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To elaborate on luck which many people don't get: this is what's being mitigated with marketing / advertising and existing fanbase. Usually indies don't have the budget for the former, and don't have the latter, hence they are more reliant on luck than anything.

Among us is a nice example.

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The funny thing about Among us is it didn't really blow up until 2 years after it was released. Talk about a lucky break!

This is not unusual -- it may take you years to get traction but you just need to keep with it and keep evolving until you do. But this means that making a game is more of a side-project than a full-time job (unless you're independently wealthy!)

Among Us had a big existing fanbase; the creator was the creator of the Henry Stickmin flash games and had somewhat recently released all Henry Stickmin games with an extra, "Completing the Mission."

I think you're massively overvaluing the Henry Stickmin flash game fanbase.

Maybe, but I don't play video games, and I had heard of Henry Stickmin. The only reason I was interested in Among Us is because I knew it was the Henry Stickmin creator.

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