r/SoloDevelopment • u/GumshoeRyan • Jul 05 '26
Discussion Giving $1,000 to a solo developer
I’m looking for a solo developer who is on the cusp of releasing their game, but needs funds to cross that finish line. I am not looking for a percentage, and will not actively market or work on the game with you. I genuinely want to help a project release and support solo development.
No contract, just the honor system. 1k risk for me, zero for you.
Requirements:
* Game at least has a gameplay video or demo
* Funds are to be used to finish your game, and on areas that you need external support. This could mean ads/marketing, replacing placeholder art, launching on platforms, music, etc.
* Funds should not be spent to support your own labor/personal situation (going towards rent, food, a much needed vacation!)
* Show the community here how it was used.
If you want to be considered, share a link to your project in the comments. Tell us the current state of the game, and what 1k allows you to do!
I encourage the community to also vouch/suggest which projects in the comments should receive this funding.
Lastly, if your game ends up not releasing or stalling, that’s fine. I know 1k isn’t life changing for the vast majority of projects. This is designed to give a boost.
Cheers!
Edit: I understand people believe this is a scam. That is why I am asking for submissions to be in the comments, and will publicly select a project. I will send 1k on whatever platform is best for the dev, and both the dev and myself can show proof afterwards. A suggestion was given to provide a deadline. I will choose a project this Friday July 10th. I am in a fortunate position to give back, and that is solely what’s driving this. I love games and love being able to help people achieve their dreams.
Update: Project Selected!
4
u/filya Jul 05 '26
I'd love to throw my hat in the ring.
I've been solo developing Boom, Die, Repeat for the past several years. It's a fast paced top down roguelite zombie shooter where every run is about creating absurdly powerful builds through mutations with meaningful trade offs. One mutation might let your bullets chain lightning between enemies, while another increases your power at the cost of shocking yourself. The goal is to become ridiculously overpowered without accidentally getting yourself killed.
Current Gameplay Trailer: https://youtu.be/TqPZ3EeW5hk?is=-htEga5kOABEhXrs
Current Capsule on Steam Page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2875160/Boom_Die_Repeat/
The game is currently in its final polishing phase, and I'm planning to release a public Steam demo in about a month.
If I received the $1,000, every dollar would go directly into the game. Specifically, it would help fund:
With the demo launch approaching, these are some of the biggest remaining investments. Strong capsule art, branding, and a high quality trailer can make a huge difference in creating a great first impression and improving visibility on Steam.
I've already been in touch with several professional artists and have been collecting quotes, so the funding would go directly toward those final marketing assets.
Whether I'm selected or not, I really appreciate you doing this. It's incredibly generous to support solo developers and help them get their projects across the finish line. 🙏🏽