Case Study: The Garden Path
The game:
Developed by Louis Durrant (AKA carrotcake), The Garden Path was announced for PC in May 2021, followed by a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign in July that same year.
The campaign:
We accompanied carrotcake from the initial reveal, to the Kickstarter campaign, and beyond. With no marketing budget or studio-side comms staff, we had a very targeted PR campaign for the game’s initial announcement, positioning it as a “cozy slice-of-life sim about the joys of gardening”. Featured by Eurogamer, PC Gamer, Rock Paper Shotgun, and more, the first campaign was a huge success.
Following the reveal, we launched a Kickstarter campaign with carrotcake, assisting with every aspect, from the page copy, to the rewards, to daily Kickstarter updates, as well as another targeted and successful PR campaign. The Kickstarter hit its funding goal alongside both the Nintendo Switch and multiplayer stretch goals before closing at 152% funded.
The year following has seen further PR beats with previews, a limited early access launch, and more, finding a huge amount of success within the wholesome game community and beyond. Working alongside Wholesome Games, we announced the release date for the summer of 2024 with a cozy voice acted new trailer.
Finally, the game launched on July 2024 for both PC and Nintendo Switch. We saw incredibly heartwarming press and influencer coverage who described the as a cure for burnout, “the breath of fresh air I've been in desperate need of” (PC Gamer), or “a remarkable game… unlike anything they’d seen before” (ladiesgamers.com)
Community and social media:
We also managed the social media channels for The Garden Path and still do post-launch. This includes Instagram, Tik Tok, Twitter/Bluesky, Discord, and Reddit. Bi-weekly, we also support Louis on his Twitch channel while he creates assets for the game and future updates.
We look forward to continue working with carrotcake to get further updates out for The Garden Path, whether through press and influencer relations or wider marketing campaigns.
Interested in working with Mooncat Games on your next campaign? Check out our services and how we work with indie and AA games to make the perfect campaign plan for you.
