This is how much our first indie game made in its first month of launch: $580 in gross revenue. Sounds decent, right? Well, not quite. After returns and taxes, we were left with roughly $380. Then Steam took its 30% share, leaving us with even less. While it’s not retirement money, for two developers with zero experience, this feels like a win.
Heading: The Beginning
Pedalver is our first commercial game, created in just six months while we were learning game development. Today, I’m not just here to talk about the numbers—I want to share our full story: how we did it, why we did it, and what’s next.
Let’s rewind to the start of 2024. I’ve always loved watching Indie Dev vlogs. It all started with one channel: Denny. He inspired me to follow other developers on their journeys, including Dev Duck, Thin Matrix, and Thomas Brush.
They all shared one key message: “If you want to make games, just make games.” That phrase stuck with me. I thought, why not give it a shot? My younger brother had been learning Unreal Engine for about a year. Partner in crime? Check. Ambition? Double-check.
Heading: Developing Our First Game
We decided to go all in, setting a clear goal: no big, dream games—just small, fun experiences with a development timeline of 3 to 6 months.
We began brainstorming ideas, listing everything we could think of. Most ideas were scrapped for being overly ambitious; others were archived for later. We eventually settled on a Ninja-themed isometric platformer. It sounded cool in theory, but it didn’t pass the fun-to-play test.
That’s when I went full “nerd mode,” spending hours researching trends, analyzing indie games, and figuring out what kind of games perform well on Steam. The solution was clear: we needed something accessible within a specific niche that casual players would also enjoy.
Heading: The Birth of Pedalver
Fast forward to June. I had just finished Lonely Mountains: Downhill and was into mountain biking games like Descenders and Riders Republic. Then the idea hit me: what if we made a simpler, more casual downhill biking experience?
Imagine a blend of chill exploration and chaotic fun—something you could pick up after a busy day or enjoy on a relaxing weekend. And just like that, Pedalver was born.
We created two game modes:
- Track Roulette – Spin a wheel to get a random track, challenge, and customization. Complete the challenge to unlock new items.
- Semi-Open World Exploration – A relaxing mode where players explore vast natural environments using a mountain bike and FP drone. You can scout areas with the drone and then race downhill, offering a mix of immersion and chaotic fun.
Heading: The Launch
After six months of hard work, we hit the launch button on Steam. Then began the endless refreshing, like stockbrokers during a market crash. Within the first hour, we saw our first sale—it was surreal. We thought, This is it! We’ve made it!
Heading: What’s Next?
We’re officially building Fistic Studio from the ground up as an indie studio. Our mission is to create small, fun experiences while experimenting with different genres—and even blending them together.
For many, Pedalver might seem like a failure. But for us, the definition of success is different. We wanted to test our skills and prove we could complete and launch a game within six months. And we did it.
We sold over 90 copies and earned $350, plus an invaluable amount of experience. For us, that feels like a huge win.
Heading: Future Plans
We’ve already started brainstorming our next project. While I can’t share too many details yet, I promise it’ll be very different from Pedalver.
If you’re curious about how two brothers are building an indie studio from scratch, learning as we go, then join us on this journey. We’ll document everything: our challenges, solutions, and lessons learned.
Heading: Supporting Our Journey
Whether you’re a game developer, designer, or just someone who loves indie games, we hope to inspire, educate, and entertain you. If you’d like to support us, Pedalver is currently 50% off for the first 10 days of the new year. Grab it now or share it with a friend—every purchase helps us create more games and share more stories.