Ultimate Indie - Imphenzia list building

Design smarter, scope better, market louder - get the 2026 playbook for building an indie game that SELLS.

What you'll learn

Get unstuck: Get direct, expert feedback on your current game, your design ideas, your steam page, and your marketing strategy.
Build and validate: Work on your own project during the program (if you have one) and set yourself up for success.
Spot Winning Game Ideas: Learn how to identify trending genres and mechanics using real-world data and frameworks like the Success Matrix.
Design for Impact: Master techniques like 5-Minute Stickiness and 5-Hour Durability to make your game instantly engaging and long-lasting.
Prototype Like a Pro: Quickly bring ideas to life with playable prototypes using the game engine of your choice.
Plan and Scope Effectively: Avoid burnout with realistic project planning, version control setups, and scope management.
Polish with Purpose: Learn what separates good games from great ones—UI, particle effects, feedback loops, and visual polish.
Use the Right Tools: Discover the best free and affordable tools, services, and plugins for solo and small team development.
Optimize and Debug: Learn key techniques for performance optimization, bug tracking, and post-launch monitoring.
Make it Marketable: Craft your pitch, trailers, GIFs, and presskit with a focus on what grabs attention in the indie space.
Master Steam Launches: Set up your Steam page, wishlists, achievements, pricing strategy, and post-launch support plan.
Build for Shareability: Learn how to design games that naturally encourage players to stream, share, and advocate.
Get Eyes on Your Game: Use influencer outreach, review sites, and festivals like Steam Next Fest to build pre-launch momentum.
Craft a Strong Visual Identity: Align your art direction and audio with your theme, genre, and marketing goals.
Understand Monetization Models: Explore monetization strategies from premium pricing to crowdfunding and Early Access.
Get the Motivation You Need To Finish - Hang with people that have been there, and ask questions to people that know the answers. Don't get stuck on your own.

What's Included In The Program?

7 Weeks of Live, Guided Training With Indie Dev Pro Stefan Persson (Imphenzia)

Learn directly from Stefan Persson—aka Imphenzia—a full-time indie developer, YouTube creator, and co-developer of the hit multiplayer RTS Line War.

Working with Stefan, we've designed this 7-week program to take you from zero to published. Each week, you'll join him live to break down key lessons, get feedback on your work, and stay motivated as you build your own game. From game design and prototyping to launch strategy and Steam release - he’ll guide you through it all. He'll use Unity to showcase the concepts, but everything in this program is applicable to every game engine. They are general indie game concepts.

Whether you're just starting out or finally committing to shipping your first game, you're in good hands. Stefan’s blend of technical skills, creative insight, and 14+ years of indie experience will help you turn your game idea into a reality.

Learn EXACTLY How to Design & Market Your Dream Game - In As Little As 5 Hours Per Week

We recommend setting aside at least 5 hours per week to get the most out of the program. That includes watching the module content, doing the homework challenges, and joining the weekly coaching calls. And of course, there's plenty more to do - especially if you've applying these lessons to a personal project.

There are no daily tasks or rigid deadlines - this program is built around weekly modules, each focused on a key aspect of indie game development. You can move at your own pace, revisit any module at any time, and apply the lessons to your own game when it makes sense for you.

Whether you’re starting fresh or already deep into a project, the structure is designed to support both paths. We’ll use the live calls and Discord community to keep you connected and on track, but you won’t fall behind if life gets busy.

This isn’t just a 7-week sprint—it’s a toolkit you’ll return to throughout your dev journey.

Finally Finish and Launch Your Game With Step-by-Step Lessons, Live Calls, and Creative Challenges

Go from zero to published with a beginner-friendly system designed to keep you moving. With just a few hours each week, you’ll unlock bite-sized lessons, complete game dev challenges, and get live support as you build your own playable game—start to finish. It's a hands-on, practical way to learn by doing and see your progress come to life fast.

Whether you’re a total beginner or you've tried making a game before and got stuck, this program helps you focus, stay motivated, and actually finish. And with lifetime access to the program material, you’ll have everything you need to become a confident indie game developer—even after the 7 weeks are up.

1 Year of Ongoing Hands-on Support

You won’t be doing this alone. After the program ends, you’ll still have access to our private Ultimate Indie Program Discord, where instructors, teaching assistants, and fellow indie devs are ready to help.

