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11 tools to get you started making video games

It has never been easier to make your own video games

By D. M. Moore

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Making a video game is much less daunting than it might seem. While you likely aren’t going to go from having no experience to making the next Grand Theft Auto , it has actually never been easier to get started making games. Game development tools and resources have become increasingly accessible to the average person, even if they have no programming experience. Often these tools are also available for free.

To try to make things easier for those looking to get started making games, we’ve put together a list of 11 game engines / editors. Some are designed for a specific genre of game or to be incredibly easy for newcomers. Others are professional development tools for AAA games, but are effectively free to use for hobbyists and still offer a lot of learning tools to help those with limited programming experience get started.

There are, of course, a lot of things that go into game development — music, animation, sound, writing, texturing, modeling, etc. — however, the game engine / editor you choose is going to have the biggest effect on what kind of game you can make. If you have suggestions for other engines, software, or learning tools for the other aspects of development, post it in the comments.

A cross-platform commercial 3D engine developed by Crytek. It has been used for games like Prey (2017) and Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture .

Intended for: 3D games

Editor available for: Windows

Scripting / markup language(s): Lua

Cost: Free until the project earns over $5,000 in a year, afterward there is a 5 percent royalty fee.

Learning tools: CryEngine has a number of free tutorial videos that cover everything from installing the editor and walking you through making a simple Flappy Bird -like game to more complex things like compiling a custom configured version of the engine.

Website: https://www.cryengine.com/

Getting started: https://www.cryengine.com/tutorials

A cross-platform commercial 2D game engine developed by YoYo Games. It has been used for games like Undertale , Hyper Light Drifter , and Minit .

Intended for: 2D games

Editor available for: Windows and macOS

Scripting / markup language(s): Uses a proprietary scripting language called GameMaker Language (GML) and a visual scripting language called Drag and Drop (DnD).

Cost: Free for 30 days, and then licenses start at $39 / year.

Learning tools: A few free written and video tutorials that cover the basics and some that dive more into how to make specific genres of games like turn-based RPGs, tower defense, and farming games. There are also links to some external sites and communities that have scripts and guides to help people get started.

Website: https://www.yoyogames.com/gamemaker

Getting started: https://www.yoyogames.com/learn

An open-source 2D game engine designed for ease of use.

Editor available for: Windows, macOS, Linux, and web

Scripting / markup language(s): None, uses a drag and drop interface.

Learning tools: There are a variety of guides and tutorials available on the GDevelop wiki, and also more than 80 example files of how to make specific genres of games and specific game features.

Website: https://gdevelop-app.com/

Getting started: http://wiki.compilgames.net/doku.php/gdevelop5/getting_started

An open-source 2D and 3D game engine designed to be powerful, easy to learn, and for team collaboration.

Intended for: 2D and 3D games

Editor available for: Windows, macOS, and Linux

Scripting / markup language(s): GDScript, C#, and visual scripting.

Learning tools: Godot has an extensive step-by-step guide to using their editor, along with a bunch of free text tutorials covering more specific aspects like implementing VR, using skeletons for 2D animation, and generating procedural geometry.

Website: https://godotengine.org/

Getting started: https://docs.godotengine.org/en/stable/getting_started/step_by_step/index.html

A commercial cross-platform 3D game engine developed by Amazon that is based on an older version of CryEngine. It has been used for games like Star Citizen and The Grand Tour Game .

Intended for: 3D games, with Twitch integration and multiplayer games that use Amazon Web Services

Learning tools: There is a free series of getting started tutorial videos and video talks on more specific features in the engine. There is also a free training course on how to use Lumberyard with AWS.

Website: https://aws.amazon.com/lumberyard/

Getting started: https://aws.amazon.com/lumberyard/gettingstarted/

An open-source visual novel game engine. It has been used for games like Doki Doki Literature Club , Butterfly Soup , and One Night, Hot Springs .

Intended for: Visual novels

Scripting / markup language(s): Ren’Py script language and Python

Learning tools: There is a free text walk-through of how to make a simple game in Ren’Py and additional text-based guides for more specific customization.

Website: https://www.renpy.org/

Getting started: https://www.renpy.org/doc/html/quickstart.html

A commercial game engine developed by Degica. It is designed specifically for making classic JRPG-style games without needing to know how to program. It has been used for games like Corpse Party and Rakuen .

Intended for: 2D roleplaying games

Scripting / markup language(s): JavaScript

Cost: $79.99

Learning tools: There are some free tutorials for older versions of the engine, which likely are still applicable. However for the most recent version, MV, it seems the best resources are community created .

Website: https://www.rpgmakerweb.com/products/programs/rpg-maker-mv

Getting started: https://www.rpgmakerweb.com/support/products/tutorials

An open-source editor for interactive storytelling. It has been used for games like Lionkiller and The Uncle Who Works For Nintendo .

Intended for: Interactive fiction and text-based games.

Editor available for: Windows, macOS, and web

Scripting / markup language(s): Proprietary markup language, but also allows HTML, Javascript, and CSS.

Learning tools: There’s a guide that covers the basics of their markup language and offers some samples of more advanced scripting.

Website: https://twinery.org/

Getting started: https://twinery.org/wiki/start

A cross-platform commercial game engine developed by Unity Technologies. It has been used for games like Untitled Goose Game , Ori and the Will of the Wisps , and Hollow Knight .

Intended for: 2D and 3D games.

Scripting / markup language(s): C#

Cost: Free to students and hobbyists for personal use and to small companies that generate less than $100,000 a year. Outside of that, there are annual plans starting at $399 / year or $40 / month.

Learning tools: Unity provides some free resources to help those new to the engine. But it provides a lot more under its Unity Learn Premium program including classes, tutorials, and even certifications. Unity Learn Premium is currently free until June 10th, 2020, but is normally $15 per month.

Website: https://unity.com/

Getting started: https://learn.unity.com/tutorial/create-your-first-unity-project

A cross-platform commercial game engine developed by Epic Games. It has been used for games like Fortnite , Final Fantasy VII Remake , and Octopath Traveler .

Intended for: 3D games.

Editor available for: Windows.

Scripting / markup language(s): C++ and Blueprints Visual Scripting

Cost: Free, but with a 5 percent royalty owed on the game’s gross revenue over $3,000 per game per quarter.

Learning tools: Epic Games offers a number of free online video courses that cover some introductory aspects to using the engine’s editor and some more advanced topics like post processing effects and creating asset pipelines.

Website: https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US/

Getting started: https://docs.unrealengine.com/en-US/GettingStarted/index.html

A commercial game engine developed by Degica. It is designed specifically for making visual novels without needing to know how to program.

Scripting / markup language(s): JavaScript and CoffeeScript

Cost: $69.99

Learning tools: There’s a free extensive guide that covers a wide range of topics including the basics of the editor, how to structure the story you’re writing, how to customize your visual novel without scripting, and a whole separate guide just for scripting plus documentation.

Website: http://visualnovelmaker.com/

Getting started: https://asset.visualnovelmaker.com/help/index.htm#t=Beginner_s_Guide.htm

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A Beginner's Guide to making your own Games

This guide is made for new and aspiring indie devs who have no prior knowledge of game development. The reader should learn about the most essential parts of game development, from the idea to the finished game, to enable them to make their own game.

July 10, 2020

Introduction

You want to make your own games but have no idea where to start? Or you have already tried to make some games but you never managed to finish these projects? Perfect!

Well, not really perfect, but a good reason for you to continue reading. This guide will help you to learn everything you need to know to start making your games (and also to finish them of course). I assume you already have a great idea for your game in mind that you want to do. That is awesome! And you should probably forget about it.

Before you close this guide, I will explain later why your idea might not be the best one to use for your first game and how you eventually get to the point where you can come back to that idea you have right now (just do yourself a favor and write it down somewhere so you won’t forget about it).

But why should you listen to me? These guidelines are based on research from different books, articles, videos, and a survey that was carried out to ask other indie devs about their workflow and problems in game development. The idea is to get all the information from different sources put together in one document to give you a better overview. So while this guide is written by me, it is a summary of the work and experience from real professionals.

For whom is this guide?

If you already successfully made games on your own or in a team then this guide will probably not be that interesting for you. The idea of this guide is to help people who are interested in making games but have no experience yet. I want to get more people involved in making games by providing the basic knowledge of game development. In addition, this guide will also cover the most common problems of game development to prepare beginners of the upcoming challenges and to help devs out who are struggling to finish their games.

How to use this guide?

This guide is not a tutorial. The idea is to support you on your journey of making games, which means that you still have to do your own research if you want to dive deeper into certain aspects of game development. In that sense, it is also fine if you just skim through the guide and read what is useful for your situation. And if you disagree with certain parts or if you have your own solutions that work better for you, that is totally fine. Game development is a complex process and while the general steps of a production are similar, everybody approaches a project slightly differently. You are your own boss. Use this guide in the way it suits you best.

There is also a summary available which gives you the most essential information without much explanation. It is also possible to download the guide as a pdf. The results of the conducted survey can be found in the pdf if you are interested in those. The Guidelines PDF

In any case: Good luck on your journey to becoming a game developer!

Choose a role

Game Engines

Start with your first projects

The basics of game development

The pitfalls of game development

What comes next?

1. Choose a role

A game is made out of a lot of different components. There is game and level design, coding, art, sound and music. There is more to making a game but I want to keep it simple for now. These are the jobs of designers, programmers, artists, and sound designers or composers. Maybe you already have some experience in one or more of those fields, which is great. And even if you don’t, there is no need to worry. Everybody has to start somewhere and I want to give you some tips for that.

For now, I assume that you are a solo dev, working on your own without a team. You might feel overwhelmed by what you need to know but relax for a moment. You will learn a lot while you are going to make your first games. To take even more pressure off you, there is no need anymore to learn programming to make games, which, I have the feeling, is the biggest roadblock for many interested people. The same applies to all the other jobs that involved in game making. There are so many ways today to get around something that you are lacking. That is why I personally suggest that you should not try to learn everything (which is also what our teachers told us every year). Don’t be mediocre at everything, be good at a few things. But this is debatable and there are people who can do a lot of things very well. The game Stardew Valley is a good example of one guy doing everything. But that also comes with a price. Learning a new ability takes time. And it’s up to you to decide if it’s worth your time learning all the different skills (and keep in mind that practicing a skill takes even more time if you want to stand out). For now, you should not worry too much about it. Just keep in mind that you don’t have to learn everything in order to make a game. But this topic will become important again at some point and it will also influence your project heavily. If you want to make a 3D game, for example, but you don’t have the skills to make your own art, you either have to buy assets or hire an artist. And if that is not an option, you will probably have to think of a different game idea.

2. Game Engines

A game engine is a tool that you will have to use to turn your idea into a playable game. Imagine it as a pot in which a team throws in the code, art and music and all the other ingredients that are needed to create a game and the engine magically makes it all work. This is a really simplified understanding of a game engine but you should get the idea. More important is the fact that there are a lot of different game engines available and you need to pick one to start with. It’s not as hard as choosing your first Pokemon because you can pick up another engine at any time, but there are important things you need to consider and once you have started a project, you will have to stick to that engine until it’s done. Oh, and if you are a programmer, don’t even think about writing your own engine. Writing your own engine is a huge waste of time (for probably 99% of the people).

“Don't remake the wheel. Unity and Unreal have assets and tools to make your life easier. Someone else has made some tool or system you need a thousand times already and probably better than you could so just use that.”

But how do you choose the right engine for your situation? As a beginner, you have different requirements compared to someone who has a specific idea in mind and knows the technical requirements. Especially, if you just want to get started as soon as possible.

Important is, that the engine is free to use. You probably don’t want to spend money on a product that you might not even end up using in the future. The engine should be accessible and offer enough support and tutorials to make sure that you can learn the basics by making small projects. And in the best case, there is also a marketplace available that offers enough assets that are either free or can be bought.

In the following, I will list up the most used engines together with a few key points of what each engine has to offer and what possible downsides there are. There are more features of an engine that are relevant, but for your situation, it is not necessary to know every detail. Let’s keep it simple and focus on getting something done. I will add some links to various tutorials that got positive feedback or that I have used myself so that you don’t have to search for them. And remember, you can still switch to another engine whenever you feel like it doesn’t work out.

