Talo
Open-source, self-hostable game backend for developers
What is Talo? Complete Overview
Talo is an open-source, self-hostable game backend designed to help developers build games faster by providing essential features like leaderboards, player authentication, peer-to-peer multiplayer, and more. It is free for indie developers and offers seamless integration with popular game engines like Godot and Unity through plugins and APIs. Talo handles all the backend infrastructure, allowing developers to focus on creating their games. The platform includes a comprehensive dashboard for managing game data, player interactions, and analytics. With features like Steamworks integration, real-time channels, and live config updates, Talo is a versatile solution for game developers of all levels.
Talo Interface & Screenshots
Talo Official screenshot of the tool interface
What Can Talo Do? Key Features
Leaderboards
Highly customizable leaderboards with built-in pagination. Suspicious entries can be hidden directly from the dashboard, ensuring fair competition.
Player Authentication
A fully managed and secure system for registering players, verifying logins, and updating account details, eliminating the need for custom authentication solutions.
Game Saves
Online and offline copies of your game's state. Objects are automatically loaded back in when a save is chosen, providing a seamless player experience.
Steamworks Integration
Automatically sync your stats, leaderboards, and players with Steamworks, enabling seamless integration with the Steam platform.
Live Config
Push state and config changes to your game in real-time without requiring updates, allowing for dynamic adjustments and quick fixes.
Player Groups
Create segments of your player-base using flexible filtering, enabling targeted interactions and analytics.
Data Exports
Your game's data belongs to you. Request exports of any data, and Talo will email you the files when ready.
Continuity
Talo handles network issues gracefully, ensuring your data stays in sync even during interruptions.
Event Tracking
Capture important data points to better understand player behaviors and improve game design.
Best Talo Use Cases & Applications
Indie Game Development
Indie developers can use Talo to quickly add multiplayer features, leaderboards, and player stats without building a custom backend, saving time and resources.
Live Game Updates
Game studios can push live config updates and balance changes without requiring players to download patches, ensuring a smooth experience.
Player Analytics
Developers can track player behavior and engagement metrics to make data-driven decisions for game improvements and updates.
Cross-Platform Play
Talo's player identity management allows for seamless cross-platform play, linking accounts from services like Steam and Epic.
How to Use Talo: Step-by-Step Guide
Sign up for a free Talo account on the official website to get started.
Download and integrate the Talo plugin for your game engine (Godot or Unity) or use the REST API for custom integrations.
Configure your game settings and features like leaderboards, player authentication, and analytics through the Talo dashboard.
Deploy your game and let Talo handle the backend infrastructure, including player data management and real-time updates.
Monitor and analyze player interactions, stats, and feedback through the Talo dashboard to optimize your game.
Talo Pros and Cons: Honest Review
Pros
Considerations
Is Talo Worth It? FAQ & Reviews
Talo is a platform designed for game developers to simplify integrating features like leaderboards, player stats, event tracking, and more. It includes a dashboard, Godot plugin, Unity package, and API, eliminating the need to build or manage your own infrastructure.
Yes! Talo is free to use while your games have less than 10,000 players. It provides email notifications and an extra 5% buffer to ensure smooth operation if you exceed the free tier limit.
You can integrate Talo through our Godot plugin or Unity package. Setup is quick and easy, and our documentation will guide you through the process. A REST API is also available for custom integrations.
Yes, Talo is open-source. Both our code (available on GitHub) and Docker images are publicly available under the MIT license, allowing free use even for commercial projects.
Yes, Talo has native integration with Steamworks, enabling automatic syncing of stats, leaderboards, and player data bi-directionally. Players can also authenticate using their Steam ID.