S
Spelunky
spelunkyworld.com
Roguelike cave-exploring platformer with procedurally generated levels; free original in 2008, HD remake in 2012.
diff ~/p/derek-yu ~/p/riley-testut
Derek Yu vs Riley Testut
Products, revenue & stack compared side by side.
Indie game designer behind Spelunky, Spelunky 2 and UFO 50, founder of Mossmouth
@mossmouth United States
Indie iOS developer behind the Delta emulator and the AltStore alternative app store
@rileytestut United States
Derek Yu vs Riley Testut at a glance
Both Derek Yu and Riley Testut are bootstrapped. They overlap in Indie Game Makers. Derek is based in Los Angeles, United States, Riley in Dallas, United States. Derek Yu has 6 products listed on IndieMakerList vs Riley Testut's 4. On X, Derek has about 59K followers and Riley about 43K.
Side-by-side comparison
- Based in
- Derek Yu: Los Angeles, United States
- Riley Testut: Dallas, United States
- Started
- Derek Yu: 2002 (24 yrs indie)
- Riley Testut: —
- Revenue (self-reported)
- Derek Yu: Not public
- Riley Testut: Not public
- Products listed
- Derek Yu: 6
- Riley Testut: 4
- Product status
- Derek Yu: 6 active
- Riley Testut: 3 active · 1 shut down
- X followers
- Derek Yu: 59K
- Riley Testut: 43K
- Categories
- Derek Yu: Indie Game Makers
- Riley Testut: Mobile App MakersIndie Game MakersOpen Source Makers
- Style
- Derek Yu: bootstrapped
- Riley Testut: bootstrapped
- Courses & resources
- Derek Yu: 3
- Riley Testut: —
Revenue figures are self-reported by each maker and not audited; dates and scope differ. Highlighted categories are shared by both.
Top products
Spelunky 2
mossmouth.com
Sequel to Spelunky set on the Moon, with deeper systems and online multiplayer.
UFO 50
50games.fun
Collection of 50 original single and multiplayer games styled as the library of a fictional 8-bit console maker.
Aquaria
bit-blot.com
Underwater exploration action-adventure co-created with Alec Holowka as Bit Blot.
Delta
faq.deltaemulator.com
Retro game emulator for iPhone and iPad supporting Nintendo consoles from NES to DS.
AltStore
altstore.io
Alternative iOS app store, including AltStore PAL for the EU, with Patreon-based app funding.
Clip
altstore.io
Clipboard manager for iOS distributed through AltStore to Patreon supporters.
Early Game Boy Advance emulator for iOS he built as a student.
Tech stack
No tools in common in their publicly listed stacks. See the indie maker tech stack.
GameMaker
Swift
How they build
- Finishing a game matters more than starting one; protect momentum and cut scope to ship.
- Procedural generation and tight rules can create endless emergent stories.
- Make small prototypes and freeware first, then polish the ideas that stick.
- Building community around indie games helps everyone in the scene.
- Let supporters fund indie software directly through Patreon.
- Push for more open distribution on iOS.
Learn from Derek and Riley
- [book] Spelunky (Boss Fight Books)
- [template] Make Games essays
- [community] TIGSource forums
No courses, books or communities listed.
Derek Yu vs Riley Testut FAQ
Who makes more money, Derek Yu or Riley Testut?
Neither Derek Yu nor Riley Testut has publicly reported a revenue figure that IndieMakerList tracks, so it's not public.
Who has built more products, Derek Yu or Riley Testut?
Derek Yu has 6 products listed (including Spelunky, Spelunky 2 and UFO 50); Riley Testut has 4 products listed (including Delta, AltStore and Clip).
What tech stack do Derek Yu and Riley Testut use?
Derek Yu uses GameMaker. Riley Testut uses Swift. They don't list any tools in common.
Where are Derek Yu and Riley Testut based?
Derek Yu: Los Angeles, United States. Riley Testut: Dallas, United States.
Who has been an indie maker longer, Derek Yu or Riley Testut?
Derek Yu started in 2002 (24 years indie); Riley Testut's start year isn't listed.
Are Derek Yu and Riley Testut bootstrapped?
Yes, both are listed as bootstrapped founders on IndieMakerList.
Full profiles
Read the full story, timeline and links on Derek Yu's profile and Riley Testut's profile.
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