You're Not "Behind"

If you’ve been making games, writing stories, painting, or doing literally any creative work, you’ve probably felt it at some point—that creeping feeling that you’re behind.

Behind where you “should” be.
Behind other developers who seem to be releasing projects left and right.
Behind some invisible milestone that you were supposed to hit by now.

And maybe, in a quiet, frustrating moment, you’ve thought: What if I’m too late?

Somewhere along the way, we picked up this idea that creative success has a schedule. That you’re supposed to hit certain markers by certain ages—finish your first game in your early 20s, find major success in your 30s, be a “veteran” by 40.

Where did that come from? Social media sure doesn’t help. Every time you scroll, you see someone younger than you announcing a big project, someone else launching a game that looks effortlessly brilliant, another person saying they made a viral hit in just three months!

And there you are, staring at your half-finished project, wondering if you’re just too slow.

But here’s the truth: there is no timeline. It’s all made up.

If you need proof, look at the indie dev scene. Some of the best, most celebrated games weren’t made by 20-year-olds who had it all figured out.

• Eric Barone (Stardew Valley) spent four and a half years solo-developing his game before it became one of the most beloved indie hits of all time.
  
• Lucas Pope (Papers, Please & Return of the Obra Dinn) didn’t create his biggest works overnight—he iterated and experimented for years before landing on something great.
  
• Toby Fox (Undertale) made his first game in his 20s, sure—but even then, he spent years refining, testing, and reworking ideas before it became the phenomenon it is.
  

Creativity isn’t a race. It’s not about speed; it’s about longevity. The ones who last are the ones who keep going, not the ones who rush to “keep up.”

But… What If I Am Too Slow?

That little voice in the back of your head might still be whispering, Yeah, but I’ve been working on this for SO LONG. Maybe I really am behind.

Sometimes, when I'm feeling discouraged (and usually it's because I've given myself unrealistic timelines), I like to remember three core principles:

1. Games Take Time (And That’s Normal!)
If you’re making something truly personal, something that reflects your vision, it’s going to take time. A solo-developed game doesn’t happen at the same speed as a 100-person studio project. And that’s okay.

2. You’re Learning As You Go
Every hour you put into your game is an hour of experience. Even if you never release it, you’ve learned something. And that will carry into everything else you make.

3. The Industry (And Players) Don’t Care How Long It Took
Nobody looks at Hollow Knight or Hyper Light Drifter or Celeste and says, “Yeah, but it took too long to make.” All that matters is the end result.

Next time you catch yourself feeling behind, ask yourself: Behind who? Behind what?

If your project takes another year, another five years, does that mean it’s not worth finishing? Of course not.

The only thing that matters is that you’re still moving forward. Even if it’s slow. Even if it’s messy. Even if it doesn’t look like anyone else’s journey.

Because in the end, no one is going to care how long it took. They’re going to care that you made something great.

So keep going. You’re not behind. You’re just on your own path.