Now that we are in the final stages of the game, it was necessary to make the project known to the world. Until now, we had been moving in familiar and favorable territory, where people who tested the game had kindly provided feedback on the narrative experience we developed. However, as we approach the release date, we need to expand the game widely so that, when we launch it, it is as successful as possible.
In our case, where we will publish across most distribution channels (Steam, Switch, PS, Xbox, Windows Store, Google Play, App Store), a lot of marketing work is needed to reach all the players who might enjoy a detective narrative game as much as we do.
STEAM: Not everything, but everyone asks
On one hand, Steam is just one of the markets where we will distribute the game, but at every event we have attended, everyone asks, when trying the game, if it is already on Steam or if a Steam demo exists. Curiously, at least in the West, this is usually the first question, and only afterward can you explain that the game will be available across multiple channels.
This is no coincidence: Steam is still today the most significant PC platform, with over 120 million monthly active users and steady, moderate growth year after year. In fact, according to Valve's latest report, the daily average of simultaneous players exceeds 33 million. In this context, it is natural that the first question from players is "Is it on Steam?", as it is their natural entry point for any indie or narrative game.
We do not know whether the game will sell better on Steam, consoles, or mobile devices. Statistically, however:
- Narrative and investigative games perform better on Nintendo Switch and Steam than on mobile.
- 100% premium mobile games account for only 4% of the mobile market revenue, but they still perform well if they have a clear IP or a loyal fanbase.
- On Steam, games with demos achieve up to 47% more wishlist conversions, according to internal Steam Next Fest data.
With all this in mind, it was evident that the game had to be on Steam to start building a wishlist, while also providing a simple way to showcase the game and offer a demo for players to try it.
The Steam effect: one step leads to another
Moreover, this step has also triggered a second effect, which confirms the strength of Steam in the gaming world. Once the Steam page was created and the demo published, we began to receive organic requests to test the game or write articles about it.
According to various industry sources, more than 65% of indie content creators look for new games on Steam through:
- Coming Soon game lists
- New demo announcements
- Tag searches (in our case: Mystery, Detective, Narrative, Puzzle, etc.)
- Automated tracking tools like SteamDB, SteamPeek, Keymailer, or PressKit trackers
That is to say: influencers no longer wait for games to come to them. They actively scour Steam to find projects with personality, polished visuals, and compelling narratives. And this is exactly our case.
We received requests from:
- creators looking for narrative games for Twitch or YouTube,
- specialized media seeking new mystery stories,
- small to medium streamers looking for “hidden gems” to showcase to their audience.
This validates the decision to prioritize Steam at this stage of the project.
| Media / Creator | Type | Link |
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Final reflection: A narrative game needs presence, not noise
Publishing a game today is not just creating it and launching it: it is building presence, generating trust, and making it easy for the community to find you. Data from 2024 shows that over 14,000 games are published on Steam each year. Amid this sea of new releases, narrative games face a double challenge: they are not quick-consumption games, nor do they rely on repetitive mechanics that generate immediate virality.
The strong point is another: Narrative games generate loyal communities and even advocates.
A player who connects with a story:
- recommends it,
- follows updates,
- awaits DLCs,
- and talks about the game even after finishing it.
That is why our strategy combines reach and quality. Being on Steam is necessary, but not sufficient. We must be on consoles, on mobile, and most importantly, at the heart of players who seek the thrill of investigating a mystery in a mansion full of secrets.
This is the journey that now begins for Clue: Murder by Death. And, like any good mystery, we can only solve it with the company of those who want to follow us.
