Welcome to June’s edition of our Publisher Showcase series. Each month, we shine a light on the creators behind some of the most innovative gaming websites in the Nitro network.
This month, we spoke with Leon Machens, the developer behind TH.GL - a platform dedicated to building high-quality, interactive maps for some of today’s most complex games. What started as a personal project following a career in competitive esports has grown into a go-to destination for players looking for clean, accurate, and thoughtfully designed tools.
In the interview below, Leon shares how TH.GL evolved, the role community feedback plays in shaping features, and what it’s like building solo at scale. 👇
First up, can you tell us a bit about your career/life background that led you to start TH.GL?
Before I became a developer, I was a professional esports player — I placed 2nd at the World Cyber Games 2007 in Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars. That experience got me deeply involved in the competitive community. I went on to organize tournaments, build league platforms, and even host live gaming broadcasts.
In 2016, I launched my first monetized app, Trophy Hunter, and over time began creating tools for games like Hogwarts Legacy, Lost Ark, and Sons of the Forest. In 2022, I released my first major interactive map for New World, and from that point forward, I focused fully on building high-quality map and tracking tools — leading to what TH.GL is today.
What drove you to create TH.GL? Did you see a specific gap in the market? Was there a particular insight that motivated you to launch it?
I saw a growing number of games launching without quality companion tools — especially live, interactive maps and tracking features built for real players. A lot of what's out there is rushed, inaccurate, or overloaded with ads.
I wanted to create something better: clean, accurate, and community-driven — not just static maps, but tools that actually help players play smarter, whether solo or in a group. TH.GL was my way of unifying everything under one name: The Hidden Gaming Lair.
How long have you been running your website and how long did it take from development until it was live?
I officially renamed and restructured the project into TH.GL in April 2022, after running several individual apps. At that point I had already launched maps and tools for several games.
From concept to live, a map project usually takes me about 2–4 weeks, depending on game complexity and data availability — but development and support never really stop after launch.
How did you decide on the specific features and tools available on TH.GL?
The features are shaped directly by player behavior and community feedback. I spend a lot of time in Discords and forums, listening to what players want — and also what frustrates them about existing tools.
Every feature starts with a question: “Would this save time? Would it solve a real problem?” That’s how things like whiteboard mode, item search, and shared filter links were born. Many of the most-used features exist because someone in the community asked for them.
How were you able to build a strong online presence for the website? (e.g. SEO, forums, PPC, influencers etc)
The community was the biggest driver — especially my Discord, which now has over 22,000 members. I’ve also gained momentum through organic sharing, developer cooperation (e.g. with gaming.tools), and consistent updates for new game releases.
I’ve had mixed results with streamers and influencers — most didn’t respond or deliver — so I leaned into long-term community trust and word of mouth instead of short-term marketing spikes.
What have been some of the most effective tactics to drive traffic to your website so far?
Three things:
- Early support for new games (launch-day or even pre-release maps)
- Community-first development (responding quickly to feedback)
- SEO + Discord visibility
That said, SEO is still a challenge. Competing with large aggregator sites — even if their maps are less accurate — makes it hard to rank. That’s something I plan to improve.
What are you most proud of in regards to the success of TH.GL so far? Any major highlights?
The moment I quit my job to go full-time on TH.GL is still the biggest milestone for me.
But beyond that, I’m proud of every game I support — launching tools that people actually use and appreciate. I still check Discord and Reddit constantly to read feedback and suggestions. That excitement hasn’t faded, even after dozens of releases.
What advice do you have for new and existing website owners that you wish you knew before you started?
Don’t rely on influencers or short-term traffic boosts — build something that people want to come back to. Focus on quality, speed, and utility. Even if someone else launches first, players will switch to your tool if it’s clearly better.
And if you’re solo: build smart. Automate what you can, reuse your systems, and prioritize scalability early on.
What do you like best about being a part of Nitro’s network of premium gaming/entertainment websites?
Nitro gives me a way to monetize my work through ads without compromising the user experience. Their tools are lightweight, flexible, and perform well even on high-traffic pages — which is important for real-time tools like interactive maps.
As a solo developer, it’s great to have a reliable monetization solution that lets me stay focused on building features and supporting players — not constantly worrying about revenue or ad tech.
What’s next for TH.GL?
Right now I’m focused on growing support for Dune: Awakening, improving SEO visibility, and launching tools for upcoming games like Chrono Odyssey.
I’m also open to more developer partnerships and cooperative tool-building with others who are as focused on player experience as I am.
A big thank you to Leon from TH.GL. Keep your eyes peeled for more insightful interviews like this in next month's edition of our Publisher Showcase, where we’ll continue to spotlight one of the 500+ stand out websites on Nitro, diving deep into their unique success!
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