Halo friends and readers,
I remembered we had a blog! Yay~!
Amber here! Known as Karin in Vtuber realm.
Today, I’m excited to share a little behind-the-scenes story about my unexpected experience as an official content creator for Indie Jam 2026. If you've ever wondered how an indie game event can extend beyond physical limits or been curious about what it’s like to represent indie games from behind the screen, I am here for that as I want to practice and learning on writtings.
Taking the Leap: From Quiet Fan to Content Creator
YEARS ago, I attended Indie Jam in Malaysia quietly as a fan. I was always a bit shy about introducing myself as a streamer or VTuber, I was just there to enjoy and appreciate the creativity of Southeast Asian indie developers. Back then, the idea of standing out as a content creator at the event felt a little intimidating.
Fast forward to 2024, and I saw an announcement by The Magic Rain about their first ever creator program for Indie Jam:
“For the first time ever, apply to become an official Indie Jam content creator and gain access to creator-only perks!” - THE MAGIC RAIN. 2024
source: https://x.com/themagicrainMY/status/1854146747108405601?s=20
Honestly, I thought it was a cool opportunity but was swamped with life, newlywed and busy with IRLs in Singapore, so I passed on it. The event still felt very localized, so I didn’t immediately see myself as part of it.
Post doesn't end here. Go "read more"
When the World Went Remote: Indie Jam 2026 Opens Doors
Then this year, something changed. Indie Jam 2026 was calling creators worldwide, not just those able to attend physically. I saw a tweet (or maybe Instagram) inviting content creators from any country, platform, or time zone to join remotely:
“We're looking for content creators to help us shine the spotlight on Southeast Asian games! ✨
Gain exclusive access to games, host watch parties, and attend Indie Jam as an official content creator this April.
Creators across all countries, time zones, platforms, and content genres are welcome to apply!
Sign up at the link in our bio!” -Indie Jam, 2026
source: Instagram (can't find the Twitter one)
Suddenly, my doubts about distance melted away.
So, I applied with a curious heart and no big expectations. To my delight, I got an email saying I was accepted as an official Indie Jam content creator. That was the moment I realized this would be a special experience, even from home.
Streaming Indie Gems from the Comfort of Home
There was a brief moment of envy watching others attend the event in Malaysia. Being surrounded by buzzing crowds and palm trees sounded dreamy but kind of overwhelming for a shy introverted person, but my focus quickly shifted to the After Jam, the period after the physical event, when content creators like me could showcase the games online. From April 6 to 12, I dove into a month-long Steam showcase brimming with over 60 indie game demos. I mean, that was the plan, but the Steam link kind of came late, so mostly it's my own googling.
Streaming over 11 unique indie titles within a week might sound ambitious, and it was~ but I picked games that truly spoke to me, and I believed I could manage to cover. Having no direct contact with developers this time was new too, before, I’d chatted with dev teams to make plans for a month, but now it was all about discovering and sharing what I found on my own in a short time.
Streaming Highlights: The Games I Played During Indie Jam 2026
During the After Jam period, I dove into a variety of indie game demos and full releases, sharing my genuine reactions live with my community. Here’s a quick look at what I played each day (please be note that my mainstream platform is actually Twitch, but for VOD reasons I made YouTube as my part of the stream platform):
April 6: I explored shorter demos like Once Again, Dead Rehearsal, and I Need Space, each ranging from 20 minutes to about an hour. It was a great way to sample different styles and stories early on. (Links to games coming soon!) You can catch the full stream here.
April 7: I switched gears to TCG Card Shop Simulator and Weyrdlets 2.0, where I also made some pixel art inspired by the game while testing it on desktop mode. Watch the stream here.
April 8: My horror-themed day featured Narin and The Orang Room, both freshly released the night before, followed by a session of the cult classic World of Horror. It was a thrilling lineup for fans of spooky indie games. VOD available here.
April 9: I played the demo for The Grim Trials, which had just received an April update the night before. It was exciting to see new content and share my thoughts live.
April 10: I wrapped up the event with a fun collab alongside Sporesan playing PIGS and Wolf, then continued solo with Gigabash, where I got to try out the Ultraman DLC. Check out the stream here.
Each stream offered a unique glimpse into the creativity and diversity of indie games featured at Indie Jam 2026, and I loved sharing those moments with my viewers.
Reflections and Gratitude
I may not have been there in person, but I still contributed to the Indie Jam ecosystem by doing what I love most, which is playing indie games and sharing those experiences live with my community. That made this journey especially meaningful for me as a streamer.
Indie Jam 2026 showed me what a modern, inclusive indie event can be: flexible, global, and powered by creators connected by passion rather than proximity. I’m truly grateful to have been part of this evolution. I am thankful that the organizers are sharing my content at the events.
Thank you for reading along! If you love digging into indie games or streaming, I hope this story inspires you to explore new ways of joining communities, no matter where you are.
Stay tuned for more adventures and streams from yours truly, Amber or Karin Kishimei, who knows what indie gems we’ll discover next?
Until next time, keep gaming, stay curious, and take care!
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