Unity is one of the most used engines by beginners and indie devs for good reasons:

It is easy to use once you get the hang of it

It is possible to make 2D, 3D and VR games with it

It has an extensive asset store with a lot of assets and plugins

There are also a lot of assets available for free

A big community that can help you out

Many tutorials provided by Unity and the community

Supports export to every relevant platform (and more)

It is free to use

Sounds pretty good, right? Well, there is one downside. You will have to learn to code with C# in order to make a game in Unity (except you are willing to spend money on plugins for visual scripting). But don’t worry, the basics are not that hard and there are plenty of tutorials available. This was also the engine I had to use during the beginning of my studies. I personally like working with Unity and I would recommend using this engine for your first projects. And don’t think this engine is not good enough because it is used by many beginners. There are plenty of impressive games made with Unity and even AAA studios use this engine.

Channels/Tutorials to check out: Unity Creator Kits Brackeys Sykoo

2.2 Unreal Engine

Unreal is another popular engine. Games like Borderlands 3 or The Outer Worlds are running on Unreal. But it is also used by a lot of indie devs. It offers similar benefits as Unity with two interesting additions:

You receive a few assets for free each month that you would usually have to pay for

You don’t need to write any code to make a game

Unreal has a system called Blueprints. Instead of writing code, you can use their visual scripting system to build the logic of your game. It does have its downsides, but the important part is that it is easier to learn and to use as a beginner compared to learning a new scripting language. However, you still need to learn the logic behind scripting even though you won’t write any code. At least that makes it easier to understand what is going on. I have worked quite a bit with Unreal and I really like the Blueprint system. I have learned the basics by watching different tutorials and was quickly able to come up with my own features and mechanics.

Channels/Tutorials to check out: Unreal Engine Matthew Palaje Virtus Learning Hub / Creative Tutorials Game Dev Academy

2.3 GameMaker Studio 2

If you are into 2D games then GameMaker Studio 2 will be a good choice. It offers a solution for visual scripting, so you would be able to make games without writing any code as well. But the scripting language is very easy to learn if you don’t mind to learn to code. There are a lot of tutorials for different types of games available made by the community or by the creators of the engine to get you started right away. A marketplace offers additional plugins and assets that can be bought or downloaded for free.

There are two main downsides to this engine. This engine only supports 2D games (with some exceptions) and you will have to use a trial version for a limited time or buy the engine. If that is not an issue for you then this engine will be a good choice.

Channels/Tutorials to check out: GameMaker Studio 2 Tutorials Shaun Spalding

2.4 Other engines

There are more engines available that you could choose to make a game. While I personally suggest to pick Unity, Unreal or GameMaker Studio 2 for the beginning, I want to show some more alternatives that might be interesting for you as well:

Godot Engine

This open-source engine is completely free to use. It supports 2D, 3D, and VR games. There is an active community around Godot that contributes to the engine and also provides tutorials.

Probably best known for the Crysis series, is the CryEngine a powerful platform for making games. The CryEngine is free to use until you start to ship a game, similar to Unity and Unreal. A marketplace offers additional free and paid assets.

The RPG Maker is more of an editor than an engine like Unity. As the name already suggests, this engine is used to make 2D RPGs. The benefit is that all tools in the engine are built around this idea and it is easy to get started. However, you are obviously very limited in what you can do and you have to have to buy the product (a trial version exists).

And always keep in mind that there is no such thing as the best engine. Even if other people tell you. Certain engines might be better suited for certain features but in general, there is no engine that is just better than all the other ones.

2.5 Modding

Modding might be an alternative for you if you don’t want to create a whole new game from scratch. Some games provide tools that let the community create more content. From new maps and levels to whole new game modes. Counter-Strike is probably the best-known example. It was originally made as a mod for Half-Life and is now one of the most popular online games.

Modding has its pros and cons. In today's times, there aren’t many games that offer tools for modding or level creation anymore and you would also have to buy the game. In addition, your creation can only be played by other people who own the same game (there are some exceptions to this rule). But the benefits are that making a mod or a level for a game is usually faster and easier compared to creating a complete game. You don’t have to program the game and art assets are also already there to use. While this guide is primarily made for people who are interested in making their own games using an engine like Unity, there are sections coming later for finding ideas and the pitfalls of game development that are also useful for modding as well.

3. Start with your first projects

Before you start working on your personal dream project you need to learn to work with an engine. The best and fastest way is to pick one of the previously mentioned engines and follow a few tutorials.

You will get practice in working with the engine which improves your workflow. You will learn important terminology and you will learn how to create certain features that can be used for later projects as well. In addition, following these tutorials will get you working results relatively fast which keeps up the motivation.

In the beginning, it is also totally fine to just follow and copy what you see in the tutorials. With time you will get more confident and can start trying out your own ideas. Once you think you have watched enough videos, you should start trying to copy existing games with what you have learned. But don’t overdo it. Take old arcade games, try to copy them, and give them your own spin. The important part about this practice is that you consolidate what you have learned and that you get a better feeling for how much work it actually is to create a game. Especially the last part is important because underestimating the amount of work needed for a game is a common problem in game development. Your goal should be to get familiar with the engine and learn how to create basic mechanics so that you are able to create your own project.

4. The basics of game development

So you feel confident enough to start with your own game? That’s great! But keep your idea that you have (hopefully) written down in the first section in a drawer for a second. Before you go on your journey I want to give a short lecture on the process of video game production. It sounds boring, and to be fair, it kinda is, but it is also important to know the fundamentals of game development. This will help you with finding the right idea, setting up a plan, and following through up until the end of the production. I try to keep it as short as possible. After all, you don’t need to know every single detail right now.

4.1 Pre-Production

Think of an idea

Keep changing it and testing it until it seems good enough.

“That is exactly what real game designers do”, writes Jesse Schell in his book The Art of Game Design. So let's start with finding ideas.

Often someone gets inspired by other games. But it’s possible to find inspiration in all sorts of things, even just by taking a walk through a forest. Whenever something pops into your mind write it down somewhere. This is important because you might get more ideas while you are writing and you make sure that you won’t forget it. It also frees up your mind for new thoughts. Another common approach to coming up with ideas is brainstorming. There are different ways of doing it but in case you are not familiar with this method, it works in general by choosing a specific topic and then just writing down everything that comes to mind. The results don’t even need to make sense but they often give you new ideas. You can also do this together with other people. That is usually more fun as well and leads to unexpected ideas because every person thinks differently.

If you found your idea the next step is to start working on a prototype in your engine of choice. Depending on the idea you have, this prototype might only cover the core gameplay loop to see if it is fun to play, but it can also be a prototype made to test a certain feature. Maybe you want to have procedurally generated levels but you are not sure yet how this will work out in-game. Whatever it is, prototypes are there to answer questions and to solve problems. If you spend time on making a prototype, it should serve a purpose. And ending up with something that is not fun or does not work is still a win because you don’t waste time to keep working on that project.

You got your idea and prototype, but there is still something missing to start working: documentation and planning. Unfortunately, these two are the most boring parts but they are also quite important. In the end, it is up to you, but especially if your project is going to take longer than a few days you should take some time to prepare documents and create a plan.

There are a few different types of documents that are important in a production. The most common document and also the most important one is the game design document (GDD). It contains all the mechanics of your game with a description of how they work. Changes and iterations of your game should also be applied to your GDD. Always keep it updated so that you keep track of your work. Another benefit of writing everything down is that you may already spot flaws and possible issues in your design. It also helps with answering open questions of your ideas because now is the time you should explain the mechanics in detail so that another person could understand it as well. Documents are also a form of communication and if you are working together with other people it is important that everyone has the same understanding of what is written down. Other documents that might be interesting are the technical design document, the art bible, and a document for the story. But again, you have to decide for yourself if these (or more) are needed for your type of project.

The next step is planning. If you are working on a project just for yourself you don’t really have a deadline. You can take as much time for the game as you like. But that is not necessarily a good thing. The idea of this guide is to get you into making games but also finishing them at some point. Without a deadline, it is likely that your project will go on forever (depending on the scope) or that you will abandon it at some point. Especially if you are a perfectionist you will never come to an end. Therefore I suggest you set yourself a deadline and make a proper plan that you try to follow. And now the reason why I told you in the beginning that your idea might not be the best for your current situation. A lot of people, especially the ones without experience, tend to have ideas with a scope that is way too big. Now that you have to create a plan, you should evaluate if that idea you have is still something you can manage to do in a reasonable amount of time.

If you know what you want to do then it is time to start writing down your plan. How detailed your plan should be is up to you. I advise you to list up every single task that needs to be done and try to estimate how much time it is going to take you to finish that task. From there you could set yourself a deadline. Always put in some extra time because a project never goes as planned. After you have written down all your tasks (that is now your backlog) it is a good idea to sort them after priority. There is a method called MoSCoW which basically means that you sort your tasks after the following factors:

(M)ust have

The tasks that definitely need to be done in order to finish the project. These tasks are essential.

(S)hould have

Tasks that should be done after the important features have been implemented. They don’t break your game if they are missing but they significantly improve it.

(C)ould have

Features that are nice to have but won’t be missed if they are not there.

(W)on’t have

Features that are probably not going to end up in your game.

With proper planning, you are good to go. However, game development is a creative and iterative process. This means that your plan, as good and detailed it might be, is not going the way it is written down. That does not mean your plan is bad or that you are bad at planning. It is more like once you start working, you will notice that some features might not work out in the way you have thought. Or you will get an idea for a new feature that will greatly improve your game. Or life comes in and demands your attention. If those things happen (and they will) then update your planning. It is totally fine to move features around in your backlog and givethem new priorities. Or maybe you really just need one more week to get this one important feature working. In the end, it is your project and your plan. Just try to be reasonable.

4.2 Production

Now that the boring stuff is out of the way it is time to start working on the project itself. In the production phase, all the assets are created and the game is put together. Writing code, building levels, creating animations, designing the UI, etc. Everything the game consists of is produced during this phase.

At different points during your production, you should try to get feedback by letting other people test your game. Doing proper testing can actually be quite complex, but a good rule of thumb is to get people involved that you think would enjoy the type of game you are making. The reason for this should be obvious. A person who likes to play strategy games but has to test a racing game might criticize things that are usually totally fine for racing games. So that result is not really helpful and in the worst case, it can lead to wrong conclusions and decisions. But even if you cannot find people of your target group for testing it is still possible to get feedback from other players. Just ask the right questions and maybe focus on other parts of your game than the gameplay. Important is that you let other people play your game. Most of the time you can already spot issues just by watching somebody else playing. In addition, it might be refreshing to get input from the outside. Working for a long time alone on a project makes you lose your clear view of the game.

4.3 Post-Production

In today’s times, it is common practice to keep releasing updates for a game even after its launch. These updates can be patches that fix some bugs or they add more content to the game. But if you are not working on a commercial game then I assume you will just move on to the next project if you are done.

5. The pitfalls of game development

In this section, you will learn about the most common problems taken from a survey that I have conducted together with indie devs. The results of the survey can be found in the appendix. For each problem, you can find a solution based on answers from the survey, research, and personal experience. Use this information as preparation for your production. It is not a promise for success, but it will greatly improve your chances of finishing your game.

5.1 Scope of the project was too big

The number one reason for failed projects. Not only common amongst the participants but also an issue that can be found in postmortems of AAA games. You plan for too many features, the project gets too ambitious and as a result, there is either no end in sight or you will completely lose motivation to keep working. Or you underestimate the amount of work needed for certain tasks and you end up with unfinished features while your time is running out.

But what can you do about it? A lot of it comes down to experience. That is why a lot of beginners think they can tackle making a huge RPG or even an MMO. The more games you do, the more of a feeling you get for how much work it actually is. But doing proper planning is also a huge help. Especially if you plan your project in a way that you can easily scale the scope up or down. The MoSCoW list supports this by making you think about the features that need to end up in the game and the features that you would like to have but are not essential. This way you can focus on the important core gameplay while you still have the possibility to wrap up the project if needed or to keep adding new features to improve the game. Don’t turn into a feature creep though.

“If you don't know if your scope is too wide, the answer is always yes it is.”

