Here’s how I name my indie games:
I’ve got my main 8 strategies I made up, here they are:
1. Incorrect Spacing:
Start off with a simple few words e.g. Only x No y
Now combine the words together: OnlyxNoy
Now split it apart: Onlyx Noy
This works only in some examples as it can give a very original name or it can turn it into complete gibberish.
2. Relation Themes
Now think of all the words which relate to the game
e.g. Exploration, Open, Bright, Colourful, Huge
Now keep trying to combine them until you are satisfied: Colour, Huge
Now link the words together: Coluge
Those two were for more ‘indie’ names, here are some better ones:
3. Main Points
Look at the main parts of the game.
Pick out names from the key features in the game,
So to speak, some real examples are, Trine, Portal, Minecraft, Alien Swarm etc.
4. Metaphors
Look at sections of the game and find metaphors for it, and then use them in the title.
Another Example is Mirrors Edge or Braid.
5. Development Naming
As you go along creating the game, you learn about your idea you have of your game.
The name will become clearer and clearer too come up with.
So if you are stuck on the naming part, don’t worry as it will come to you when you least expect it.
6. Relax
Usually when I relax, the best ideas come to me, occasionally being game ideas, ways to fix a code and sometimes names for game ideas.
Meditation can also help you think clearer about a name.
7A. List Choice
Keep writing down the name ideas which come to you, no matter how stupid.
Eventually you’ll get to a stage where you have a large amount of ideas for names.
Now choose your favourite.
7B. List Combine
This time instead, combine the names of your favourite together. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.
7C. List Judge
Now, get many people to judge your name ideas and the average top voted will be your chosen idea.
8. It’s Up to you!
Be as creative as possible.
The way the gaming industry is going, you can make your names as wacky as possible.
It’s also about the target audience.
So try and both make your mind and your game name up.
Hope some of this helps.