Smol Business

Smol Dungeon, a mobile game developed by Kris Shamloo, has been available for a year and has generated approximately $400 in revenue. Initially launched as a paid game at $1.99, it earned $252 in its first month and an additional $45 over the next eight months. In October, the game transitioned to a free-to-play model, offering an optional cosmetic in-app purchase for $2.99, while avoiding ads. This change led to a significant increase in downloads, with thousands more players compared to the paid model. However, the revenue from the free model was only $45 in the first month, despite a 100-fold increase in player numbers. The developer speculated that the in-app purchase may not have been compelling enough, the game’s short length might deter purchases, or that consumers might prefer paying $1.99 over $2.99. Kris acknowledged that marketing efforts were minimal, relying mainly on social media and blog posts. The revenue generated has not been sufficient to allow him to quit his day job, as the project was more about learning and development rather than achieving full-time indie status.

- Smol Dungeon has earned about $400 in its first year.

- The game switched from a paid model to free-to-play in October.

- The free model increased downloads significantly but did not boost revenue proportionately.

- The developer attributes low revenue to marketing and the nature of in-app purchases.

- The project focused on learning rather than achieving full-time indie game development.