Get real-time answers to your technical questions, honest feedback on your game, and support when motivation dips. Whether you're debugging your code, refining your trailer, or planning your Steam launch—we’ve got your back. All game engines are welcome.

The more feedback you get, the better your game becomes. Our team is here to make sure you keep leveling up long after the live program is over.

Lifetime Access to the Ultimate Indie Discord

The fastest way to grow as a developer? Surround yourself with others chasing the same goal. As a member of the Ultimate Indie Program, you’ll get lifetime access to our private Discord community—just for program alumni.

This isn’t our general GameDev.tv server. It’s a dedicated space for serious indie devs—where you can ask questions, share progress, get feedback, and connect with others who are building and shipping games just like you.

Collaborate, learn, and grow alongside a focused, supportive community that’s here for the long haul.

30 Day Money-Back Guarantee

Not feeling it? No problem. If the program’s not right for you, just let us know anytime during the first 30 days and we’ll give you a full refund—no questions asked.

There’s zero risk. No fine print. No hard feelings. We only want you here if it’s genuinely helping you move forward.

100% Money-Back Guarantee

Not satisfied? Get a full refund, anytime during the first 30 days of the program.

Lifetime Access

Access your content on any device, at any time.

Teaching Support

Never get stuck with our teaching assistants on call.

About the program

Get ready to take your indie game dreams from concept to completion—live.

The Ultimate Indie Game Dev 7-Week Program is your fast track to planning, building, and launching a real indie game, even if you’re starting from scratch. Designed for beginners, hobbyists, and aspiring devs alike, this hands-on live training gives you the structure, support, and tools to go from “I’ve got an idea…” to “It’s live on Steam!”

What’s Included:

7 Weeks of Live, Guided Training: Join weekly live calls with our instructors and indie dev mentors for motivation, coaching, and feedback as you bring your game to life. Date of our first live kick-off call to be announced shortly.
7 Live Calls + Recordings: Stay on track with live accountability calls, Q&A sessions, and expert insight across each stage of game development—from concept to launch.
Lifetime Discord Access: Join our private Indie Program Discord server, where you can network, share progress, and get support from a passionate community of fellow devs.
Comprehensive Learning Library: Unlock 50+ lessons covering design, development, marketing, publishing, and more—plus templates, checklists, and case studies from real indie games.
Over-the-Shoulder Bonus Content: Watch as we make an entire game in 400+ hours from scratch, build a steam page, and find a publisher - timelapsed for insight and inspiration.
Real-world Progress: Work on your own game throughout the program, or start a new project - applying what you learn in real time with practical, focused milestones.
Launch-Ready Blueprint: Walk away with a real, playable game and the knowledge of how to ship it—plus a Steam-ready checklist and marketing plan.

Dates for Live Calls:

Kickoff Call: TBA
Weekly Check-Ins: TBA
Final Wrap-Up Call: TBA
Each call will last about 90 minutes, It will be in Webinar format, and all students can participate via chat and ask questions/get feedback
All calls are recorded and uploaded for easy access

Why Choose This Program?

✅ Perfect for beginners or stuck devs—no coding experience required, just a willingness to learn
✅ Learn from real devs who’ve shipped games and know what works in 2026
✅ Launch your game (not just start it) with a proven roadmap
✅ Join a supportive community of indie creators with lifetime access
✅ Click above to enroll now and take the first step toward becoming a published indie developer!

Here's a detailed breakdown of what we have planned:

Module 1: Design - Trends & strategies

Trends in 2026 - what's working right now?
Why do you want to make a game?
How to increase your game’s success?
Success Matrix
5 Minute Stickiness
5 Hour Durability
4 ways to achieve worthiness
4 ways to achieve freshness
6 ways to achieve tightness
5 ways to get eyeballs
4 ways to make a shareworthy game
5 ways to make an advocate-friendly game
What game to make?
Selecting a game genre

Module 2: Design - Ideas & prototyping

How to design & prototype
Brainstorming
Initial Game Design
Game Design Documents
Choosing a Game Engine
How to Prototype
Choosing an Art Style
Story & World Building
The Player Experience
How to come up with game ideas

Module 3: Development - Productivity & Tools

Checklists
Free Tools for Indie Developers
Planning & Work Management
Version Control
Productivity Tips
Services
Packages & Plugins
Modifying Assets for Cohesiveness
Automated Testing
Investors & Funding
Scope
Reusability

