How to Publish Your Unity Game on itch.io

How to Publish Your Unity Game on itch.io: A Step-by-Step Guide (2025)

Learn how to publish your Unity game on itch.io in 2025. Follow this step-by-step guide to share your game with the world!

Introduction: Why itch.io is Great for Indie Devs

If you're an indie game developer looking to share your Unity game with the world, itch.io is one of the best platforms to start with. As of 5:45 PM EEST on June 19, 2025, itch.io remains a favorite for indie devs due to its flexibility, community support, and ease of use. Unlike larger platforms like Steam, itch.io has no upfront costs, offers a customizable revenue share (you can even set it to 0%), and supports multiple formats like WebGL and standalone builds for Windows, Mac, Linux, and more. Plus, it’s SEO-friendly, meaning your game can easily be discovered on search engines. Whether you're launching your first 2D platformer—like the one we built in "How to Create a 2D Platformer in Unity"—or a more complex project, this guide will walk you through how to publish your Unity game on itch.io in a few simple steps. Let’s get started!

Step 1: Build Your Game in Unity (WebGL or Standalone)

Before you can publish your Unity game on itch.io, you need to build it properly. Here’s how to prepare your game:

1. Open Your Unity Project: Launch Unity (version 2025.x recommended) and open the project you want to publish. For example, if you followed our previous tutorial on creating a 2D platformer, open that project.
2. Choose Your Platform:
   • WebGL (Browser Playable): If you want players to play your game directly in their browser, select WebGL. Go to File > Build Settings, choose WebGL as the platform, and click Switch Platform. In Player Settings, set the compression to GZIP and enable Decompression Fallback to avoid loading issues.
   • Standalone (Windows/Mac/Linux): For downloadable games, select your target platform (e.g., Windows). This is ideal for heavier games, like those using HDRP, which aren’t compatible with WebGL.
3. Add Scenes: In Build Settings, click Add Open Scenes to include all necessary scenes. Ensure the first scene in the list is the one you want to load first (e.g., your main menu).
4. Build the Game: Click Build, then select a new folder to save your build files (e.g., “Builds/Windows” or “Builds/WebGL”). Unity will generate the necessary files:
   • For WebGL: You’ll get an index.html file and supporting folders.
   • For Standalone: You’ll get an executable (e.g., MyGame.exe) and a _Data folder.
5. Zip the Files: For WebGL, zip the entire build folder (ensure index.html is at the root of the zip). For standalone, zip the executable and _Data folder together. Don’t upload files separately, as this can cause errors like missing DLLs or data.

Tip: Test your build locally first to ensure it runs smoothly. For WebGL, you may need to test on itch.io if it doesn’t load locally due to browser security settings.

Step 2: Create an itch.io Account and Set Up a Project Page

Now that your game is built, it’s time to set up your itch.io presence:

1. Sign Up on itch.io: Visit itch.io and click Register in the top right corner. Enter your username, email, and password, then verify your email via the confirmation link sent to your inbox.
2. Go to Your Dashboard: Log in, click the dropdown next to your username, and select Upload New Project.
3. Fill in Basic Info:
   • Title: Choose a catchy name (e.g., “My 2D Platformer Adventure”).
   • Project URL: Set a unique URL (e.g., yourname.itch.io/myplatformer).
   • Classification: Select Game.
   • Kind of Project: Choose HTML for WebGL or Downloadable for standalone builds.
   • Description: Write a brief, engaging description (e.g., “A beginner-friendly 2D platformer built in Unity—run, jump, and explore!”).

Tip: A well-filled project page makes your game more appealing. Don’t skip this step!

Step 3: Upload Your Game and Optimize the Page

Uploading and optimizing your game page is key to attracting players:

1. Upload the Game:
   • In the project page editor, scroll to the Uploads section.
   • Click Upload Files and select the .zip file you created in Step 1.
   • For WebGL, check the box This file will be played in the browser.
   • For standalone, specify the platform (e.g., Windows, Mac, Linux).
2. Add Visuals:
   • Upload a cover image (e.g., a screenshot of your game’s title screen).
   • Add at least 3-5 gameplay screenshots to show what players can expect.
   • Optionally, include a short gameplay GIF or video to grab attention.
3. Tags and Metadata:
   • Add relevant tags like “Unity,” “2D,” “Platformer,” “IndieGame,” and “2025” to improve discoverability.
   • Set a price (or make it free). Itch.io lets you choose a pay-what-you-want model.
4. Save and Test:
   • Click Save and view your page.
   • Download or play your game on itch.io to ensure it works. Test on different devices if possible.

Tip: A visually appealing page with clear screenshots can significantly boost player interest. For example, include a screenshot of your player character jumping on a platform if you’re sharing a platformer.

Step 4: Promote Your Game on X and Game Jams

Publishing is just the start—now you need to get players to notice your game:

1. Share on X:
   • Post a link to your itch.io game page on X with hashtags like #IndieGame, #UnityGame, and #GameDev.
   • Example post: “Just published my first Unity game on itch.io! 🎮 Check out this 2D platformer and let me know what you think! #IndieGame #UnityGame [link]”
2. Engage with the Community:
   • Share your game in itch.io’s forums and community sections.
   • Respond to player feedback on your game page to build a community.
3. Join Game Jams:
   • Itch.io hosts game jams regularly. Participating in one can get your game noticed by other devs and players.

Tip: Use itch.io’s analytics (available on your dashboard) to track views, downloads, and revenue, then adjust your promotion strategy accordingly.

Conclusion: Join itch.io Game Jams for Exposure

Publishing your Unity game on itch.io in 2025 is a fantastic way to share your creation with the world. By following these steps—building your game, setting up a project page, uploading and optimizing, and promoting it—you’ll give your game the best chance to shine. Itch.io’s supportive community and game jams are excellent opportunities for exposure, so don’t hesitate to participate. Whether you’re sharing a simple 2D platformer or a more ambitious project, itch.io makes it easy for indie devs to succeed. Start today, and let your game find its audience!