Thank you! I started making the game in June 2022 and released it in July 2023. So it took 13 months in total, including the Nintendo Switch release.
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Thanks! The way I try to scope my own games is by making the smallest possible version first, and then adding more features or content afterwards if I still have the energy to do it. I started Ducky's Delivery Service by making a smaller version with a few levels and no story first, and then I added those later. My last game Chessplosion didn't have an adventure mode or online multiplayer until I had finished making the rest of the game.
So if I get to the end of making the small version and it took way more time than I expected, I have the option of releasing a small game instead of being stuck with half of a huge game that I don't want to finish. I ended up finishing the larger versions of Chessplosion and Ducky's Delivery Service, but I'm glad I made them this way! Maybe I'll get better at estimating the scope of large games in the future, but this way works fine for now.
Hey thanks for getting back to me in such detail, that's very interesting! I usually tend to overscope my projects and then get stuck somewhere on the way but have recently adapted a similar style to what you describe. Barebones loop first, then everything else. Feels kinda... lackluster at the start, but at least its getting finished :D Taking part in a game jam definitely helped because you can NOT get away with procrastinating and overscoping there ^^
I wish you the best for your future projects and thanks for sharing some of your experience with me :)