I wanted to open a discussion about this topic a while ago because I want to hear what other people have to say on this. This is mostly for creators of any kind but everyone is welcome to share their experiences.
In recent years, I have had a bad habit of comparing my game to others and not feeling like what I can do is good enough. I, like many others have made the mistake of trying to make my dream game when I first started making games. It crushed my spirit in ways that I'm still trying to recover from and I've always had this looming feeling that I was never meant to grow and become a better version of myself.
When trying to make my dream game many years ago, I'd watch trailer after trailer of other games just to make myself feel bad in an odd attempt to protect my ego. It's weird but it's like if I knew no one else was going for an idea similar to mine, I could still work on it with no worry, and if something did look similar to mine, I would try to figure out what to change or make better than the other game just to seem superior or different. Deep down, I did feel that my ideas were probably not good enough and in hindsight I was right, but at the time, I definitely had no faith in myself or belief in my own abilities as a creative person. I never believed in myself and I see some of those same fears reappearing as I continue work on different project.
For me, failure would be proving my past self was right. Overall I do still think that I can get envious of others' work but it's never about what they do that I can't. It only upsets me to believe that they're on a level that I can't even hope to ever reach even though I'm the only one who is suggesting that. It'll be hard, but I need to let go of that perception because that's the only thing holding me back. The only way I fail is if I keep sabotaging myself. But I can't do that if I'm too afraid to believe either.
If I never manage to reach an audience with my game, I can at the very least see the process to the end. I will have learned more than I can ever imagine about myself and my chosen fields that I can still feel satisfied and content with whatever the outcome of this project is.
With a finished game in my hands, I don't care what anyone says about it, it's an accomplishment to be proud of. So to everyone who is working on a passion project of any kind, whether it be a game, OST, piece of art or animation, zine, board game, comic, etc., reach the finish line. Just remember to take care of yourself in the process. And I would like to encourage all who are reading to share their experiences, good or bad.