Is Game Development a Waste of Time? The Solo Dev’s Low-Expectations Secret

Ask any aspiring developer, and they’ll tell you that making games is the dream. Ask a veteran, and they might whisper, “Is it a waste of time?”

For a long time, the answer was complicated. I’ve been on this journey since I was young, always wrestling with the immense passion it demands and the often brutal reality of its outcomes. But I’ve discovered a secret to survival in this industry: low expectations nourish the journey.

The Low Bar for a Long Game

When I first started game development as a hobby, my expectations were set so low, they were practically buried. I wasn’t aiming for the next Steam hit or a multi-million-dollar deal; I was just trying to get the code to run and the graphics to display.

• Low Expectations are Nourishment: That low bar was my lifeline. It meant that every tiny victory—a successful compile, a new texture, a working jump mechanic—felt like a massive win. I never had the crushing weight of needing to be successful, only the joy of being creative.

The Art of the Tactical Retreat

The solo path is exhausting. The hours are long, the code is stubborn, and the design problems are infinite. There were many times when the overwhelming pressure made me question everything.

Did I power through every single time? Absolutely not.

I learned the invaluable skill of the tactical retreat. When I felt truly overwhelmed, I took a break. I stepped away from game development, cleared my mind, and came back later with renewed energy and perspective. This approach ensured that I didn't burn out; I merely paused. The hobby remained a source of joy, not stress.

Accepting the Reality of the "Super Poor Solo Dev"

The biggest shift came when I gave up the ambitious, perhaps childish, dream of becoming a super-rich solo game developer. That fantasy is built on lottery tickets and outlier success stories.

When I decided to go full-time on this path, I made peace with the harsh reality: I accepted the title of the super poor solo dev.

It was a deliberate choice. I knew the immense financial difficulty this path entails, but I chose it because I genuinely enjoy the work. Surprisingly, accepting this difficult truth was profoundly freeing. Once the massive pressure of needing wealth was gone, all that remained was the joy of creation.

And that’s where the secret lies: Life is genuinely happier with low expectations. I measure success not in sales figures, but in finished features, learned skills, and the simple pleasure of building a world that only I can create.

So, is game development a waste of time? Only if you let unrealistic expectations define the answer. For me, it’s the most rewarding path, precisely because I stopped demanding it make me rich and started letting it make me happy.