Indie games vs. AAA games


Matthew Armstrong, Production Assistant

If you are someone who enjoys video games whether it be casual or hardcore, you probably know some games by name alone such as “Halo”, “Call of Duty” or “Overwatch”. Now how about some other games such as “Enter the Gungeon”, “Hollow Knight” and Into the Breach? These games may not be as known to some people, but these would be in the category of indie games.
What are indie games?
Well, they’re created by studios that develop games with small development teams or sometimes one person to release a game without the financial support of publishers. This development is very different from the process in the respect that AAA games are developed by a large company consisting of more than a few hundred employees or so. Furthermore, AAA companies typically have financial backing from a publisher or whoever they work with to be able to fund the gaming process, leading to bigger budget games that can be sold for a higher price to make ends meet when the game is released.
Now, cost and development aren’t the only things that distinguish the difference between indie games and AAA games different. One of the biggest differences between the two is that of artistic choices and length. Since indie companies have a lower budget, they usually shorten the length of the game allowing for more time to develop the gameplay itself, making it something special; therefore, they rely more on their art style as a selling point as well.
Since AAA have the funds, they can get away with lengthier games and offer more features. Does that make them better?
The answer is yes and no. While some people like some AAA studios and what they offer, others think they have become too greedy and too business oriented. With indie development, they rely on making sure the games they come out with are the best they can make them with what they have, so the focus is on honing their craft and making sure the audience they have is going to appreciate their hard work.
However, it’s up to you to decide which you prefer.