5.2 Losing motivation and start working on a new project

Two different but very similar reasons for why projects get abandoned. Unfortunately, there is no real solution to these problems. Each project comes with phases in which you just want to jump onto a new project because everything new is exciting. You will also get many new ideas while working on your game and it is tempting to just start all over again. The outcome is that you will never finish anything. It takes a lot of willpower to fight through these phases of game development.

Some advice taken from the survey:

“Losing the expectation that development will always be fun/motivating and having a design doc that reminds you why you were inspired to begin with.” “Game development is a very consuming endeavour. It may not seem worth it, but if you're able to persevere, the positive emotions upon completion and reaching players who enjoy the project is unrivaled.”

But planning again can make it a bit easier. As mentioned before, a project that is way too ambitious easily kills your motivation. If you are working on a smaller game it is easier to achieve progress which keeps up the motivation. Use this to your advantage.

“Cut a lot of content, try to find "small wins" (the super cliche 20% things bring 80% of value which is very true) and keep the scope small (you can always add everything later, if needed).”

Sometimes it also helps to switch to other tasks, especially if you are stuck on one thing. But this again requires proper planning to make sure there is always something else that needs to be done and not only that one single feature on which the whole project is depending.

5.3 Underestimated the amount of work

One simple solution: Experience! But to be serious, this is quite similar to the problem that the project scope is too ambitious. You think you can do feature x in one day but then it actually takes you one week. It is always a good practice to assume that a task takes more time than you think. Especially if you are not sure how easy or difficult it will be which is the case if you don’t have a lot of experience.

5.4 Bad Planning

Bad planning can be the reason for some of the previously mentioned problems. Because it has such a huge impact on the project, it is important to create a plan that matches the scope of your game. In chapter 4.1 Pre-Production you can read more about creating a project plan. Take it seriously and prepare your production as well as possible. Otherwise, you may run into problems that can ultimately kill your game.

5.5 Feature Creep

The famous feature creep that I have already mentioned multiple times in these guidelines. A feature creep is someone who constantly wants to add new things to the game. You can probably imagine the outcome. The development of your game takes longer and longer. It is natural to get new ideas while working on your project. Or when you are playing other games you might think that this one feature would be cool to have as well. And yes, it probably would be, but if you keep adding more and more stuff to your game you will never come to an end. Another problem is that you can make your game worse. Maybe you already have a fun gameplay loop but you keep adding features that distract the player from it.

If you really want to add new features, that were not in the original planning, always think about if it really adds to the experience and if you can afford to work on it.

5.6 Project did not achieve the desired quality

Shit happens. Sometimes you have a good idea, plan everything, start working and at some point, you notice that the game is not fun to play. Or you need a specific feature but you are not able to get it working in the way you need it for your project. Even with all the prototypes and planning, it is not possible to foresee everything.

If you find yourself in that situation you can try to find a solution. But sometimes it is also the better option to leave the project behind. There is no shame in doing that. Especially if there is no other sensible option. And don’t let that discourage you. While the project might not be finished, you have still learned something and maybe you can reuse the work for another project.

5.7 Some more advice

These are of course not all problems but now you should have a better idea of what can (and will) go wrong during game development. And these issues don’t necessarily have to be the end of a project. Here is some more advice that I have received from the participants of the survey. Since I got more than expected, I will only show a few of them and attach the rest at the end of the guide.

“Try as many things you want and try to fail as quickly as possible, learn, and move on to another. Don't spend more than 5-7 months on first projects.” “Start and complete all your work. Abandoned work looks bad and isn't good for learning. Start with small projects (1 week), then work your way up to long term (1 year) high-quality projects. Assess what went well and what you can improve on each time. Show them to industry professionals and get their input, don't be afraid.” “1) Keep it simple. 2) Make a game only you can make. 3) Shoot for appeal. Keep testing for appeal.” “Start by making small games, game jams are really fun to start with and help you solve problems to work efficiently and fast. Look up tutorials and don’t be afraid to google everything you need, even code.” “Ignore everyone else’s advice (even this!). Make what makes you happy.”

Don’t ignore everyone’s advice (especially if it helps you to do what makes you happy) but listen to your gut and decide for yourself if the support, that someone is offering you, is really useful in your situation.

And always keep in mind that you can reach out for help. There are a lot of communities out there that will try to help you if you get stuck or if you have any questions.

6. What comes next?

You should now know the basics that you need to start making games on your own. But there is much more you can learn to get even better at making games. It’s a good idea to look into the theory of game and level design. Making a game is one thing, but making a game fun to play is another challenge. Or maybe you want to create games with a focus on storytelling. Then you should dive into that direction and look for ways to improve your storytelling skills.

6.1 Funding

You have reached the point where you are confident enough to work on a commercial game? And you are also thinking of working full time on your game? Then you should also think about funding. Making a game is expensive. Even if you are working on it alone, you still have to pay for yourself. I assume, that you want to work on your game while still having something to eat and a roof over your head. So if you haven’t put some money aside to cover your expenses over the time of development, you will need to look out for another source of income. There are two common ways of getting your game funded.

Crowdfunding is one way to get money for your project. You might have already heard of sites like Kickstarter. On Kickstarter (or similar sites) you can create a page to present your game. Interested people can invest money in your project. If enough people are willing to invest in your game, the campaign is a success and you will receive the money. In return, the people expect you to deliver the game at some point. Crowdfunding has some really good benefits. Besides the money, a successful campaign proves that there is already some interest in your game and it will also give you additional attention. Depending on how your project is planned, you have potential testers available for your game to gather feedback if needed. But there are also some downsides to crowdfunding. You need to get attention for your campaign. Otherwise, nobody will notice it. And if you can’t manage to get enough people together who are willing to participate, the campaign is a failure which means that you won’t get any money at all. If the campaign was successful than you also have to deal with an extra amount of pressure. Now the money of actual customers is involved. People expect the game as promised at the time you have promised. And because delays and other problems often occur in game development, you will most likely have to deal with angry supporters at some point.

Another way to receive funding is to work together with a publisher. A publisher usually has several benefits. Funding, marketing, QA, localization, porting, connections, and more. Most publishers offer these things to some extent or they can at least help you to get what you need. But while a publisher might pay you in advance for your production, you will pay for the publisher’s service after your game has been released by giving away shares of your revenue. So it’s a good practice to try to talk to as many publishers as possible in order to get a deal that is fair and fits your needs. If you want to get in touch with a publisher be sure to be prepared. You should be able to pitch your game in only a few sentences (elevator pitch), you should have a plan for the production and the costs, and in the best case, you already have some sort of demo to showcase your game. Also, do some research on the publisher you are going to contact. You want to make sure that your game fits into the portfolio and that they offer the kind of support that you need for your game.

While crowdfunding and publishers are the common source of funding, there is also the possibility to release your game in Early-Access. This means that you publish your game in an early stage, but people are already allowed to buy and play it. This also has the benefit of having players that are giving feedback on your game. But unfortunately, Early-Access has a mixed reputation as there were a lot of games that just got abandoned during production, and people were left with a barely functioning game.

In some countries, it is also possible to get funding through specific organizations. But depending on where you are from, that is something you need to look into for yourself.

6.2 Marketing

Marketing is a really complex topic and unfortunately, it was not possible for me to do more research on this part in the given time I had to write these guidelines. But there are a few tips that I have picked up over time that I can share.

The gaming market is overcrowded and if you don’t manage to get some attention for your game it is likely to go down between all the other releases. If you are planning to make a commercial game it is good advice to build up a fanbase as early as possible. Twitter is a platform that is widely used by many indie developers. You can post screenshots, gifs, or videos of your game and interact with other people. My personal impression is that Twitter is the best platform to build up a fanbase. But I have no data to back it up, so I cannot prove if it is true or not. Some developers also use YouTube to get attention for their games. More and more so-called dev logs in the form of videos can be found on YouTube. Discord is also rising in popularity amongst indie devs and small teams. If you already have a small community, Discord might be a good way to keep in touch with your fans.

Besides building up a fanbase you should also look into advertising. The most common form is probably running ads on various websites. In addition to ads, it is also common practice to get streamers involved. If they are interested in your game they might stream it and present it to their audience by doing so. Be sure to have some keys (or other forms of access) ready for your game. You should also get in touch with reviewers. This can also help a lot to get the word around.

Some of these methods are going to be more efficient than others. And there are also a lot of different factors that can influence your marketing strategies in positive and negative ways. In any case, you should invest some time into marketing in order to increase your chances of getting noticed by potential players. Otherwise, it is basically playing the lottery.

6.3 Recommendations

Before we come to an end I want to recommend a few YouTube channels that you may find interesting and helpful:

GDC Adam Millard - The Architect of Games Game Maker's Toolkit Snoman Gaming Game Dev Underground Extra Credits Ask Gamedev Noclip Jonas Tyroller WorldofLevelDesign

There are probably even more good channels out there that I am not aware of, but with these, you should already have enough content for now.

Here is a summary of each chapter. You will find the important information without detailed explanations to keep it short.

7.1 Choose a role

As a solo dev, you are responsible for each job. Game design, programming, assets, and more. But don’t try to be good at every position. This takes a lot of time and there is the risk to end up just mediocre at everything but not good at anything. Focus on what you like to do and build your game with your limitations in mind. You can also buy assets or use free ones for your projects if you lack specific skills. Or hire someone if you are willing to spend money.

7.2 Game Engines

Pick one of the most common engines (Unity, Unreal, or GameMaker: Studio 2) to make sure that there are enough tutorials available to get you started. In addition, these engines have big communities around them that can help you out if encounter problems or when you have some questions. In the end you should make your choice depending on what type of game you want to make and which engine feels more comfortable to work with.

And remember, there is no such thing as the best engine and you can always try out another one.

7.3 Start with your first projects

Start by following a tutorial series for your engine of choice. This way you will learn how to work with the engine and other basics that you will need to know for future projects. You will also get a feeling for how much work it actually is to make a game which is important if you start planning your project. If you feel confident enough you can try to copy old arcade games and give them your own twist. Always start small. Especially in the beginning, it is important to start projects that you can finish to keep up the motivation.

7.4 The basics of game development

Before you start working on your own game you should learn the fundamentals of game development. There are three distinct phases: Pre-Production, Production, Post-Production.

Pre-Production:

First you will have to find an idea by brainstorming or similar methods. Or let yourself be inspired by other media, people, or nature. Write your ideas down, choose one, and make a prototype out of it. A prototype should always answer a question. Use it to test your idea and if the result is not sufficient you have to either iterate on your idea or find another one. If you want to proceed then transform your idea into a game design document (GDD). This prevents you from forgetting details and you are forced to write down all the features properly which can already show up possible flaws in your design. The next step is creating a plan by setting yourself a deadline even if you don’t really have to. This way you will put more effort into your planning and you will more likely come to an end. Break your project up into tasks and estimate how much time you think you need to finish each one. Always add more time to it because it usually takes you longer than you think. Especially as a beginner. Create a MoSCoW list and sort your tasks after priority to be flexible with future rearrangements.

Production:

This is the phase in which you actually create your game. Writing code, creating and implementing assets, designing the levels and everything else that is needed for your game will be produced. Testing your game is also important. Try to get other people to play your game and receive feedback so that you can improve your project.

Post-Production:

Some games are going to be supported even after the release with patches to fix bugs or more content updates. If you are not going to sell your game this probably won’t be important for you.

Always start with small projects and gradually extend the more experience you have. And check out the common pitfalls of game development to know what kinds of problems you will encounter during your production.

7.5 Release

Release your game and then do it all over again!

Keep working to improve your skills. Maybe try out a new engine or challenge yourself by doing something that you haven’t done before. Connect to other people and build up a fanbase. If you want to sell your game then you might also want to look into marketing.

Thanks to the people that helped me out by taking part in the survey:

Rami Ismail - @tha_rami Bruno Beaudoin - @ItBurn_ Stefan - @stefanvlr Wilson C - @wilsoncIndieDev Jonas Tyroller - @JonasTyroller Edd Parris - @empika Enrique - @1pxlchibs Jacob Williams - @ittas_gun David Jalbert - @DavidJayIndie Dillon Rogers - @TafferKing451 Matthew Martinez - @HyMyNameIsMatt Günther - @monolithofminds Chris Wingard - @Ruugard Michael - @rattower Joel - @JoelLikesPigs Gabriel - @wildartsdevs Matt Rusiniak - @shatteringgame Christopher Smith - @lunoland and one person that wants to remain anonymous.

