PLEASE START US OFF BY INTRODUCING YOURSELF:

Hi! My name is Carlo, I’m a solo indie developer from Italy. I design and develop all my games on my own — from game design to programming, sound design, and publishing. I only have a friend of mine who does art. I’ve released several games on Steam, and my most recent project is Full Metal Sergeant 2, a strategy/management game set during the Vietnam War. I’ve always loved creating systems and gameplay loops.

TELL US ABOUT FULL METAL SERGEANT 2.

Full Metal Sergeant 2 is the sequel to a game I released in 2023. In it, you manage a military training camp, build new structures, recruit rookies, and prepare them for war. The core gameplay loop is about training soldiers, choosing the right missions, and dealing with random events that force you to make tough decisions.

The idea came from a mix of inspirations: I love military themes and strategy games, and I wanted to create something that felt grounded but also a bit satirical — like a blend of X-COM, Papers Please. The first game had a very tight scope and a short development time. For the sequel, I wanted to expand on every system and add turn-based combat, randomized missions, and more storytelling.

HOW HAS THE DEVELOPMENT JOURNEY BEEN

Development has been intense but exciting. I’m a full-time indie dev, so I try to be as productive and organized as possible. That said, working alone means I have to wear many hats — from marketing to bug fixing to writing devlogs.

WHICH GAME ENGINE DID YOU CHOOSE AND WHY?

I use GameMaker Studio, mostly because I’ve been using it for years and I love how quickly I can prototype and iterate on mechanics. Now I’m learning Godot for my next project, it’s very simple, lightweight and powerful.

WHAT'S BEEN YOUR BIGGEST DEVELOPMENT HURDLE SO FAR?

Finding the right pacing for the player. Since part of the game is about waiting for soldiers to train or missions to happen, I had to avoid downtime and keep the player engaged during the slower phases. I reworked many systems multiple times — like how stats grow, how events appear, and how bonuses stack — just to make sure the game always feels rewarding and dynamic.

Also, being a solo dev, it’s easy to fall into the trap of “just one more feature.” I’ve learned (the hard way) to prioritize what actually improves the game experience and to cut features that don’t add meaningful value.

ADVICE FOR FELLOW DEVS?

Start small and finish something. Even a tiny project can teach you so much about scope, polish, and user experience. Too many devs burn out trying to build their dream game from the start.

Also, feedback is gold — don’t be afraid to test early and often, even if the game is still ugly or broken. Players will show you what works and what doesn’t way faster than you can figure it out alone. And lastly: treat your game like a product. Marketing and presentation matter, especially if you want people to actually play what you made.

ANY FINAL THOUGHTS?

Being a solo dev is tough but incredibly rewarding. You get to build entire worlds from scratch and see players engage with your ideas — there’s nothing like it. If you’re thinking about making games, just dive in. Use the tools you have, share your progress, and don’t be afraid to fail. Every project will teach you something new.

Carlo

❤️

Full Metal Sergeant on Steam