Former CDPR Writer Explains Indie Game Creativity
Jakub Szamałek, a celebrated writer known for his work on CD Projekt Red's blockbusters The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, recently offered insights into why indie games often achieve greater originality than large-scale AAA projects. In an interview with GamesRadar+, Szamałek, who has also contributed to the indie title Rockbeasts and Rebel Wolves' upcoming vampire RPG The Blood of Dawnwalker, suggested that the limitations faced by smaller development teams actually foster creativity.
Szamałek likens AAA projects to blockbuster movies, where every scene demands meticulous detail and precision. In contrast, he compares indie projects to theater, where developers can lean more on player imagination, employing symbolism and suggestion rather than showing everything explicitly. This approach, he explains, opens up avenues for experimental storytelling and unconventional concepts. “Of course, in an AAA game I would have more mechanics and tools, but indies allow… well, not to be so straightforward in what you want to show and convey,” Szamałek stated.
Indie games genuinely create an environment that encourages originality. They simply cannot match AAA in terms of budgets or perfectly interwoven gameplay mechanics, which require enormous resources and vast teams. This inherent disparity means indie developers are, in a way, compelled to be original, creatively utilizing the resources they have. Szamałek acknowledges that limitations can be frustrating for game designers and any creative professionals, but believes that working under such conditions often gives rise to truly distinctive and singular creations.
Szamałek notes that working on both types of games offers distinct experiences. For instance, Rockbeasts allows him the freedom to experiment with narrative and style, while AAA-level projects like The Blood of Dawnwalker provide more extensive tools and opportunities, albeit with stringent demands for detail. Szamałek values his experiences in both domains and is pleased to be able to balance work on large-scale titles with indie development.
Rockbeasts, developed by Lichthund, is slated for release this year, while The Blood of Dawnwalker is planned for 2026. Szamałek's perspective offers a compelling argument for the unique creative space that indie development provides, highlighting how constraints can indeed be a catalyst for innovation in the gaming world.
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