Dressmaker Passes 19,000 Steam Reviews as Developer Says Women Are an Underserved Gaming Audience

Cozy dressmaking simulator Dressmaker has become one of Steam's standout indie successes, surpassing 19,000 user reviews with more than 98% positive feedback just over a month after its September 21, 2026 launch. The game's reception has encouraged developer Cozy Lives to speak about the demand for games designed with women in mind.

In an exclusive interview with GamesRadar+, developer Sabrina Becker said women were the intended audience from the beginning. She believes the response shows that players want more games built around traditionally feminine interests, which she feels remain underserved by the industry.

"We were definitely targeting women from the get-go," Becker told GamesRadar+, explaining that the team had deliberately embraced the game's feminine identity rather than trying to appeal to every possible audience.

She described women as an underserved market in gaming, arguing that the industry does not produce enough games centered on their interests. Becker also welcomed the unexpected number of men who have enjoyed Dressmaker, although they were not the team's original target audience.

As an example of the demand, Becker pointed to the popularity of dress-up experiences on Roblox. She believes these games attract women of different ages, including adults who want more detailed fashion and customization experiences.

For Cozy Lives, that interest helped shape Dressmaker as a game focused entirely on the creative process of designing and sewing clothing.

Released on September 21, Dressmaker allows players to create custom clothing through a process inspired by real-world dressmaking. Players choose fabrics, arrange patterns, cut individual pieces, and stitch them together using a sewing machine. Finished dresses can be decorated with lace, buttons, bows, and other accessories.

The game also features townspeople who commission clothing for different occasions. Players must consider each customer's preferences while developing their own designs and earning money to expand their available materials.

Becker's personal experience played an important role in shaping these mechanics. She previously pursued costume design and learned to sew from her mother, who worked as a designer. Her background helped the team create a game that treats sewing as a creative activity rather than a simple customization menu.

The response has extended beyond players already interested in fashion games. In the GamesRadar+ interview, Becker discussed Steam reviews from people who connected the experience to their own sewing memories and family relationships.

The game's popularity is also reflected in its player numbers. SteamDB recorded a peak of 43,298 concurrent players on October 4. By October 29, Dressmaker had accumulated more than 19,000 Steam user reviews.

The game's success has exceeded the expectations of its developers. Jonathan Hau-Yoon told GamesRadar+ that he had prepared for the work involved in releasing and updating Dressmaker, but not for the large number of players and the attention it received.

Cozy Lives has already started expanding the game. Its October 14 update introduced new fabrics, skirt variations, and accessories. The patch also improved trim placement, camera controls, and several accessibility options.

Larger additions are in development, including an online challenge mode where players will be able to compare dress designs and vote for their favorites. The studio is also working on transparent fabrics, which were not ready for the initial release.

The developers have discussed plans to bring Dressmaker to mobile devices and Nintendo Switch. However, neither version has a confirmed release date. For now, Cozy Lives is continuing to improve the PC version while developing features that were previously beyond the project's available time and budget.