My work is a significant investment, designed for serious developers who are ready to give their game a real shot at commercial success. To ensure we're aligned, comprehensive partnerships typically begin in the low four-figures.
This ensures my incentives are aligned with yours: creating a massive return on your investment.
My Guarantee To You
Talk is cheap. Results are everything.
That's why I offer a guarantee that's as serious as your investment.
Here is my promise to my "Full Game Catapult" partners:
We will reach at least 7,000 wishlists on your Steam page before your official launch day.
If we miss that target for any reason, I will send you โฌ1,000 cash back from my fee.
Why would I offer something so bold?
For two reasons. First, it forces me to be brutally honest. If I don't believe your game has the potential to hit this goal with my help, I will not take you on as a client. Second, it aligns my success directly with yours. We're not just hoping for the best - we are accountable to a concrete result.
This guarantee requires a minimum 6-month pre-launch runway to ensure our strategy has time to build momentum.
Indie Game Marketing FAQ
How is Game Catapult different from a publisher?
Game Catapult is a marketing partner, not a publisher. You keep your IP, revenue, creative control, and company ownership while getting focused launch strategy and execution support.
When should an indie developer start Steam launch marketing?
The strongest Steam launches start months before release, ideally with at least a six-month runway for positioning, store page conversion, community outreach, wishlist growth, and launch-day planning.
Your Game is Ready.
What Happens Next Is Up To You.
There are two paths...
Path 1: The Void
You keep posting into the algorithm, hoping for a miracle. You launch your game, the result of years of your life, and just... see what happens. Maybe it works. For 97% of games, it doesn't.
Path 2: The Catapult
You take control. You partner with a specialist who is as obsessed with your launch day as you are. You launch with a clear strategy and a weaponized Steam page.
You launch with the force of a Catapult.
If you're serious about giving your game the launch it truly deserves, the choice is clear. Let's talk.
The first 30-minute strategy call is completely free, and it's all value.
Hereโs my promise: I will personally review your game's current marketing before our call. On the call itself, I will give you at least two specific, actionable tactics you can implement the same day to improve your visibility.
Still unsure? Take a quick look at this short case study: Whisper of the Swallows, then decide if this is the kind of launch partner you want in your corner.
You have nothing to lose and a successful launch to gain. Click the button below to claim your free session.