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u/Aromatic_Cry_5767

▲ 36 r/gamedev

As a solo programmer, which path has the best realistic odds of making money: ad-supported websites, mobile games, SaaS, or something else?

I’m a programmer looking to build something on the side that has a realistic chance of generating income.

I’m considering a few paths:

- a website/tool monetized with ads or affiliate links

- a mobile game on Google Play with ads or in-app purchases

- a small SaaS or paid web tool

- productized freelance/services

For people who have actually tried one or more of these:

  1. Which path had the best risk/reward?

  2. Which one was hardest to get users for?

  3. Which one would you choose if starting from zero today?

  4. If you’re comfortable sharing, what kind of revenue, traffic/users, and timeline did you see?

I’m not looking for “get rich quick” ideas, just the most realistic route for a solo developer.

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u/Aromatic_Cry_5767 — 4 days ago
▲ 3 r/incremental_games+2 crossposts

Hi! I’m working on a free browser idle/clicker game called Coffee Empire Tycoon.

Link:
https://www.crazygames.com/game/coffee-empire-tycoon?bypassCache=5i790

The core loop is:
tap cafe → earn coins → buy upgrades → unlock passive income/events → complete missions → prestige later.

I’m looking for feedback from incremental/idle players specifically:
- Is the early progression too slow or too basic?
- Are the upgrades meaningful enough?
- Does the prestige goal feel clear?
- Is the first 5-minute loop engaging?
- Does the mobile layout feel comfortable?

I recently improved the UI, achievements, and thumbnail, but I’m still trying to make the game feel less like a basic clicker and more like a small tycoon progression game.

Any honest feedback would help a lot.

u/Aromatic_Cry_5767 — 13 days ago
▲ 0 r/playmygame

Game Title:

Coffee Empire Tycoon

Playable Link:

https://www.crazygames.com/game/coffee-empire-tycoon?bypassCache=ditx4

Platform:

Browser / HTML5

Description:

Coffee Empire Tycoon is a small coffee-themed clicker/tycoon game where you start with a simple coffee stand and try to grow it into a larger cafe business. The core loop is simple: tap the cafe to serve coffee, earn coins, buy upgrades, unlock passive income, complete missions, and improve the shop over time. I’m currently trying to improve the first 60 seconds of the game, especially on mobile. The game is already live in CrazyGames Basic Launch, but mobile performance is weak compared to desktop, so I’m looking for honest feedback on the early-game pacing, mobile layout, upgrade clarity, and whether the first screen feels too crowded or confusing.

Free to Play Status:

[x] Free to play

Involvement:

I’m the solo developer of the game. I built the game logic, UI, progression, upgrades, missions, balancing, and prepared the game for CrazyGames Basic Launch. I’m now testing and improving the mobile experience based on feedback and early metrics.

u/Aromatic_Cry_5767 — 14 days ago
▲ 1 r/MobileGameDiscoveries

Let me show you Lexiday, the word game for mobile I’m currently working on.

The idea is to combine a daily puzzle with other game modes, aiming to make it quick to play, visually clear and easy to understand right from the start.

I’m still fine-tuning the interface, feel and overall presentation, so any feedback on the UI, the concept or your first impressions would be brilliant.

Google Play:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lexiday.app

u/Aromatic_Cry_5767 — 24 days ago