From Player to Creator: The Journey Behind 'Among Us'

In this interview, we talk to Forest Willard, co-founder of Innersloth and co-creator of the worldwide phenomenon Among Us. From its humble beginnings as "Space Mafia" to amassing over half a billion downloads, Among Us has taken on a life of its own, with a VR expansion, new maps, and even an upcoming animated series featuring top talent like Elijah Wood and Ashley Johnson.

Forest dives deep into his journey, sharing what it’s like to build an indie game studio, handle a viral hit during the pandemic, and keep an indie vibe even as the team grows. Learn how he and co-founder Marcus Bromander developed their creative partnership and evolved Among Us from a small multiplayer experiment to a massive cultural icon.

Key Takeaways:

• Forest’s journey from playing retro PC games to developing Among Us
• How his partnership with Marcus Bromander (creator of Henry Stickmin) shaped Innersloth
• The design philosophy behind Among Us, including its simplicity, social aspects, and focus on fun
• How they handled the viral explosion during the pandemic, with big-name streamers and Twitch helping push the game into the spotlight
• Tips for indie devs: start small, focus on gameplay, and create fun experiences that resonate

Whether you're an aspiring game developer or a fan of Among Us, this conversation is packed with insights into game development, the challenges of indie gaming, and how a simple concept can become a worldwide phenomenon.