An Untitled Goose by Any Other Name : a critical theorization of the indie game genre

As the field of ludomusicology has grown increasingly mainstream within music studies, a methodological trend has emerged in discussions of genre that privileges the formal attributes of game sound while giving relatively little attention to aspects of its production. The problems with this methodological bent become apparent when attempting to discuss the independent (“indie”) game genre, since, from 2010-2020 the indie game genre underwent a number of significant changes in aesthetic trends, many of which seem incoherent with one another. As such, the indie genre has received relatively little attention within the ludomusicological literature despite its enormous impact on broader gaming culture. By analyzing the growth of chiptune aesthetics beginning in 2008 and the subsequent fall from popularity towards 2020, this paper considers how a satisfying understanding of the indie game genre can be ascertained through its material cultures, rather than its aesthetics or gameplay. It ultimately posits an understanding of the indie genre as ever-changing in its gameplay and aesthetic design so as to best set itself apart from mainstream game design practices.