______________

And that’s it for this guide. I really hope it was helpful in some ways. Let me know if you managed to finish a game or feel free to give me any kind of feedback. If you want to get in contact with me you can find me on Twitter @jy_hnz or you can send me a mail at [email protected] .

About the Author(s)

Joey Heinze

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In this 10-part video course, you’ll learn how to make your first game from scratch with Buildbox. We’re supplying you with all the art, sound and tutorials you need… and there’s no programming required. Here is a document you can use to easily follow along: Make Your Own Game Handbook

R eady to get started? The first thing you’ll need is Buildbox. If you don’t already have Buildbox, click the button below to get Buildbox and tons of game art, sound, music and more:

1. Creating the Basics

For this entire ‘Make Your Own Game’ series, led by instructor, Heath Close, we’re going to learn how to make a wall jumper game called ‘GLTCH’ from start to finish.

In this first lesson, a lot of information will be covered to provide you with a solid foundation to work with. We’ll explain exactly what Buildbox is and how you can use it to build your own game without using a single line of code. Then you’ll get a detailed tour of the software’s options and settings, which will help you become more familiar with the features and editing tools that you’ll be using.

You’ll learn about the creator tool and how to use it to make a playable skeleton of your game ‘GLTCH.’ We’ll also cover how to use the scene editor to customize your game with different backgrounds, characters menu screen graphics and more.

2. Collision Shapes and Object Settings

Although, we’re not going to start building levels until part 3 of the ‘Make Your Own Game’ series, everything that you’ll learn in this video will give you a good basic knowledge of level design. Understanding the components necessary to make a game app flow correctly will ultimately make the process much easier when you’re actually building out levels in your game.

In this course we’ll explain what are collision shapes and how they affect your game’s gameplay. You’ll learn how to use the options available in the collision shape editor to resize, add points, and reset an image.

You’ll learn how to change object properties to get an enemy to behave how you want them to within your game. We’ll also reveal how to make a game more fun by designing it in a way that let’s players experience those exciting ‘close-call moments’ without ever feeling cheated.

3. Build Your First Levels

As discussed in the previous lesson, we’re going to take a closer look at world settings and how they affect your game. In this video we’ll show you how to customize and edit your world settings to make your levels interesting. You’ll learn how to play around with various properties to adjust the gravity, time warp, bounce settings and more within your game.

We’ll also further explain the different character gameplay settings, the art of layering and how to test out your levels in the debug mode.

In this hands-on tutorial, you’ll get to watch and follow along with the instructor as you build the first game level in ‘GLTCH’ together. There’s a bonus time-lapse segment that plays immediately after of 10 more levels being built. Pay attention and watch closely to learn how to effectively build out levels.

4. Making it Unique

Our goal in this course is to help you create a game that could potentially be featured by Apple or reach the top the charts. To accomplish this, you have to make your game unique. There are hundreds of games released on a regular basis across every single platform. This makes originality crucial for not only visibility in the App Store but overall player engagement.

In this fourth video of the ‘Make Your Own Game’ series, you’ll learn how to make a game app that’s truly unique. We’ll go beyond graphics and explore game characters and the way they interact. Watch and learn as we add a new gameplay element to ‘GLTCH’ to set our game apart enough to make it memorable and fun.

You’ll learn how to add a barrier obstacle into your gameplay and a new way to add a fun twist to the element. We’ll also show you how to easily create a ‘taking damage’ animation in Buildbox.

5. Actions Effects and Logic

In this fifth video tutorial, we’ll cover actions, effects and logic pieces in-depth. You’ll learn how to add actions like coins, invincibility, power-up magnets and action animations.

Creating an in-game economy with coins and other actions such as power-ups is an excellent way to give your players goals and reward them. When you make your own game with this in mind your overall gameplay experience and player retention will be much higher. The option to collect coins also empowers users to unlock characters and other special items you decide to include, which can lead up to an in-app purchase generating real money.

We’ll cover how to import coins for players to collect, how to add a coin tracker to your game’s UI, invincibility power-ups and the use of path logic pieces.

You’ll also learn how to add beautiful light effects and particle effects in creative ways to make your game look really professional.

6. Animated Menus and Game Sounds

No game is complete without music or sound effects. Music and sound are principal elements in gaming. Good background music sets the atmosphere and tone. It can help users connect emotionally with the game as well. Sound effects at crucial moments or during specific actions can inform players and give them direction on the next move to make.

In this lesson we’ll cover how to not only animate the menu sections like the game title or start button but how to load music into your game and trigger specific sound and animation effects. You’ll learn new ways to integrate sound and music throughout your game.

When you’re a game developer it’s important to get your music and sound effects in your game just right. So, included in this lesson is also some bonus material that focuses on how to add defeated sounds and animations properly to your game over menu. The secret to making a good game great is in the details, like sound and effects.

7. Making Multiple Game Modes

Balance is crucial when you make a game app. You don’t want your game to be too easy but at the same time you don’t want to make it so hard right off the bat, that your players feel cheated. It’s important to find a balance. This can be easily managed when you implement multiple game modes.

In this lesson you’ll learn how to make a game with multiple game modes for your players to choose from. Watch and learn how to make an exciting turbo mode and a hard mode all within Buildbox.

You’ll also learn how to make multi-level menu navigation for ‘GLTCH’ that can be used to navigate players to the new game modes. We’ll show you how to add locked start buttons and share a few tips to make the entire process of adding multiple modes into your game super easy and quick.

8. Coin Shop and Multiple Characters

Adding coin shops with unlockable characters and items can significantly improve your game’s replay value. Players are more likely to continue playing in order to earn enough coins to purchase or unlock a new cool wacky character that may have caught their eye. It’s also a great way to ease monetization options like in-app purchases into the mix.

In this video, we’re going to show you exactly how to set up and customize a coin shop. We’ll also explore what you can put in your game shop and different ways for players to buy characters.

You’ll learn how to add character purchasing features to your shop, and we’ll explain the various character settings available further as well. The lesson will also teach you how to add unlock buttons to each item or character for advanced monetization later down the line.

There’s also a really effective trick included in this lesson on creating multiple characters via duplication that will make it easy to fill up your shop with unique unlockable characters.

9. Exporting

After you make your own game it’s vital that you take the time to review and prepare it for exporting. In this lesson we’ll further explain the settings options and explore the general tab section.

You’ll learn how to get your game ready for export and all the necessary information you need to fill out to get your app up and running in your chosen platform’s marketplace.

With Buildbox you can easily export your game to any platform including Android, Windows, iOS, Mac, Steam, Apple TV and more. Our game engine also automatically adjusts button and interface positions as needed for different devices so your game will look great on any device family you choose to export it to.

In this brief tutorial you’ll learn how easy it is to fill out the necessary information, choose export target, and let Buildbox automatically export all files in code for compiling in the platform of your choice.

10. Tips Tricks and Hacks

Now that you know how to make a game app without coding, we’re going to backtrack and reveal some of the best tips and hacks to get the most out of our software. We’ll revisit some of our previous lessons and show you a few new tricks to help take your game to that next-level.

In this last video, you’ll learn a clever tip to get your collision shapes precise. We’ll show you how to give your character an exploding death, so it looks like he shatters into tiny little versions of himself.

We’ll explore some of the other notable features in Buildbox like the menu jump and event observer and show you how you can integrate timers within your gameplay. You’ll also learn a secret tip about making secret worlds unrepeatable.

After you’ve completed the tenth and final video in our course series, we encourage you to join our official forum to learn more about how to make your own game using Buildbox.

BONUS: POLISHING YOUR GAME

There’s one more aspect of creating games that we haven’t covered yet in this series. Polishing your game. Virtually every successful game is polished in one way or another. In this special bonus video we’ll teach you exactly what polish is and how to properly add it to your game.

We’ll reveal some of the late stage design decisions we made with GLTCH and provide some core tips that you can use to build your own game. We’ll cover several effective strategies to use when you’re adding the final touches to your app to make it appear more polished. You’ll also learn the steps necessary to make your game publisher ready.

Polishing your game is all about finding that perfect balance between minimal and simple but sleek. Throughout this bonus video from the Make Your Own Game series you’ll learn a faster way to make design decisions. Watch and follow along as we clean up the UI of GLTCH.

We’ll share some essential game design principles like elegance and tips that you can use to make your own game appear more minimal yet sleek. You’ll also learn the most important rule you need to follow in order to make your game publisher ready and much more.

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Do you know how to make a game?

Perhaps this is a sentiment you’ve thought of before as you daydreamed about your video game project that could be amazing if only you could make it reality. Of course, you could hire a small studio to make it for you, but most people don’t have a spare $1,000+ laying around to afford even a few days of programmer and artist labor. Instead, many opt for the route of building computer games themselves, since that only costs your own time. That still begs the same question though: how do you even get started making games?

This question comes with a bunch of other questions as well. What game engine should you use? Where is the best place to publish your game? How much programming do you need to learn before you start making your games? Do you even need to know how to code to make a game? How do you design a game?

In this guide, we will aim to provide a baseline understanding of as many questions as possible, both in terms of how to plan out your video game , what engines you can use, and so forth. While this guide won’t specifically cover creating your first game from scratch, it will lead you in the right direction so that you will be able to do that via the resources provided.

So, if you’re ready to learn how to make a game, let’s dive in.

Table of contents

What is Game Development?

Before we dive into some other aspects, we briefly want to discuss what is game development . After all, if you want to create your own video game , having a good understanding of the technical jargon can put you on the right footing.

Game development – put simply – is the process by which we take ideas, design, and technical tools to, well, make a video game. While technically this could apply to any game, including board games, it’s usually used to specifically refer to games made for PC , mobile, and consoles.

However, the game development process is not a static thing – it’s different for every game, every company, and every person. So, when making games, just be aware there is no set specific steps. Some games will be more asset heavy and require a lot more time and effort put into 3D modeling. Some will have complex mechanics requiring hours of coding . It all depends on the specific game.

Nevertheless, be prepared to hear the word game development a lot as you dive into how to make a game. It is a keyword that will help you look for resources, as well as just understand and be better informed as you gather more information.

What is the Cycle of Game Development?

When making games, there is a general cycle that many game projects follow, whether we’re talking about a huge 200-person studio or a solo indie project. This process is integral in learning how to make a game, as it will dictate pretty much everything from your first project to your 100th project. We will delve into each section in-depth, but as a brief overview, the cycle is as follows when it comes to making a game:

Thinking of an idea: Developing an idea in your head of what you want the game to be.
Designing the game: Developing that idea further, creating documents , and formulating each of the systems, levels, art style , etc.
Making the game: This is where you begin to create the game. Many people like to develop a very simple version of their game with basic graphics to quickly get a feel for how it will play before polishing everything. We’ll dive more into this process later, but keep in mind it’s no more important in how to make a game than the other items on this list.
Testing the game: Showing the game to other people. As the developer, you already know everything about the game, so in order to know if the game works, is fun to play, easy to understand, etc., you need people testing it out . This process should also be done regularly as new changes to the game might change how people play it.
Finalizing the game: In a sense, no game is ever finished. You either run out of time or money. Eventually, you need to, or feel you need to, finish up on the game and get it out there.
Publishing the game: This is when you publish your game for everyone in the world to see.

In your journey of game making, Zenva’s Game Development Mini-Degrees can empower you with the right skills and knowledge. These comprehensive courses are structured with real-world projects that not only take you from zero experience to becoming a proficient game developer, but they also ensure you have a diverse portfolio to show for it. Covering an array of topics from Godot to Unity, Unreal Engine, Roblox , game design, game artwork, and Phaser, these Mini-Degrees make for a remarkable resource to master game development fundamentals.

5 Steps in the Cycle of Game Development

Thinking of a Game Idea

Everyone has an idea of what their dream video game would be, but not many people can actually make that a reality. Still, we assume since you’re here to learn how to make a game, you’re ready to take the steps necessary to turn those dreams to reality.

