Derek Yu vs Tyler Glaiel: Products, Revenue & Stack Compared

Side-by-side comparison

Based in: Derek Yu: Los Angeles, United States; Tyler Glaiel: United States
Started: Derek Yu: 2002 (24 yrs indie); Tyler Glaiel: 2002 (24 yrs indie)
Revenue (self-reported): Derek Yu: Not public; Tyler Glaiel: Not public
Products listed: Derek Yu: 6; Tyler Glaiel: 4
Product status: Derek Yu: 6 active; Tyler Glaiel: 4 active
X followers: Derek Yu: 59K; Tyler Glaiel: 63K
Categories: Derek Yu: Indie Game Makers; Tyler Glaiel: Indie Game Makers
Style: Derek Yu: bootstrapped; Tyler Glaiel: bootstrapped
Courses & resources: Derek Yu: 3; Tyler Glaiel: —

Revenue figures are self-reported by each maker and not audited; dates and scope differ. Highlighted categories are shared by both.

Top products

Derek Yu

S

Spelunky

spelunkyworld.com

Roguelike cave-exploring platformer with procedurally generated levels; free original in 2008, HD remake in 2012.

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 retro-style games presented as the library of a fictional 1980s console maker; PC 2024, Switch 2025.

Aquaria

bit-blot.com

Underwater exploration action-adventure co-created with Alec Holowka as Bit Blot.

See all 6 products by Derek Yu →

Tyler Glaiel

Mewgenics

store.steampowered.com

Cat-breeding tactics roguelite co-created with Edmund McMillen.

1M+ copies in first week

The End Is Nigh

store.steampowered.com

Precision platformer co-created with Edmund McMillen.

Bombernauts

store.steampowered.com

Multiplayer bomb-battle game where players destroy the arena.

Closure

en.wikipedia.org

Puzzle platformer where only illuminated objects exist.

Tech stack

No tools in common in their publicly listed stacks. See the indie maker tech stack.

Derek Yu

GameMaker

Tyler Glaiel

No stack shared publicly.

How they build

Derek Yu

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.

Tyler Glaiel

Build your own engine when it serves the game.
Find a long-term creative partner whose strengths complement yours.
Share development knowledge openly with other devs.

Learn from Derek and Tyler

Derek Yu

Tyler Glaiel

No courses, books or communities listed.

Derek Yu vs Tyler Glaiel FAQ

Who makes more money, Derek Yu or Tyler Glaiel?

Neither Derek Yu nor Tyler Glaiel has publicly reported a revenue figure that IndieMakerList tracks, so it's not public.

Who has built more products, Derek Yu or Tyler Glaiel?

Derek Yu has 6 products listed (including Spelunky, Spelunky 2 and UFO 50); Tyler Glaiel has 4 products listed (including Mewgenics, The End Is Nigh and Bombernauts).