Thousands of Wishlists for Indie Metroidvania

Studio Mechka, a Bulgarian indie developer, approached UberStrategist to support the launch of Marko: Beyond Brave, a Metroidvania inspired by Slavic folklore. Since this was their first game with an original IP, they were looking for an impactful PR campaign to help generate wishlists, secure press coverage and drive positive reviews to boost sales.

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As a first-time indie release with no publisher backing, the game needed to stand entirely on its own merits. Earlier Steam Next Fest participation had generated limited momentum, making it crucial for the three-month PR campaign to reignite excitement ahead of the launch.

To build buzz for Marko: Beyond Brave, we tapped into the growing Metroidvania trend. By positioning it as a “Slavic Metroidvania,” we emphasized its unique setting and genre. Based on data from the developer’s Reddit ads, we also adopted the phrase “Slavic Silksong” to capture the attention of the press.

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We “re-announced” the game with a targeted release date, pre-pitched to genre-focused press. At gamescom, we arranged hands-on previews and press meetings with the developer. To reach non-European press, we secured an interview and preview with Tier 1 US outlet GameSpot. As launch neared, we pitched reviews and supported with a press release and trailer.

Throughout the campaign, we achieved high-quality and diverse press coverage for Marko: Beyond Brave across top global outlets. This included GameSpot, IGN, IGN (YouTube), 3DMGame, 4Gamer, PlayGround, GameStar, Rock Paper Shotgun, Multiplayer.it, Adrenaline, Sports Illustrated, Jovem Nerd, ComingSoon, Bleeding Cool, Cubiq, Steam Deck HQ, and Sector.

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As a result, our campaign drove thousands of wishlists during the pre-launch period, giving Studio Mechka a strong foundation for sales. This boost significantly supported their efforts, and they were thrilled with its impact on launching their first original IP.