If you’re wanting to learn to make video games, it may seem tempting to just jump in and create your game with all the amazing technology that’s available. But I don’t recommend you do that. When creating a game, you need to think about scope . Ask yourself: how long will this take to make? Do I have all the skills required to make this game? Do I have an understanding of the game and how I might make it?

Understanding your game is the most vital part. You may have the story in your head, the setting, or some of the mechanics – but to understand your game, you need to know every aspect. How each of the systems interact, what the player can/can’t do, the goal, etc. This may seem like a lot of stuff to keep track of, but do remember that large games are created by large companies.

As a solo game developer , I’ve found the best way of creating a manageable game with an appropriate scope, is this method:

Think of a core mechanic. Mario’s jumping or the grappling hook in Just Cause are but a few examples of core mechanics.
Develop the game around that core mechanic. Every feature of the game should encourage players to use the core mechanic.

Let’s take Mario for example. Mario’s core mechanic is jumping . Pretty much every aspect of the game required the player to jump.

Jumping on enemies
Jumping up to punch blocks
Jumping over gaps
Jumping on the flag at the end of the level

This is part of the reason why the Mario games (especially the earlier ones) were so successful. The developers focused on building the game around one core mechanic to make it as fun, polished and versatile as possible. Here’s a list of resources to help you develop a game idea and figure out a core mechanic:

How to Come up with New Game Ideas – by Gamasutra
Designing Around a Core Mechanic – by Gamasutra
Why Your Core Mechanics Should Come First in Game Development – by Game Dev Underground

Designing your Game

Let’s move on to the next core of how to make a game – game design .

So you’ve got an idea and need to develop it further. If you’ve got a small game with one or two mechanics then you could probably just keep that in your head, but if it’s any larger or especially if you’re working in a team, you need to document it.

A game design document is what you can use in order to layout: the idea of the game, how it works, the goal, the player, interactions, art style, theme, etc. You should be able to give a GDD (game design document) to two people and have them both develop a fairly similar game. If you’re working in a team, then this is necessary to communicate how you want to make your game. Here’s some helpful resources to do with GDDs:

How to Write a Game Design Document – by Gamasutra
Game Design Document Template – by Game Dev Underground
How to Design a Game: Game Design Documents by Tim Bonzon

Now in terms of actually designing the game – that’s up to you. Game design is one of those fields where there’s no 100% way to do something. There’s no formula for creating a unique and fun game. This doesn’t mean there are no good practices or guidelines you should follow. Knowing game design can help you develop a game that’s engaging and easy for the player to understand. Here are some online resources which can help you in game design:

Game Design Academy
Game Maker’s Toolkit
7 Must Read Books for Game Designers
Basic Principles of Game Design – by Brackeys
Game Developers Conference

What Type of Game Do You Want to Create?

When thinking of a game to make, you probably also know what type it’s going to be. Here’s a list of different types of games and platforms you can develop for.

2D is what most game engines provide and is generally the best step for beginner game developers.
3D is what many of the most popular game engines provide and is also a great first step for beginners.
Mobile can open you up to an entirely new market and user interface with touch controls.
Virtual Reality is a rapidly growing sector of the gaming industry and allows for immersive experiences.
Augmented Reality is a technology that has uses both in and out of the games industry – so there are lots of applications for it.

How to Make a Game – What is a Game Engine?

With an idea in your head and a plan down on paper (hopefully), it’s time to get to the “how” in our question of how to make a game. However, there is a crucial step that will determine the entire process: which engine do you use and which coding language should you learn?

These are all questions you should ask yourself, but there is no one answer. What to learn will depend on the types of games you want to create, your current skills, and whether or not you even want to learn programming.

So what is a game engine? A game engine is a piece of software or a framework that allows you as a developer to create games. It provides a platform to structure your game, build levels, assign logic to objects and build it to your specified platform. There are a large number of game engines out there, with each of them providing different features and specialties.

Below is a list of some popular game engines, the type of games you can create with them, and the skills you’ll need to learn. We have a detailed blog post about the various different game engines you can read here as well in case you need a bit more time to decide. You may also want to delve into what the best coding languages are for game development too.

Unity is the most popular engine out there on the market right now, with many online learning resources to get you started. Unity prides itself on being very accessible, allowing almost any type of game to be created. When it comes to learning how to make a game, it’s also a good start as it offers a free plan so those learning the engine have the option to do so.

What types of games can I create? Unity is one of the most versatile engines, allowing you to create: 3D , 2D , VR , AR , and multiplayer games on a large number of platforms.

Do I need to learn a programming language? Unity uses the C# language, although there are many visual scripting plugins available to purchase, along with an integrated solution coming soon to the engine.

Unity Website
Unity User Manual
Unity YouTube Channel
Unity Game Development Mini-Degree
How to Make a Video Game in Unity – by Brackeys
How to Make a 2D Game in Unity – by Brackeys
Unity 101 – Game Development and C# Foundations – by Zenva
Unity Programming for Human Beings – by Jesse Glover and Pablo Farias Navarro
Unity Animation for Beginners – by Tim Bonzon
2D RPGs with Unity
3D RPGs with Unity
Strategy Games with Unity
Virtual Reality with Unity
Augmented Reality with Unity
Multiplayer with Unity
Survival Games with Unity
Mobile Games with Unity
Introduction to Game Development with Unity and C# – by Sebastian Lague

Shader Graph demo example from Unity Engine

Unreal Engine , is developed by Epic Games and features powerful 3D graphics. Alongside Unity as one of the most popular game engines, Unreal is also used by many AAA game studios . Nevertheless, if you want power behind your projects, it’s a great way to start learning how to make a game.

What types of games can I create? Unreal is primarily a 3D engine although it does support 2D. You can also develop VR, AR, and multiplayer games .

Do I need to learn a programming language? Unreal Engine features a powerful integrated visual scripter, which is ideal for beginners. The engine can also be used with C++ .

Unreal Engine Website
Unreal Engine Getting Started
Unreal Engine YouTube Channel
Unreal Game Development Mini-Degree
Intro to Unreal 5
Unreal Mini-Projects
Getting Started in Unreal Engine 4 – by Ryan Manning
Intro to Blueprints – by Unreal Engine
User Interface and Getting Started – by AstrumSensei
RTS Game with Unreal
RPGs with Unreal
FPS with Unreal
Puzzle Games with Unreal
Platformers with Unreal
Arcade Games with Unreal
Unreal Engine 101 – 3D Game Creation – by Zenva
Beginner’s Guide to Game Development with Unreal Engine – by Daniel Buckley
Unreal Engine 4 Beginners Tutorial – by Zenva

Game demo as seen in Unreal Engine 4 Editor

Godot , is an open-source engine which can be used to create 2D and 3D games. Since the engine is open source , there are constant fixes and features being added, along with customized versions made by developers. The open source nature also makes the engine free – which is perfect when you’re just starting out your journey in how to make a game.

What types of games can I create? Godot can be used to create 2D and 3D games , with many new upcoming features to their 3D engine.

Do I need to learn a programming language? Godot primarily uses their GDScript language (similar to Python ), but also has support for C# and C++.

Godot Website
Godot Documentation
Godot GitHub
Godot YouTube Channel
Godot Game Development Mini-Degree
Learn Godot by Building a Platformer
Godot Tutorials – by Zenva
Learn the Godot Game Engine in 50 Minutes – by Zenva
Godot Beginners Tutorial – by Jeremy Bullock
Your First Game – by Godot
Godot 101 – Game Engine Foundations – by Zenva
Godot Game Development for Beginners – by Daniel Buckley
2D RPGs with Godot
3D RPGs with Godot
FPS Games with Godot
Strategy Games with Godot
How to Make a Complete Game with Godot – by Daniel Buckley

Phaser , is an open-source, 2D framework for making HTML5 games . Unlike the previously mentioned engines, Phaser does not have a user interface. Instead, it provides you with a game programming library you can use while programming. Certainly a bit more difficult when learning how to make a game, but also doesn’t overwhelm you with a ton of tools that take a lot of time to learn.

What types of games can I create? With Phaser, you can create 2D games for desktop and mobile .

Do I need to learn a programming language? Phaser uses JavaScript .

Phaser Website
Phaser Community Tutorial List
Phaser Mini-Degree
Getting Started with Phaser 3 – by Gamefromscratch
How to Create a Game with Phaser 3 – by Zenva
Phaser Tutorial List – by Zenva
Free eBook – How to Create a Game with Phaser 3 – by Pablo Farias Navarro
Phaser 101 – Introduction to Game Development – by Zenva
Learn Phaser by Building a Road-Crossing Game
Quizzes with Phaser
Virtual Pets with Phaser
Mario-Style Platformers with Phaser

Phaser concept example as seen in mobile phone

Testing Your Game

Testing your game is an important part of how to make a game and an equally crucial step in how to make a game. How do you know if something is going to be obvious to the player? Will they know where to go? What to do? For you it may seem obvious, but for someone who has never seen the game before – things might be very different. This is why it’s important to test your game all throughout development.

Something to keep in mind, this is also your chance to make sure your game is stable, checking for crashes, consistent FPS*, and more. These won’t be as obvious as bugs, but still play a role in making games and getting them out to others.

Here’s some resources for learning more about testing your game:

Design 101: Playtesting – by Gamasutra
Five Tips for Better Playtesting – by Gamasutra
How to Get Good Feedback on Your Game – by Extra Credits
How to Create a Critical Path Walkthrough on Games – by Johnn Four
Testing and Debugging in Unity – by Zenva
The Complete Guide to Debugging Phaser Games – by Ben Sparks

* If you just asked “What are FPS “, FPS stands for frames per second. It is how many times, per second, an image is drawn to the screen. When starting on your how to make a game journey, all you need to know is that, at the bare minimum, most games are expected to run at 30fps – but the larger the number the smoother the animation.

Finalizing Your Game

Some game developers will say that the first 90% of your game will take 10% of the time, and the last 10% will take 90% of the time. This is a bit of an overstatement, but the idea is still the same. This is where you’re ironing out the bugs, adding in the final art style , polishing everything, and doing some final testing. Still, these steps aren’t to be ignored and just as important to learning how to make a game.

Here are some resources to help you get through the final step of finishing your game:

9 Tips To Help You Finish Your Indie Game – by Game Dev Underground
How to Finish Your Game – by Gamasutra
How to Improve Game Feel in Three Easy Ways by Ji-Young Kim
How to Playtest your Game – Game Design Tips by Cypress Reeves

Two programmers showcasing exhaustion and happiness

Publishing Your Game

With your game now complete, you probably want to show some people (as publishing the game is indeed part of how to make a game). Luckily, we live in a time where putting your game out there is easier than ever before. There are many online platforms to publish to. Some are free and some are paid. Here’s a list of those platforms, the requirements and how you can get started:

Itch.io is a popular platform for indie developers. It’s free to publish your game here.
Game Jolt is another popular platform for indie developers, allowing you to publish your game there for free.
Steam is the largest distributor of PC and VR games. $100 through Steam Direct .
Epic Games Store is a relatively new and growing PC game distributor, similar to Steam. Complete a form for Epic to consider your game.
Google Play Store is a store for Android apps. There’s a one-time $25 registration fee .
Apple’s App Store is one of the largest mobile app distribution platforms. $99 a year to publish .
Playstation Store is an online store for Playstation games. Free to apply .
Microsoft Store is an online store for Xbox and PC games. Free to apply .
Nintendo Game Store is an online store for Switch and DS games. Free to apply .

Virtual Reality

Oculus Store is an online store for VR games that use an Oculus headset. Free to apply .
Steam is an online store for VR games. $100 through Steam Direct .

Here’s a list of resources which can help you deploy, publish, and market your game:

How to Market Your Indie Game! – by Jonas Tyroller
Making Your First Game: Launching! – by Extra Credits
How to Make and Self Publish a Game in 12 Months – by GDC
Git and Github – Version Control and Collaboration – by Zenva

Game creation is hard work and takes some time. Learning these skills also won’t come to you overnight. Theory is one thing, but understanding what it takes to make a game is another thing entirely (let alone working with programming languages ). Even if you are an expert programmer or artist, certain phases and skills in the cycle of game development can’t be skipped over no matter what you do.

