Interview with Jimmy Mourad, founder IndieVault.io

Sometimes you stumble upon something on Reddit that immediately catches your eye. With the digital paint barely dry, they launched just one week ago, I had the chance to sit down with Jimmy Mourad: the founder of IndieVault.io.

In a crowded market where indie developers often get lost in the noise of giants like Steam, IndieVault.io promises to be a curated vault where hidden gems actually get the spotlight they deserve. No polished PR talk here, just a raw and honest conversation about the launch, the vision, and the future of indie gaming. I spoke with Jimmy about the launch of IndieVault.io to discuss their strategic vision for the independent gaming industry.

Origin & Mission

Jimmy, what was the exact "eureka moment" or the primary motivation behind founding IndieVault.io?

I've always loved indie games - some of my best gaming experiences came from small teams or solo devs. One day I started wondering: how many hidden gems are out there that I'm missing? I searched for good indie discovery platforms and honestly, the existing options felt cluttered - like a wall of games spray-painted everywhere with no curation. I wanted to build something different: a place where every game, no matter how small, gets presented well and has a real shot at being discovered.

Why the name 'IndieVault'? Is there a specific philosophy behind it?

I wish there was some deep meaning, but it's pretty straightforward: IndieVault is a vault of indie games - hidden gems locked away, waiting to reach the right players.

Which specific gap in the current market (compared to platforms like Steam or itch.io) are you aiming to fill?

Right now, we're focused purely on discovery - helping players find great indie games in a clean, curated way. Steam is incredible for distribution but brutal for discovery with thousands of launches daily. We're solving that problem first. That said, I'm not ruling out becoming a marketplace down the line. If we can offer better revenue options for indie devs while keeping discovery at the core, that's something I'd explore. But for now: discovery first, everything else later.

For the Developers

How do you lower the barrier for solo developers to get their games published on your platform?

Our platform is free to use and always will be for basic access. The submission process takes about 5 minutes - sign up, fill out a form, and your game is live. No approval process, no waiting. For transparency: we might add optional paid features down the line (like promoted placements), but the core platform will stay free. Indie devs shouldn't have to pay just to be discovered.

With so many titles launching, how does IndieVault ensure new games don't get buried and actually get the visibility they deserve?

Right now at about 20 games, it's manageable to give every game genuine visibility. But you're right - what happens at 100, 200, 1000 games? I don't have a perfect answer yet because we're figuring this out as we grow. Early ideas: rotation algorithms that surface games that haven't gotten much love recently, trending sections based on user activity (not just ratings), and curated features. The goal is to avoid the 'new releases graveyard' problem that plagues bigger platforms.

Is there a specific success story or a game that has seen significant growth thanks to your platform?

It's still early - we've only been live for about three days. But the organic growth in developer signups makes me hopeful that once we have enough great games, we'll attract the player traffic that turns into real success stories. Ask me again in a few months.

Follow IndieVault.io on

Follow IndieVault.io on

Community & Future

How important is player feedback on your platform for the further development of the hosted games?

Super important - both from players and developers. I've already had several developers take the time to report bugs, suggest features, and share their hopes for the platform. This feedback loop is going to be critical no matter how big we get. The second you lose touch with what's keeping your service alive is the second you lose. Special shoutout to Gameflick (Dead Beyond) and Crunch Moonkiss Studios (Groove Defense) for being early supporters and helping shape the platform.

What is the long-term vision? Where do you see IndieVault.io five years from now?

I'd love for IndieVault to be the go-to spot for developers who want to reach as many players as possible, and for players looking for their next great game. In five years, that's the goal: when someone thinks 'I want to discover a great indie game,' IndieVault is their first stop.

Do you plan to remain a free platform for developers, or are there other growth strategies in mind?

We'll always have a free barrier to entry. Down the line, I can see adding optional paid features - like 'promote your game' placements for a reasonable price - but the core platform stays free. We're talking about indie devs here, so whatever we offer has to make sense for small studios and solo developers.

Personal Advice

What is your #1 piece of advice for aspiring game developers launching their first project?

Get your game page up early - Steam, itch, wherever you're planning to launch - to start building wishlists and attention. But make sure it makes sense with your development cycle. No point getting 2,000 wishlists when your game is 4 years away from releasing. Be active in gaming communities like Reddit and Discord. Interact with potential players and be open to feedback. But most importantly: stay true to your vision. If you change too much along the way based on what everyone else wants, is it still your game? I'm no expert by any means, but that's my take.

Do you currently have a personal favorite indie game on the platform that we should definitely check out?

That's tough - there are so many good ones right now. What I love is the variety. You like deckbuilders? Check out Fame or Folly by Bossgrand. You like tower defense? Check out Groove Defense by Crunch Moonkiss Studios. They're all charming in their own way. I can't really pick just one.