Module 4: Development - Decisions & Polish

Overall & Session Duration
Architecture Tips
Multiplayer Considerations
Monetization Strategy
Game States
User Interface
Feedback Loop
Scoring
Art Asset Production
Keyframe Animations
Tweening Animations
Physics Animations
Triggers & Overlaps
Jumping
Particle Effects
Object Pooling
Persistent Settings System
Audio & Mixing
Sound Effects
Music
Input Handling
Tutorials
Play Testing & Feedback
Smoke & Mirrors
Post Processing
Lighting
Colors
AI (as in Enemy AI)
Generative AI
Level Design
Progression
Decision-based game case study
Balance
Interactive Game Design Challenge
Polish
Software Monitoring & Bug Reporting
Bug Fixing
Modding & User Content
Player Statistics
Fundamentals of Optimization
How to Increase Replayability
How to Localize Your Game
Security & Obfuscation

Module 5: Marketing - Outreach & Awareness

Publisher
Early Marketing
Announcement Trailer
Animated GIFs & MP4s
Crowdfunding
Presskit
Gameplay Trailer
Legal & Licensing
Influencer Outreach
Influencer Marketing Services
Review Sites
Competitions

Module 6: Marketing - Launch & Steam

Steam Page
Steam Pipeline
Screenshots
Steam Price Management
Steam Trailer
Steam Achievements (& Stats)
Steamworks SDK & API
Steam Cloud Save
Steam Leaderboards
Steam Keys
Steam Wishlists
Steam News
Prepare Mentally for Steam =)
Steam Visibility
Steam Store Broadcast
Steam Visibility Rounds
Steam Discussions
Release Date Planning
Early Access
Discord & Community
Private Beta Testing
Public Beta Testing
Launch Trailer
Demo
Steam Next Fest
Steam Launch Weeks
Support
Communication
Reviews
Updates
Steam Fests
Steam Discounts

Dreaming of making your own indie game, but don’t know where to start?

Do you have game ideas stuck in your head but no clue how to bring them to life? Tired of half-finished projects, confusing tools, and YouTube rabbit holes that lead nowhere? Want to build a game people actually play—and maybe even publish on Steam?

In the Ultimate Indie Game Dev 7-Week Program, we guide you step-by-step from blank screen to published project. You’ll learn how to design smart, prototype fast, develop efficiently, and market your game like a pro—without getting overwhelmed. Whether it’s your first game or your tenth attempt to finish one, this live program gives you the tools, structure, and support to finally launch something you’re proud of.

No fluff. No guesswork. Just real progress.

Unlock your potential, gain clarity, and take the first real step toward becoming a published indie developer.

What you'll learn

Get unstuck: Get direct, expert feedback on your current game, your design ideas, your steam page, and your marketing strategy.

Build and validate: Work on your own project during the program (if you have one) and set yourself up for success.

Spot Winning Game Ideas: Learn how to identify trending genres and mechanics using real-world data and frameworks like the Success Matrix.

Design for Impact: Master techniques like 5-Minute Stickiness and 5-Hour Durability to make your game instantly engaging and long-lasting.

Prototype Like a Pro: Quickly bring ideas to life with playable prototypes using the game engine of your choice.

Plan and Scope Effectively: Avoid burnout with realistic project planning, version control setups, and scope management.

Polish with Purpose: Learn what separates good games from great ones—UI, particle effects, feedback loops, and visual polish.

Use the Right Tools: Discover the best free and affordable tools, services, and plugins for solo and small team development.

Optimize and Debug: Learn key techniques for performance optimization, bug tracking, and post-launch monitoring.

Make it Marketable: Craft your pitch, trailers, GIFs, and presskit with a focus on what grabs attention in the indie space.

Master Steam Launches: Set up your Steam page, wishlists, achievements, pricing strategy, and post-launch support plan.

Build for Shareability: Learn how to design games that naturally encourage players to stream, share, and advocate.

Get Eyes on Your Game: Use influencer outreach, review sites, and festivals like Steam Next Fest to build pre-launch momentum.

Craft a Strong Visual Identity: Align your art direction and audio with your theme, genre, and marketing goals.

Understand Monetization Models: Explore monetization strategies from premium pricing to crowdfunding and Early Access.

Get the Motivation You Need To Finish - Hang with people that have been there, and ask questions to people that know the answers. Don't get stuck on your own.