But the best way to improve and learn how to make a game is by making games .

So, start making games the first day you begin your learning journey , as I can guarantee it will excel your learning tremendously. There’s a lot of technology out there for you to use, so don’t hesitate to try different ones in order to find what serves you best. However, the skills and resources provided here will give you a great stepping stone, and part of making is a game is how you plan to make that game.

As you embark on your journey to game creation, resources such as Zenva’s Game Development Mini-Degrees can provide comprehensive, hands-on training in various game development platforms like Godot, Unity, Unreal Engine, and more. Each Mini-Degree, designed to progress you from a beginner to an industry-ready developer, offers an array of learning modalities from video tutorials to interactive quizzes, all whilst assisting you in building your own game development portfolio . Moreover, their game design and artwork sections could be vital in enhancing your understanding of game aesthetics and storytelling.

Good luck out there, and I wish you the best of luck with your game maker journey!

Did you come across any errors in this tutorial? Please let us know by completing this form and we’ll look into it!

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Video Game Design and Development

Encouragement, advice, and support for aspiring game designers.

Learn to Design Video Games with GameDesigning.org

Video Game Design demystified–Learn everything you need to become a game designer (professional or indie).

Welcome to the one-stop shop for all things game design (we’re happy you made it). This page is the central hub–it’s where we unpack the craft and touch on the majority of the info you can find throughout the site.

If this is your first time here, this is a great place to start.

First things first — What is Video Game Design?

Game Design refers to the complete process of generating an idea for a game and taking it all the way to a final, playable product.

Many people think exclusively of video games, but game design covers all kinds of games (board games, card games, video games, etc).

Game mechanics
Core game concept
Character design
Narrative and plot
Level design

And that’s just the obvious stuff. Video games need to be coded, tested, and debugged (and tested again, debugged again, tested again, debugged aga–you get the point).

Ultimately, your goal as a game designer is to create a game that’s fun. A game that players can enjoy, revisit often and lose themselves in. After all, a great video game can actually be good for you 🙂

It doesn’t take a Skyrim-caliber game for players to get hooked. You could make a text-based game right now on Twine that could transport people to a different world (but you’ll probably need to hone your skills before you create a real winner–so let’s keep going, shall we?).

How to Become a Game Designer

But, becoming a good game designer will take much more time .

The simplest path is by designing games. The simple path is not the easy path (unless mom and dad have serious connections, there is no “easy path” to game design). But you wouldn’t be here if you were on the easy path (the “simple” path is far more rewarding, anyway). As you continue your research into game design, you will see this sentiment echoed over and over–Want to be a game designer? Then design games. This advice might seem daunting. It might not sound sexy. It might not be the “secret tips and tricks” you were looking for. But it’s the only way to do what you’re trying to do.

And you can start right now. We have lists of great tutorials and guides for beginners, covering more than enough topics for you to get started.

Interested in learning more about game programming languages, or Java, Flash, Unity , or Blender?

We have you covered (and then some!).

Or, if you’re looking for formal education, you can head to a different corner of our site.

Getting a Game Design Education

If the world of online game design courses still isn’t “formal” enough for you, there are colleges that offer game design courses.

How to Find the Best Game Design Schools

The number of schools offering game design programs continues to grow–so check out our convenient lists of popular game design schools or digital animation schools for a good place to start your search.

You’ll also find some programs that are in between the freedom of a self-paced online course and the rigid and expensive education of a college program.

CG Spectrum and Animation Mentor are a couple of programs we recommend.

The point is, you have options. Whatever your other life commitments are, there is a workable solution for learning game design.

But remember, a program certificate or a game design degree are not the only ways to enter the field (and they’re far from a guarantee):

It’s a competitive field
Game design programs are growing in number
The supply of game design graduates has grown beyond the demand for them

Not to mention the majority of industry veterans broke into the industry without getting a game design degree–the game design degree is a fairly new phenomenon.

The degree likely won’t be the differentiator… No, your portfolio is the key.

Building Your Portfolio

Prove to the hiring managers that you actually have some talent in your craft. Show your character design skills. Show your creativity in level design. And definitely show off your ability to design a fun, polished game. Hiring managers aren’t expecting AAA projects on your portfolio–your games can be simple and clever. Shoot for fun, different, unique, and well-executed.

P.S. If you get a college degree in game design, you still need to put some extra-curricular time into your portfolio.

If your portfolio only has projects you completed at school, it will look like thousands of other game design students’ portfolios, who completed similar projects in similar programs.

You need to differentiate yourself. The only way to do that is to create your own games. Create in your free time. Create with your friends. Create create create!

Getting a Job

So your portfolio is the differentiator.

The next step is to figure out where you want to work .

Some cities, like Vancouver, are game design and animation studio hotbeds.

There are entry-level video game jobs you can get that could eventually lead to advancement opportunities.

When you find promising game development studios, see if you can invite an employee out to coffee and pick their brain about how they got where they did.

Find ways to network that work for you. Build up your contact list as you make projects, interact in online game design forums, or attend classes.

Talk to people. Work on projects and collaborate with other aspiring game designers. Stay in touch with like-minded individuals. Surround yourself with motivated people. Offer feedback on their projects. Solicit feedback on your own projects.

If a paid gig isn’t on the cards, do your best to land a game development internship. These are great ways to learn the business, get some experience, and grow your portfolio. Do a good job, and you can turn that internship into a paid job.

If a big studio doesn’t call you, there’s always the possibility of starting your own studio. Technology makes it easy to start an indie game company (but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to succeed).

Wherever you want to go with game design, you’ve taken a great first step in the right direction–you’ve started researching.

Good luck with your journey (and let us know how we can help)!

Send us mail:

Lake House Media 7910 4TH ST N STE 300 ST. PETERSBURG, FL 33702

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How to Develop Your Own Video Game from Scratch

Last Updated: May 1, 2024 References

Setting Up for Success

Developing your game.

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Travis Boylls . Travis Boylls is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. Travis has experience writing technology-related articles, providing software customer service, and in graphic design. He specializes in Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux platforms. He studied graphic design at Pikes Peak Community College. This article has been viewed 950,020 times. Learn more...

Today, more people are playing video games than ever before, which means there's a lot of room for new people to come in and make something great. While making a video game is somewhat complex, it's also incredibly fun and rewarding. We'll show you how to get started, from learning to code to releasing the game.

Things You Should Know

Get comfortable with common programming languages, like C++ or Java, as well as graphics software like Blender.
Choose a game engine that complements your game's style and needs, and build a prototype in the engine.
Program, polish, and playtest your game with the help of a team or volunteers before releasing it on your desired platforms.

If you've never designed a game before, start simple. Your first game should be a learning experience, not a masterpiece. The goal for your first game should be to make something that is playable as quickly as possible. Even if it's only a one-room level, with bad collision detection. Don't give up! Be proud of it. Your next game will be even better. Soon you'll be making games people want to play. [1] X Research source
Consider going to work for a professional gaming company before developing your own game. You'll have a much easier time making a successful game and getting investors if you have the experience, education, and a well-known game attached to your name. This might require going to school or acquiring some skills, but it's still working towards your goal and it will be worth it in the end.

C++ : C++ is one of the most common programming languages. It's also one of the most difficult languages to learn, but it's worth it. C++ gives you more control over the computer hardware and graphical processes. Many game engines, such as Unreal, only accept information written in C++
Java: Java is another common language that is used in a variety of applications. It is similar to C++, which makes it easy to learn alongside C++
SQL : SQL stands for Structured Query Language. It is used to interact with online databases. If your game requires players to create an online account, or interact with other players online or features, you will need a database to manage all the user information. You can use SQL to create and manage the database.
HTML , CSS, JavaScript: HTML/HTML5, CSS/CSS3, and JavaScript are all web development languages. They're all pretty easy to learn, but not used very often in game development. However, if you are new to game development, you can use these basic languages to make web browser-based games.

Step 3 Learn about different graphics software.

If you don't think that you are a very good artist, consider using a minimalist art style. Many popular independent games are designed using an 8-bit pixel art style. Not only is it easier to draw, it evokes a sense of nostalgia in many gamers. Other games are designed using simple geometric shapes.

Step 4 Decide what game engine you want to use.

Unity: is a powerful game engine. It supports both 2D and 3D games and is not too difficult to learn. Many mobile and independent games are designed using Unity.
Unreal 4: Unreal is another popular game engine. It does have a steep learning curve and is not recommended for beginner game designers. However, it is a powerful game engine used to create stunning visuals. Many popular games, including Fortnite, Mortal Kombat 11, and Final Fantasy VII Remake are designed in Unreal 4.
Game Maker Studio 2: Game Maker Studio is a good game engine for those who don't have a lot of experience working with game engines. It's mostly used in making 2D games and has an interface that's pretty easy to use.
Scratch: Scratch is an online game maker developed by MIT as an educational tool. If you have no experience with game design at all, this may be a good place to start.

Design a captivating game. Game players today crave engaging and streamlined experiences. Focus on easy-to-learn rules and quick setup for a smooth start. Prioritize mechanics that avoid repetitiveness and ensure every turn feels impactful. Design for speed and engagement to keep players hooked, eliciting a response of "just one more game!"

Step 7 Consider your finances or schedule.

To make an average quality indie game, you will need roughly in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Major titles often take in the millions of dollars to develop.
A lot of games have been developed using crowdfunding. Websites like Kickstarter , and Fig can be great ways to raise money for a project. But you'll want to make sure you have the skills to deliver on the product you are selling. While plenty of crowdfunding campaigns have been a success, plenty have also failed.

What are my strengths as a designer?
What are my weaknesses?
What kind of game can I make based on my strengths?
What is the genre of the game?
What are some game mechanics that you find make a game enjoyable?
What are some game mechanics you find frustrating?
What games is your game inspired by?
How is it different from other similar games?
What will be the key features of the game?
How long will it take to develop these features?
Are there any features I want that I don't know how to make?
What features can the game do without, if needed?
Does the game have a story?
How does the gameplay fit the story?
What kind of art style do I want for my game?
How can I create this art style?

Your game design document should be split into sections and include a detailed Table of Contents.
Common sections to include cover the story of the game, major and minor characters, the level design, the gameplay, the art, and visual design, the game sounds and music, as well as a breakdown of the controls and user interface design.
The design document should not be limited to text. You will usually find design sketches, concept art, and even items like preview videos or sound samples.
Do not feel limited or too worried about your design document and it's formatting. There is no standard format or required items to include. Just make a document that is organized and fits your game.
Your design document is not set in stone. Things can and do change during a game design project. You may find that certain ideas don't work as well as you thought, or are too complicated. You may also come up with better ideas.

Indie games usually have a team of around 5-20 people. Big-name games can have up to several hundred people working on them!

Don't freak out too much if you go over a deadline. It's going to happen. These days, it's not at all uncommon for games to be delayed. However, if you find it's taking you 3x longer to complete a project or task than you originally thought, that's a good sign that the scope of your project is too large and you may need to scale things back a bit. [6] X Research source

If there are certain assets you want for your game, but you don't know how/don't have the time to make, many game engines have an assets store where you can purchase game assets made by other users and use them in your game. This can include characters, objects, music, and more.

Try making a name for yourself in the indie gaming community. The indie game development community is strong, supportive and welcoming. If you're good about supporting, promoting, discussing, and helping them with their projects, they'll return the same in kind. Talk with them, get to know them, and let them get to know you. You'll be surprised what you can accomplish with a community behind you.

