Devlog #3 – Solo Development: Some Reflections
It’s been over two and a half years working on this project, and while reviewing my notes to prepare the timeline, I realized just how much time and energy I’ve poured into it. Funny thing: after all that work, I’m still making basic decisions—right now, about the game’s final look, choosing fonts, colors, icons, and every tiny detail.
It feels like an endless process, but I’ve learned to normalize the uncertainty that comes with it. Managing that uncertainty is probably the biggest lesson I’ve gotten out of this project so far, beyond any technical skills.
Still, I often wonder if all this effort is worth it, if my technical and design choices are actually good ones, or if by now I’ve just fallen into the classic sunk cost fallacy.
It’s easy to spiral into these thoughts, especially during stretches when I’m not actively coding. Code, after all, is binary: oversimplifying a bit, it either works or it doesn’t. That clarity gives a sense of progress that isn’t always there when I’m working on visuals or overall design.
That’s where things get murkier: What does “right” even mean when it comes to style? Should I stick to my own vision or lean on inspiration from other games? Am I building something no one will find fun or appealing in the end?
All these questions tend to circle back to two bigger, more personal ones:
Should I ask for help to finish the project? Why am I still doing this alone?
Working solo is clearly not the most efficient path, but I’ve been part of other projects and learned that having more people doesn’t always mean making faster progress.
Maybe the simplest answer is: remember past experiences.
Is this just passion? Is it worth pushing forward like this? Is it sustainable long-term? Or is this just part of what it means to be an indie developer?
Passion, absolutely. But solo development is tough—that much is obvious. At times, it really does feel lonely, and without second opinions, moving forward can be harder.
And yet, there’s something special about it too: the complete freedom to build any “wild idea” I come up with, with zero compromises. It’s not all “negative”!
Lots of questions and not many answers in this post. But hey, that’s why it was called “some reflections.” Consider yourselves warned! 😉
Consider follow me on IG to see some post about project progress: https://www.instagram.com/luscofusco_studio/
