How to Set Up a Discord Server for Your Indie Game Community
- Sam Jarvis
- Jul 13
- 4 min read
Build your fanbase, gather feedback, and create hype—one channel at a time.
As an indie developer, one of your greatest assets is your community. Whether you’re launching on Kickstarter, sharing devlogs, or running a closed playtest, having a central hub for your fans to connect with you—and with each other—is invaluable.
That’s where Discord comes in.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through how to set up a Discord server for your indie game, including a recommended channel structure, essential bots, and tips for keeping your community engaged and growing.
🎮 Why Use Discord?
Discord is more than just a chat platform—it’s a space where your fans can:
Chat with you and your team
Report bugs and give feedback
Share fan art and memes
Get early access and playtesting roles
Stay up to date with your latest announcements
It becomes your game’s “living room”—and if you set it up right, it’ll grow into a thriving ecosystem that powers your launch and beyond.
🛠️ Step-by-Step: Creating Your Game’s Discord Server
1. Create the Server
Start by opening Discord and clicking the "+" button to create a new server. Choose “For a club or community” and give your server a name (like Ghost Vanguard Official) along with a logo or banner.
2. Set Up Channels and Categories
Keep it simple to start—here’s a battle-tested channel layout that works for most indie devs:
🟢 Info + Onboarding
#welcome – Greet new users, post rules, and explain where to go next.
#announcements – Share updates, devlogs, Kickstarter milestones, patch notes.
#faq – Answer common questions about the game, platforms, and release date.
🗨️ Community Hub
#general-chat – Main place to hang out and talk.
#introductions – Let new members say hi and share how they found you.
🔧 Game-Specific Feedback
#suggestions – Get ideas straight from your players.
#bug-reports – Especially useful during demos, alpha tests, or festivals.
#lore or #dev-insights – Share behind-the-scenes content and game world building.
🔊 Voice Channels
General Voice
Playtest Voice – For co-op testing, feedback calls, or community nights.
3. Roles & Permissions
Setting up roles helps you stay organised and creates a sense of progression. Here are a few examples:
@Developer – Your team.
@Moderator – Trusted helpers who keep things civil.
@Playtester – For those testing builds or demos.
@Backer – If you’re crowdfunding, this adds a special perk.
@Everyone – The default role. Keep it simple and safe.
Give each role a colour for visibility. You can even add reaction roles using a bot so members can assign themselves roles based on interests or pronouns.
🤖 4. Add Helpful Bots (and How to Set Them Up)
Bots help automate moderation, role assignment, polls, and community interaction. Here are some essential bots for your game server:
🔹 MEE6 – Automation, Leveling and Welcome Messages
Use for: auto-moderation, custom commands, leveling system, welcome messages. Setup:
Visit https://mee6.xyz
Click “Add to Discord” and authorise your server.
In the dashboard, enable features like:
Welcome messages: Greet users when they join
Levelling system: Encourage chatting by rewarding XP
Auto-mod: Prevent spam or bad language
Tip: Use the Custom Commands module to create fun interactions like !kickstarter or !demo.
🔹 Carl-bot – Reaction Roles & Logging
Use for: advanced role management, message logging, reaction roles, moderation tools. Setup:
Go to https://carl.gg
Invite the bot and grant necessary permissions
Use the Reaction Roles tab to set up buttons like:
🎮 Playtester
🖌️ Fan Artist
🌍 Region-based tags
This allows users to self-assign roles via emojis.
🔹 Dyno Bot – Mod Tools & Automations
Use for: moderation, AFK messages, and timed announcements. Setup:
Visit https://dyno.gg
Authorise your server
Configure modules like:
Auto-moderation to prevent spam links or NSFW
Custom announcements that post devlogs or stream notifications
🔹 Simple Poll – Easy Voting
Use for: feedback, game design decisions, or QOL suggestions. Setup:
Invite it via https://simplepoll.rocks
Use slash commands like:
bash
CopyEdit
/poll "Which enemy design do you prefer?" "Option A" "Option B"
Great for playtesting feedback or voting on merch ideas.
🔹 Invite Tracker – Track Referrals
Use for: monitoring who invited who, useful for contests or referral programs. Setup:
Add the bot, set up a logging channel (e.g., #invite-logs)
Use it to see which community members are spreading the word.
🏛️ 5. Enable Community Settings
Go to Server Settings > Community and turn on:
Membership screening
Welcome screen with server guide
Email verification (to reduce spam)
This gives your server a more professional, safe feel and prepares it for features like Discord Stage Channels or server discovery.
📢 Promoting Your Server
Once your server is ready:
Add the invite link to your website, Steam page, Kickstarter, and socials.
Use a custom URL (e.g. discord.gg/yourgame).
Embed a Discord widget on your website for easy joining.
Host a launch event like a live Q&A, AMA, or community stream.
A few active conversations and well-placed emojis go a long way to making your server feel alive.
⚡ Bonus Tips to Grow and Engage
Keep it active: Post small updates, WIP screenshots, or ask community questions.
Use threads for in-depth discussions (like during Steam Next Fest).
Pin important messages so key info is always accessible.
Evolve with your community: Add channels as needs grow—don’t clutter it early.
🧠 Final Thoughts
Setting up a Discord for your indie game isn’t just about organising a chat room—it’s about building a community that wants to support your game, help it grow, and cheer you on every step of the way.
Even if you start with just 10 people, treat them like your founding fans—they’ll be your best ambassadors when launch day comes.
Want Help Setting It Up?
At Indievelopment, we help indie teams create community-first strategies for launches, Kickstarters, and beyond. Want help setting up or managing your Discord? Get in touch with us!