Community Q&A

Keep learning. If you ever need help, ask for it. There are billions of helpful people on making a game so don't ever be afraid to ask or seek for it. And remember, there is always room for improvement so keep studying and learning about making games. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Don't spend too much time developing your first games. Experience is more important for new game designers than the final product. You'll learn something new with each project. So finish up those first few games and move on to the next project. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Remember to backup your files frequently. You never know when your computer may crash. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z06QR-tz1_o
↑ https://www.gamedesigning.org/career/programming-languages/
↑ https://www.idtech.com/blog/different-types-of-video-game-genres
↑ http://stemchallenge.org/resources/game-design-documents/
↑ https://www.nyfa.edu/student-resources/forming-solid-indie-game-development-team/
↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHMNeNapL1E

About This Article

1. Plan your game. 2. Learn visual software and game engines. 3. Build a basic prototype. 4. Look for financing from loans and investors. 5. Build a team. 6. Set deadlines. 7. Create a design document. 8. Create the game assets. 9. Create the scripting. 10. Test the game. 11. Fine-tune the game. 12. Promote the game. 13. Publish the game. Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to make a videogame (with no experience)

How to make a game: getting started
How to make a game: Learning the basics
How to make a game: organising your game

Did you know that Super Mario Run was made with a free game engine you could download and use today? Now I'm not going to lie and say making a game is the easiest thing in the world but it's way easier than you think and, honestly, once you've decided to start, you'd be amazed how easily it all comes together. There's obviously some effort involved - you don't get anything for free - but the hardest part is just getting started and then sticking with it. Consider this a guide about how to help yourself do that, as much as anything else. What programs should you use? Where should you get help? What to do if you get stuck? Remember you're making this game, I'm just going to point you in the right direction.

What are the best programs to make your own game?

There are a lot of options out there but I’m going to be recommending two: GameMaker Studio and Unity 3D . Both of these have free versions you can use to learn from and get to grips with, and both produce games that are easily exported to PC. They also run well on console (although that’s a step up from anything you’ll be doing anytime soon, due to the need for debug consoles and developer licenses).

Let’s take a quick run through each of those, and a few other options.

GameMaker: Studio

Famous games created with it: Spelunky, Hotline Miami, Crashlands, Downwell, Nidhogg, Nuclear Throne.

Best for: 2D games

Strengths : One of GameMaker’s biggest strengths is its easy to grasp bespoke language. While some ‘real’ programmers might sneer at its simplicity, it's fast to learn and create with, and as powerful as you need it to be. With only a few simple commands you can get blocks moving and shooting enemies in a matter of hours. It’s a good gateway into coding as well as, while it doesn’t necessarily translate directly into other languages, it sets you up to understand concepts and structures that do. It also has a drag and drop icon-based programming system using pictures instead of words, but it really is best to jump straight to the freedom and flexibility of code.

Realistically, this is the best option if you’re just working on your own.

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Weaknesses : GameMaker can also do 3D stuff but it’s not something it’s really known for, hence the majority of its games being 2D. GameMaker Studio 2 is also currently in beta so you might want to wait for that to release fully before diving in here.

Famous games created with it : Ori and the Blind Forest, Inside, Yooka-Laylee, Layers of Fear, Super Mario Run, Firewatch, Pokemon Go

Best for : 3D games

Strengths : Unity is the free engine many full sized studios like Ubi and Nintendo use to make games. Numerous titles you’ve probably heard of and played were made with this, and it’s hugely versatile. It’s predominantly 3D focused but recently upgraded its 2D capabilities to directly compete with GameMaker. While there’s a focus more on ‘proper’ coding, basic tools like a 3D FPS controller exist as ready to use modules without coding, and you can block out and create something playable incredibly quickly with next to no code. The game also has a huge marketplace full of premade game specific modules to buy (although many are free). So controller stuff, animation, objects and more can simply be added in.

Weaknesses : You will need to learn some serious code. Unity runs C# and JavaScript which are both common languages used in a variety of applications. It’s not impossible to learn but far from beginner's stuff. Unity requires mastery of a lot of skilled facets too, from 3D animation, modelling and more, making it best for teams. It is not a good choice for going it alone.

Other options

GameMaker and Unity are the most popular options by far but not the only ones. Twine , for example, is incredibly popular for text-based games and can create playable narratives incredibly quickly. While things like Construct 2 and Clickteam Fusion 2.5 are good options if you absolutely don’t want to code and prefer to use drag and drop icons, but suffer some limitations as a result.

Current page: How to make a game: getting started

I'm GamesRadar's Managing Editor for guides, which means I run GamesRadar's guides and tips content . I also write reviews, previews and features, largely about horror, action adventure, FPS and open world games. I previously worked on Kotaku, and the Official PlayStation Magazine and website.

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Learn How to Code Video Games: A Beginner's Guide

Time to read: 7 minutes

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Video game development is a unique field that lets you combine your passion for gaming with technical skills, using your imagination to create wonderful, immersive experiences for gamers to enjoy. As a video game coder, you can contribute to projects with intricate gameplay mechanics, compelling worlds, and captivating stories. Being a part of these projects can provide an incredible sense of accomplishment.

Beyond the fun of being a game creator, skills in video game coding can open doors to careers and growth in a thriving industry. Your skill set will be a valuable asset, highly sought after in the video game industry and technology-related fields.

So how do you get started with video game coding? In this article, we’ll set you up with an introduction to key concepts and point you in the direction of initial steps to take.

We’ll begin our journey with an introduction to the game engine.

What is a game engine?

A game engine is a software framework used by coders to develop video games. Coding a video game at a high level is already enough. You don’t want to get stuck in the weeds dealing with rendering graphics, handling user input, or implementing physics laws in your game world. These (and others) are concerns that a game engine will handle for you.

Game engines streamline the development process, providing coders with reusable code and tools. Instead of coding everything from scratch, a game engine allows coders to focus their attention on designing gameplay and building unique experiences.

Overall, your choice of game engine will impact the gaming platform, along with the game you build. Each engine has its distinct features, strengths, and weaknesses, so choosing the right one is crucial. Popular game engines used by developers today include Unity, Unreal Engine, and Godot.

Let’s take a brief look at each.

Unity , known for its platform versatility (PC, consoles, and mobile devices), is an attractive option for aspiring video game programmers. Many coders consider the game engine accessible because it has a large developer community with extensive resources, documentation, and tutorials to help new developers. Builders on the Unity platform can also take advantage of the Unity Asset Store , where they’ll find assets like 3D character models, texture graphics, and audio (music and sound effects) to add to their games.

When building on the Unity game engine, coders write most of their game code in C#.

Unreal Engine

Unreal Engine boasts high-quality graphics and performance, in addition to a large developer community and extensive documentation.

For those entirely new to programming, Unreal Engine arguably has a steeper learning curve than Unity. It’s also worth noting that games built on Unreal Engine become part of the Epic Games ecosystem, meaning you’ll need to agree to royalty-based revenue sharing of your game with Epic Games.

When building on the Unreal Engine game engine, coders write most of their game code in C++.

Godot is an excellent choice for video game coders looking for a free, open-source game engine for 2D and 3D games. There are no royalties or subscription fees associated with using Godot.

Although the community of Godot developers is active and growing, the game engine isn’t as mature and feature-rich compared to Unity or Unreal Engine. Plus, platform support for consoles may be scarce. Still, Godot’s simplicity makes it a good choice for new video game coders.

When building on the Godot game engine, coders use GDScript, which is similar to Python yet more accessible for beginners than C# or C++.

We’ve mentioned how certain game engines require programming in specific languages. Let’s spend some time covering programming languages commonly used in video game development.

Coding languages for video games

While the game engine you choose to build with may limit your choice of programming language, your coding learning journey can intersect with some other programming languages as well. Here’s a brief overview of languages commonly associated with video game coding.

C++

C++ is a powerful language well-suited for game development and widely used in the gaming industry. The language shares many similarities with traditional software programming languages like C . Plus, it gives you great flexibility and control over hardware resources—though it can also be a challenge to learn and master.

Resources for learning C++:

Learn C++ from Codecademy
C++ for Programmers (free course from Udacity)
LearnCpp.com (a website with a full course of C++ tutorials)

C# (pronounced C sharp) is a versatile, object-oriented language. Most programmers consider it to be more straightforward to learn and use than C++ because it handles memory management for you. It also includes features (such as strong type checking and exception handling) to help beginners with debugging and catching errors. It’s also very similar to traditional software programming languages like Java and offers a good balance between performance and accessibility.

Resources for learning C#:

Learn C# from Codecademy
Complete C# Unity Game Developer 2D (or 3D course from Udemy)
Learn C# Programming (online tutorial from Programiz)

Python is a scripting language used in lots of domains, including data science, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning. Its syntax is straightforward, making it more accessible for beginners to understand immediately. Although Python isn’t as common for developing high-performance games, it’s sometimes great for creating game prototypes. GDScript is similar to Python.

Resources for learning Python:

Learn Python 3 from Codecademy
Interactive Python Tutorial from LearnPython.org
Getting Started With Python (free course from Coursera and the University of Michigan)

Lua is a lightweight scripting language known for its flexibility and performance. While not typically a core language for video game development, coders sometimes use it to manage game logic and AI behavior. Lua is the foundation of game engines such as CryEngine and LÖVE , which are lesser-known frameworks but still noteworthy.

Resources for learning Lua:

Learn Lua from Codecademy
Lua Programming and Game Development With LÖVE (course from Udemy)
Learn Lua in 15 Minutes (online tutorial)

JavaScript is a versatile scripting language—within the context of video game coding—mainly used for developing web-based, in-browser games. Since JavaScript is native to modern web browsers, developers can create interactive and engaging games for play directly in a browser without requiring additional plugins or installations.

When combined with HTML5 and WebGL, JavaScript can create 2D and 3D games. This makes it attractive for developers aiming to reach a wide audience through accessible web games.

Resources for learning JavaScript:

Learn JavaScript from Codecademy
JavaScript First Steps from Mozilla Developer Network
JavaScript Programming (video course from freeCodeCamp)

Now that we’ve covered game engines and languages, let’s wrap up our guide with a road map to get you on your way.

Fundamental steps to get started with video game coding

The journey for learning any new skill—including video game coding—starts with a map. Here’s a list of fundamental steps to take as you learn how to code a game.

Step 1: Acquire basic programming skills

Start by gaining familiarity with a versatile language related to the video game development domain. Choose from any of the languages we’ve detailed above. This will help you build a solid foundation. As you gain experience writing code through tutorials and then projects, your language familiarity will mature toward mastery.

Step 2: Choose a game engine

Research popular game engines like the ones we’ve described above. Select the one that best suits your video game needs and interests. However, remember that your choice of game engine may also impact the programming language(s) that you need to learn.

Step 3: Learn the chosen game engine

Dive into the game engine, coupling your programming skills with your choice of game engine. Follow tutorials, find online courses, and engage with the developer community. As you practice through building sample projects and becoming familiar with the documentation, you’ll grow more comfortable with the engine's features and tools.

Step 4: Develop a basic game prototype

Create a basic game with minimal mechanics, such as a platformer or a puzzle game. Starting with basic games will help you to practice your skills and learn the development process.

Step 5: Participate in game jams

Go get practice in game jams, which are events where developers create games within a short time frame. These events can help you improve your skills, gain experience, and connect with other developers. Here are some resources that may help:

Godot Wild Jam , which occurs on the second Friday of every month and runs for 9 days.
Let’s Make a Game , which is a community-supported calendar of current and upcoming game jams.

Step 6: Seek feedback and iterate

Gather feedback to refine your game and your skills based on the input you receive. Sometimes, you can share your code with programmers who aren’t video game programmers to solicit general coding tips and pointers. Other times, you can share your code with game designers and coders to receive feedback specifically related to game development.

Iteration is a critical part of the development process. So build, test, get feedback, and iterate.

Step 7: Network and collaborate

Connect with other developers, artists, and designers to learn from their experiences. For example, if you choose a programming language, engage with the developer community for that language. Or if you take an online course in programming or game development, interact with the instructor and fellow students. By the same logic, if you choose a game engine, seek out others in that game engine developer community.

As you network with others doing the same things, you can get advice and potentially collaborate on projects. There’s no need (and no use) in going about this alone. Building along others will make you better faster and will leave you more satisfied.

Learn how to code with Twilio

When you’re ready to begin learning how to code video games, look to Twilio Education for practical developer training. Twilio Education supports students, educators, and professional developers as they pursue their coding and career goals.

By providing real-world developer training—including virtual live-training events and hands-on code-along courses—Twilio Education equips budding developers with practical coding skills and knowledge that are valuable in the tech industry and beyond.

Get started with a free on-demand course or live event today.

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What makes GDevelop unique and so easy to use is the event system. Events are a powerful way to express the logic of your game: it's as efficient as coding, but without the complexities of a programming language.

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Using GDevelop for education?

Deliver complete, engaging games, fast. from any device..

