Your are here

Your idea for a multiplayer cops and prisoners game falls into a category with very little market activity. This means it's either a niche concept or the problem it solves isn't significant enough for many people. With a low number of similar products (n_matches = 1) and low engagement (n_comments = 0), it's crucial to validate demand before investing heavily. While the concept sounds fun, the absence of strong signals suggests caution. You're essentially in uncharted territory, which can be exciting but also risky. Focus on gathering concrete evidence that people want this game before diving into development. It's too early to tell if there's a real market for it.

Recommendations

1. Start by posting about your game concept in relevant online communities, like gaming forums, Reddit, or Discord servers dedicated to similar game genres. Gauge the interest and collect feedback on your core mechanics and features. Don't just ask 'would you play this?' but rather 'what would make you play this?'
2. Offer to manually run a simplified version of your game for a small group of players (2-3) using existing tools (e.g., a tabletop simulator or even just a chat room). This will help you understand what aspects are fun and engaging, and identify potential challenges in the core gameplay loop.
3. Create a short, compelling explainer video showcasing the core gameplay loop and unique selling points of your game. Upload it to platforms like YouTube or TikTok and track how many people watch it in its entirety. Pay attention to audience retention and feedback in the comments.
4. Gauge commitment by asking interested players for a small, refundable deposit to join a waiting list or pre-order access to the game. This filters out casual interest and identifies those truly excited about your idea.
5. If, after 3 weeks of consistent effort, you can't find at least 5 genuinely interested individuals willing to put down a small deposit or actively engage with your manual gameplay offering, it's worth reconsidering the direction or viability of your project. It is always possible that your game is slightly ahead of its time, but without early traction it can be too expensive to keep working on it.
6. Given the minimal signal, deeply analyze existing games that have elements similar to your concept (even if they aren't direct competitors). Identify what makes them successful or unsuccessful, and learn from their design choices and marketing strategies. This can provide valuable insights even if the overall category shows low activity.
7. Focus your initial efforts on a very specific niche within the broader 'cops and prisoners' theme. For example, you could target players who enjoy stealth-based gameplay, asymmetrical multiplayer experiences, or cooperative escape mechanics. Narrowing your focus can help you attract a dedicated audience more quickly.

Questions

1. What specific player motivations (e.g., competition, cooperation, social interaction, skill mastery) are you targeting with your game, and how effectively does the 'cops and prisoners' theme address those motivations compared to other potential themes?
2. What are the most critical assumptions you're making about player behavior and game preferences, and what experiments can you run to validate those assumptions before investing significant time and resources in development?
3. How can you leverage the inherent tension and excitement of the 'cops and prisoners' theme to create unique and memorable gameplay moments that differentiate your game from existing multiplayer experiences?