SquidVoxPlaytest for playtest. No money. No silence.
SquidVox is a fair-trade platform where indie developers exchange narrated playtests. Every token you earn represents time you gave to another developer. Every token you spend represents time someone will give to you.
The loop
Test a game, submit your recording, get approved, earn tokens — then use those tokens to post your own listing and get feedback on your game.
Test Game
Claim a listing
Submit
Upload your video
Approve
Dev reviews it
Earn
Tokens credited
List
Post your game
The more you earn, the more you're seen
Testers who rack up tokens in the last 30 days climb through the Squid Tiers — Calamari, Seasoned Calamari, Giant Squid, and Kraken. When you list a game, your tier determines where it appears in Browse Games. Krakens sit at the top; the more feedback you give, the more eyeballs your game gets.
Step by step
Sign up and get 50 tokens
Every new account receives 50 tokens for free — no credit card, no subscription. You also receive 30 tokens per month just for being a member.
Claim a game to playtest
Browse open listings, pick a game that matches your hardware and language, and claim a slot. You have 24 hours to play and record your session.
Record narrated commentary
Play the game while talking through your experience out loud — stream of consciousness. Tell the developer what you're thinking, feeling, and why. Upload the recording to YouTube (unlisted is fine) and submit the link.
Earn tokens when your submission is approved
Once the developer reviews and accepts your playtest, tokens transfer to your balance. Developers have 48 hours to review — if they don't act, tokens are automatically released to you.
List your own game
After completing your first playtest, you can post your own game. Specify how long you want testers to play, how many slots you need, and tokens are held in escrow until submissions are approved.
Review submissions and release tokens
Watch each submission, leave feedback, and accept or reject. Accepting releases escrowed tokens to the tester. Rejecting refunds them to you.
The token flow
Tokens never leave the system. They only move between members — from developers to testers in exchange for real feedback.
Tokens are not for sale and cannot be purchased. The only way to earn tokens is to give your time as a tester.
Our values
Entirely free — always
There is no way to buy or sell tokens on SquidVox. The only way to earn tokens is to give feedback. This ensures every playtest represents genuine effort, not a financial transaction.
Fair trade, not a marketplace
The token economy enforces reciprocity: you must give before you receive. One minute of requested playtime costs one token — meaning a 30-minute listing costs 30 tokens, the same value you'd earn from completing a 30-minute playtest for someone else.
Quality over quantity
Silent screen recordings are not accepted. Every submission must include narrated commentary — the "why" behind what you're doing. Developers need to understand the player's thought process, not just watch them move a character around.
No ads, no data sales
SquidVox is maintained entirely through voluntary donations. We are committed to keeping the platform free of advertising and invasive data practices. Donations go directly to hosting and development costs.
Want to go deeper?
Community Rules
Mandatory voiceover policy, one-claim limit, the Inking suspension system, and how to return an unplayable build.
Read the rulesCommentary Guide
What makes a great playtest commentary — the difference between narrating actions and sharing genuine reactions and intent.
Read the guideKeeping the lights on
SquidVox is free and intends to stay that way. There are no ads, no token purchases, and no premium tiers. Running the platform — hosting, database, email delivery — has a real cost. If SquidVox has been valuable to you, a small donation goes directly to keeping it maintained and running.
🐙Feed the Kraken