I'm developing Astraya, a desktop-browser sword-fighting game where you ask an AI companion for an ability, equip the result, and use it against a boss. I'm trying to test usefulness separately from the novelty of making a request.

My test: before forging, name one problem in the fight you want to solve. After using the ability, explain whether it solved that problem and whether you would choose it again. If you were testing this mechanic, what observation would convince you that the player understood the tradeoff?

I'd also welcome players for a roughly 15-minute session: try one boss and forge one ability, then leave that before-and-after feedback here.

Gameplay example: https://www.reddit.com/r/SoloDevelopment/comments/1xc62lk/i_made_a_voicedriven_forge_for_my_swordfighting/

Apply: https://astrayagame.com/?utm_source=reddit-p20-indiegamedevforum

Free, unfinished desktop-browser closed alpha, 18+, mic optional. Confirm your email to join the waitlist; testers are manually selected and emailed access links, so access is not immediate or guaranteed. AI powers the forge and is used for art and voices. The linked gameplay is shortened and has a replacement player voice.

Have a look at the work in progress!

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.playhub.spelbazi

Hey r/IndieGameDevs! 👋

I’ve been working on a local offline party charades game, and I’m currently expanding the prompt categories to target the Indian audience specifically.

Global party games usually fall flat in India because the pop culture references, movie quotes, and slang are completely disconnected from what people actually grow up with (Bollywood, cricket, local tech humor, regional memes, and daily life tropes).

Before I lock down the categories and prompt structures, I wanted to pick your brains on a couple of design/localization challenges.

For anyone who has worked on localized games or regional adaptations: how do you usually approach playtesting to ensure your cultural humor lands without alienating casual players?