u/e140games

I have a gameplay video for a full Steam description, zoomed in at x3. From the comments, I realized people don't understand that the x3 zoom is for display purposes and isn't in-game. There are full-screen screenshots on the Steam page, though. What should I do? Maybe a second video with just a walkthrough? And yes, in that type of game (~Lode Runner), a full-screen map view is very important. You need to be able to see where the resources are, where the enemies are, where the exit is, etc.

I’m currently developing a game that is a modern evolution of the classic Lode Runner mechanics.

The game uses a strict 23×38 pixel grid, just like old-school games, but I added three new mechanics:

1. Building ladders to climb up.
2. Stretching chains to go sideways.
3. A "Big Fire" gun to destroy modern robots and burn through floors.

In the original game, level design was super strict—one wrong step and you lose. In my game, you collect resources on the map and build your own ways out. It turns a rigid puzzle into a tactical action game.

I don’t know where to look for my audience.

1. Older players who remember ZX Spectrum or NES have nostalgia, but they are hard to find.
2. Younger players might look at the retro grid and just think "oh, another old clone," missing the new building mechanics.

A few questions for you:

1. If you made a game based on 80s/90s classics, where did you find your players?
2. Should I focus on the "nostalgia" crowd, or the "Mario Maker / puzzle" crowd who likes building things?
3. What should I show in short TikTok/Shorts videos? The beautiful pixel-art levels or the chaotic robot burning?

Thanks for any advice!