Earlier this year, I had the incredible opportunity to showcase our flagship game Race to Your Rocket at a festival, and I can honestly say it was one of the most energising and valuable experiences we’ve had in the entire development process.
Networking, exposure, playtesting, feedback… you name it, this experience offered it all. But more than that, it reignited the “why” behind what we do and reminded me how important it is to stop planning and dreaming and step into the real world with your game.
The Power of Game Playtesting in Public
When you spend months (almsot a year now) developing a game, it’s easy to get lost in your own little ecosystem of ideas, assumptions, and spreadsheets. At a festival, that bubble bursts — in the best possible way.
People walk up, pick up the pieces, and just start playing. You get to watch how they interpret the rules, where they hesitate, what excites them, and what they completely ignore. That kind of live feedback is worth its weight in gold.
The best part? These people don’t owe you anything. They don’t have to like your game — so when they do, when you see their eyes light up or hear them say “This is the best game we’ve played today!”, it means so much more. It’s real, unfiltered validation from strangers who chose to spend their time engaging with your work.
A Lesson in Learning (and Letting Go)
We went in with a strong sense of what our game was… and came out with an even stronger sense of what it could be. A solid day of playtesting, observing, and taking notes helped us finesse our target audience and refine the rules based on real-world interactions.
We made small tweaks on the spot and saw immediate results. That loop of “test, observe, adjust” was exhilarating — and reminded me how much creativity thrives in collaboration, not isolation.
The People You Meet
Festivals are also a melting pot of creativity. You’re surrounded by passionate creators, parents, children, educators, and enthusiasts — each with their own approaches, styles, and ideas. It’s a learning experience just to watch how others showcase their work or talk about their design process.
And then there’s the networking. We met so many inspiring people — including media contacts, educators, and even other game studios. In fact, we were interviewed by BBC Radio 1 (still can’t quite believe that!), and I’ve since been featured in the marketing material for the next game festival. Talk about unexpected exposure!
Strengthening the Team Behind the Game
One of the most underrated parts of the experience was how it strengthened the partnership between my gaming partner and I. We rarely get two full, dedicated days to focus just on our games — to talk strategy, test ideas, and dream a little about where we could go next.
That kind of focused collaboration reminded me why we started this in the first place. It wasn’t just about designing a game; it was about growing something meaningful together.
Conclusion
If you ever get the chance to showcase your game at a festival — do it. It’s more than just an opportunity for exposure; it’s an opportunity for growth, learning, connection, and creative renewal.
You’ll walk away tired but inspired, with new ideas, new contacts, and a renewed love for your craft. And if you’re lucky, maybe even a BBC interview along the way.
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