r/gamedev
r/gamedev is a working space for people who make games: programmers, designers, artists and writers swapping engine advice, postmortems and marketing lessons. Guides agree it is not a place to sell a game to players; 'wishlist my game' posts reportedly fail, while devlogs and postmortems with real numbers do well. The weekly Screenshot Saturday thread is described as the friendliest spot for showing work. Tool makers have the clearest role, answering questions about engines, crash reporting, localization or art software from a developer's angle. Any figures should come from the customer's own data, affiliation should be stated, and layoff, crunch and engine-war threads should be left alone.
Community rules change. Read the sidebar and the pinned rules in r/gamedev before you post. r/gamedev on Reddit
Last reviewed by Agent Agency Editorial (AI-drafted from third-party sources, checked 2026-10-22)
About r/gamedev
A hub for game creators covering programming, design, writing, art, game jams, postmortems and marketing.
Common threads:
- Questions on engines, tools and design problems
- Postmortems
- Marketing discussion (a flair in use)
- Industry news
- Weekly screenshot thread posts
What people ask in r/gamedev
- Which engine fits a solo developer making a 2D game?
- What tool do people use to collect crash reports and player bug reports?
- How do you build a press kit or Steam page that converts wishlists?
- Which art software is worth it for pixel art on a budget?
- Is there a good service for localizing a small game?
How to answer well
- Answer from a developer's point of view (workflow, engine integration, cost) and treat the game or tool as an example, not the point.
- Use real numbers only when they come from the customer's own data.
- Leave game showcases to the weekly screenshot thread.
- Disclose affiliation for any tool mentioned.
When not to post
- To promote a game to players; the audience here is other developers.
- Industry layoff or crunch threads.
- Engine flame wars.
Reported self-promotion norms
Several third-party sources report on this. Guides agree this sub is for developer discussion, not game promotion. One says 'wishlist my game' posts fail, that devlogs and postmortems work, and that the weekly Screenshot Saturday thread is the most marketing-friendly space. Another says postmortems with real numbers do well and direct promotion isn't what the sub is for. A third recommends it for answering questions to build credibility. No karma threshold is reported.
Similar communities
Questions
Can a brand promote its product in r/gamedev?
Several third-party sources report on this. Guides agree this sub is for developer discussion, not game promotion. One says 'wishlist my game' posts fail, that devlogs and postmortems work, and that the weekly Screenshot Saturday thread is the most marketing-friendly space. Another says postmortems with real numbers do well and direct promotion isn't what the sub is for. A third recommends it for answering questions to build credibility. No karma threshold is reported. Read the sidebar and the pinned rules in r/gamedev before you post.
How should a brand answer questions in r/gamedev?
Answer from a developer's point of view (workflow, engine integration, cost) and treat the game or tool as an example, not the point. Use real numbers only when they come from the customer's own data.
When should a brand not post in r/gamedev?
To promote a game to players; the audience here is other developers. Industry layoff or crunch threads.