I respect the work.
Indie games are hard to make. Even when feedback is direct, it should still respect the amount of effort behind the build.
About Derek Larson
Indie game playtesting from someone who truly cares about games and the people building them.
My name is Derek Larson. I am the sole owner of D Rock Games LLC, a father to a beautiful 4-year-old girl, a lifelong gamer, an indie developer, and the person personally handling every playtest report that comes through this site.
I have been playing video games for over 30 years, building games and prototypes for the last 4 years, and have spent over 1,000 hours testing, developing, breaking down, and improving game projects. This work matters to me because I know how much time, heart, and sacrifice goes into building a game.
Portrait Coming Soon
Derek Larson
Sole Owner, D Rock Games LLC
The Person Behind The Report
I am not trying to be a faceless QA company. I am trying to be useful.
Father, gamer, and developer.
I am a dad first, and that has shaped the way I look at time, effort, and opportunity. When someone trusts me with their game, I respect that they are trusting me with something they have poured real hours and real life into.
30+ years of playing games.
Games have been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I have played across genres, platforms, eras, and styles, and that experience helps me notice when a game’s hook, controls, pacing, or presentation is working.
4 years building games and prototypes.
I have spent the last several years building my own games and prototypes, learning the reality of game development firsthand. I know how easy it is to become blind to confusing moments when you have stared at the same build for months.
Why I Care
I want indie developers to have a better shot at succeeding.
I know how hard it is to build a game, put it in front of people, and hope they understand what you were trying to make. A good playtest can catch the things that quietly hurt the player experience before they become negative reviews, lost wishlists, or missed opportunities.
That is why I take these reports seriously. I am not just looking for bugs. I am looking for the moments where a player gets confused, loses trust, misses the hook, fights the controls, overlooks an objective, or stops caring before the game has a chance to shine.
My goal is to give you feedback that is honest, detailed, and useful enough to help you make stronger decisions.
- Every report is personally written by Derek Larson
- Feedback is based on the actual first-time player experience
- Notes cover bugs, clarity, pacing, UI, controls, audio, polish, and overall feel
- Priority fixes help you focus on what matters most
- The goal is to help your game make a stronger first impression
30+
years of gaming experience
4+
years developing games and prototypes
1,000+
hours playtesting, building, and analyzing games
How I Approach Feedback
Honest, specific, and grounded in the actual playthrough.
I focus on player trust.
Bugs, unclear objectives, weak feedback, confusing UI, and poor onboarding can quietly damage a player’s trust. I look for those moments early.
I prioritize clarity.
A long list of notes is only useful if the developer knows what matters most. I call out the highest-impact issues clearly.
I want others to win.
I am passionate about helping other developers improve their games, avoid preventable problems, and give their projects the best chance possible.
D Rock Games LLC
A small company with a personal approach.
D Rock Games LLC is my game development and playtesting company. It exists because I care deeply about games, storytelling, player experience, and the people trying to build something meaningful.
When you request a playtest, you are working with me directly. I review the request, play the build, take the notes, write the report, and send the feedback. That personal attention is the point.
I want developers to walk away with a clear understanding of what is working, what is not, and what changes may help their game make a stronger impression.
Ready For Fresh Eyes?
Let me take a detailed look at your build.
Send your game details through the request form and I’ll personally review what kind of playtest or QA report makes sense.
Request a Playtest