Iterate quickly on game mechanics with GDevelop’s “ready made logic chunks” called Behaviors. Lightweight and fast, you can use the desktop app, web-app or mobile app. A single account gives you access to your cloud projects at any time.

Why are professionals using GDevelop

Personally, I hadn't programmed in many years when I started using GDevelop in 2019. I also never felt completely comfortable with traditional programming. It turned out to be incredibly fast for me to get started with GDevelop. Already after following a single tutorial, I was up and running with my first game, which eventually became quite advanced for a beginner.

Fully functional Android and iOS apps have been developed, allowing distributors in this industry to purchase products, view their key business indicators [...]. In addition to achieving a functional app, given the features of GDevelop, visual elements were incorporated to create gamified environments that are much more appealing than a standard platform.

The killer feature for me is how quickly you can throw some graphics on screen to get you started and refine/tweak things from there. I am a very visual person so the ability to get something on screen quickly helps me think about what i want to do with that particular scene.

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Video games for brands reaching millions of players, museum’s interactive projects, HR apps... The possibilities are endless and GDevelop will help you get there.

Game Development Tutorials

Learn how to use GDevelop step-by-step or get help with a specific feature. We have game-making tutorials for beginners and the wiki has complete documentation for the app.

How To Get Started

Learn the basics of GDevelop and game creation. Start in a few minutes thanks to our playlist of 5 minutes video, and start making your own game today.

How To Make A Video Game - GDevelop Beginner Tutorial

This video goes over all of the basics of creating a platformer game, from basic movement, to enemies and sound effects.

Make Your First Game

Create a wave defense game without coding, using GDevelop. We'll try to cover everything in this series from basic gun mechanics to enemies and more. These tutorials are designed to teach you how to make a game in GDevelop, a no-code, open-source, free, and easy game engine.

The Easiest Way To Create Menus

Every gamedev knows that setting up menus can be a really time consuming task, but with GDevelop's new custom objects, it's one of the quickest parts of the game making process.

Publish on gd.games

This video shows how easy it is to publish your game on gd.games, formerly known as liluo, GDevelop's game hosting platform.

10 Best Game Development Extensions

Extensions make game development a LOT easier, giving you functionality that you would otherwise have to create yourself. Saving you time and energy in the process of developing your game. This video was created to show you the most commonly used extensions in the GDevelop game engine, which is a no-code, open-source, free, and easy game engine.

ChatGPT With GDevelop

This video goes over the basics of GDevelop by creating a quick example game. GDevelop's no code event system, behaviors and extensions, adding sound effects, and more.

5 Ways To Get Your First 10,000 Players

Get your game in front of a larger audience by doing these 5 things. Developing a good game is only half the battle, getting that good game in front of more people increases the chance your game will be a hit. Marketing and sharing your game can be just as much work as creating the game in the first place.

Intro: Object types

This video goes over the object types in GDevelop, and briefly shows what each one can be used for. This will be useful for any game developers who are just starting out with the engine, or someone who doesn't understand some of the object types.

Intro: Event system

This will be useful for any game developers who are just starting out with the engine, or someone who hasn't been using all of the tools the game engine has to offer.

Intro: Variables

In this video, we'll take an introductory look at variables. We will learn how to use variables in different scope, as well as when to use them. The focus here is on concrete examples, so that you can leave with some real ideas of how to apply variables in your own game!

Intro: Expression Builder

This video goes over the expression builder. What it's used for and what sort's of things it's capable of. It also goes over a practical example of adding health points to a character. This will be useful for any game developers who are just starting out with the engine, or someone who hasn't tried using the expression builder yet.

Intro: Behaviors and Functions (Extensions)

As a game creator, you want to get from concept to finished product as soon as possible. Behaviors and functions (extensions) address this by letting you not reinvent the wheel, so you can focus on actually making your game! In this video, we'll go over the basics of behaviors and functions as well as how you can use them in your next project.

Intro: Optimization

This video teaches GDevelop users about game optimization, and briefly goes over most of the areas that could be causing lag or poor performance in your game. These tutorials are designed to teach you how to make a game in GDevelop, a no-code, open-source, free, and easy game engine.

Quickly randomize the sounds with pitch.

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Make and publish your games with GDevelop. Start with our tutorials and discover tons of examples inside the app.

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How to Make a Video Game: The Best Game Development Software for 2024

Consumer-grade dev software helps turn your concepts into real products, with no previous coding experience required. chase your game-making dreams with the top tools we've tested..

Game Builder Garage (for Nintendo Switch)

Core (for PC)

Inklewriter

AppGameKit Studio

Fuze4 (for Nintendo Switch)

Even the most demanding creative fields can have low barriers to entry. For instance, you don’t need to know how to use photo editing or video editing software to take a picture or shoot a movie on your phone. Humanity wrote brilliant literature with paper, ink, and feathers for hundreds of years before word processors. But what about video games, the most modern artistic medium?

Today, you have more options than ever for pursuing a career in game development or sharpening your skills beyond modding new Doom WAD files. Every year, new generations of developers graduate from game design schools, such as DePaul, DigiPen, Full Sail, and NYU Game Center. Still, you can teach yourself with consumer video game development software. These are our top picks for getting started.

You Can Trust Our Reviews

Deeper dive: our top tested picks, why we picked it.

Building off of Labo VR’s underrated creation tools, Game Builder Garage lets Nintendo Switch owners create titles that are far more elaborate than Super Mario Maker's courses. Nintendo’s commitment to high-quality presentation and thorough tutorials means that even young players can make platformers, shooters, or pinball tables.

Who It’s For

Game Builder Garage is especially impressive as an easy way to make 3D polygonal titles. As a Switch exclusive with limited online features, you won’t have access to a broad community. Still, this is a super-fun introductory game design tool.

Powerful, polished 3D game development engine
Easily understandable visual coding language
Thorough, friendly tutorials and educational challenges
Lets you share games with friends
Affordably priced
Lacks a community hub
Workspace can become cluttered quickly

GameMaker Studio 2 is accessible, but it doesn't sacrifice power. You can create and play self-made video games on a PC or sell them on consoles. Multiple award-winning indie games are powered by this engine, including Hyper Light Drifter and Katana Zero.

GameMaker Studio 2 is for people who want to make games and maybe even pursue it as a professional career. The higher subscription tiers cost a premium, making them more geared toward professional budgets. Fortunately, GameMaker Studio 2 supports multiple different programming languages, including a simple visual language that lets novices develop complex titles.

2D and 3D game development
Visual and text-based programming languages
Lets you export to the web, mobile, PC, and consoles, including PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S/X
Free subscription option
Online multiplayer
Robust marketplace
Expensive to publish on consoles

Construct’s visual programming language lets you create a variety of 2D games, bolstered by JavaScript support, and the community marketplace further expands your development options. If you want others to play your creations, you can publish games to PC, Xbox, or mobile.

Construct is for aspiring designers who value flexibility. The visual programming language means you don’t need to learn complex coding to get started. You don’t even need to download a program, as Construct runs in a web browser and syncs projects to the cloud.

Intuitive visual programming language
Supports JavaScript
Export to the web, mobile, desktops, and Xbox One
Runs in browser and saves projects to the cloud
Marketplace for 2D graphics, sound effects, and other assets
No 3D support
Free version is very limited

Similar to Roblox , Core is a game development tool and a thriving online community. Powered by the Unreal Engine, this free software is best for creating 3D shooters. But really, the sky's the limit.

Core is best for people who want to make shooters and hang out with their friends. Unsurprisingly, most community games are pretty unpolished. Still, the software lets you monetize releases if they become popular.

Lets you create 3D games in numerous genres
No coding knowledge required
Earn revenue as people play your games
Robust community support
Creations are locked to Core’s PC ecosystem
Many games feel more like hobbyist mods than polished products

Godot has a lot of great stuff going for it. It’s free and open source, so anyone can use and even improve the engine. It also supports 2D and 3D development, broadening the types of games you can make.

Godot is one of the best tools on this list. The only thing holding it back for amateurs is its relative complexity. Still, between the community support and visual programming options, Godot offers a challenge that's worth undertaking.

Free and open source
Visual- and text-based programming languages
Organized, node-based workflow
Excellent community support
Console porting requires third-party solutions
Potentially steep learning curve

Inklewriter has an impressive pedigree. Its parent company, Inkle, used portions of the tool in its acclaimed games, such as 80 Days, Heaven’s Vault, and the Sorcery remake. This browser-based tool lets you write and code your own story-based games even if you lack technical skills.

Text adventures are a niche genre, but Inklewriter is excellent for anyone interested in making them. Ambitious designers can even export Inklewriter projects into more complex engines to polish them into professional products.

Makes it simple to write and organize text adventure content and logic
Easily converts projects to more powerful professional engines
Interactive tutorials
Impressive real-world examples
Only for text adventures
Higher production value requires learning more complex tools
Somewhat dated appearance

Twine is an incredibly easy and free tool for developing text adventures using its dedicated app or just in your browser. For years, marginalized artists have made boundary-pushing, radical work through Twine.

Interactive fiction in general appeals to creators who want their games to focus more on words than explosions. Twine also has some neat coding tricks that its helpful community is eager to share.

Easily create interactive fiction games
Little to no coding knowledge needed
Potential for radical, experimental work
Free desktop and web app
Community resources
Sharing games requires outside hosting service
Altered formatting options require relearning advanced techniques
Only built for creating games in the text-adventure niche genre

AppGameKit Studio lets you craft your own ideal game development environment. You can buy individual program parts depending on what features and assets you need. You can even code games on your mobile device with its free apps.

Developing on a mobile device is a cool perk most other game development tools can’t claim. However, without a visual coding language, AppGameKit isn’t great for newcomers. And without console support, it may stifle professionals.

Intuitive and organized development environment
Lets you develop 2D and 3D games
Free mobile apps
Lacks a visual coding language
Some features sold separately
Lacks native console support

Fuze4 is an affordable and powerful game creation tool on the Nintendo Switch that lets you code and share 2D and 3D games. Note that everything stays within the Fuze community; you can't publish to other platforms.

Fuze4 is so robust it’s almost too much for the platform. Since it’s text-based, you’ll need to plug in a keyboard if you don’t want coding to become too tedious. Still, it’s a useful educational tool.

Powerful text-based code editor
Affordable, one-time purchase
Lets you share 2D and 3D games and assets with other Fuse4 owners
Supports external keyboards
No visual language
Can’t export games to an online store
Tedious to type without a keyboard

Stencyl is a humble but capable game development tool that reminds us of making Flash games back in the day. Free web publishing and the accessible visual programming language give it a low barrier to entry. You can also add in-app purchases to your mobile games as a potential revenue stream.

Between its dormant community and lack of 3D or console support, Stencyl probably shouldn’t be anyone’s first game development tool. But it works and it doesn’t alienate novices.

Accessible visual programming language
Free web publishing
Lets you make mobile games containing in-app purchases
Can’t directly export to consoles
Barely active community asset store

Buying Guide: How to Make a Video Game: The Best Game Development Software for 2024

Getting started with game development software.

The programs we looked at here let you create fully functional titles from scratch. Although you may learn plenty about creativity and game design from games and products like Baba Is You, Dreams, Human Resource Machine, Lego Mindstorms , Levelhead, LittleBigPlanet, Minecraft, Nintendo Labo, Roblox, or Super Mario Maker , they aren’t included in this list. They don’t let you create wholly original work, and their interfaces are just a little too far removed from the real coding required to develop real games. That said, plenty of games turn coding concepts into fun puzzles, and playing good video games can spark your imagination for your own projects

We also didn’t include robust engines, the game-making software behind visual powerhouses like Crysis and Doom , that primarily target professional game developers at indie studios, as well as large companies. Not only are these programs typically more expensive, but they assume a baseline knowledge level that many people lack. Plus, many studios create and use proprietary engines exclusively for themselves, even after third-party rivals surpass their technology. Bethesda's engines and EA's Frostbite come to mind.

The programs featured in this story walk you through the process of making a game. Once you feel confident in your skills, feel free to try other popular engines . Unity is free with a Personal License. The ubiquitous Unreal Engine currently costs nothing and you can check out a developer marketplace through the Epic Games Store .

Finally, we focused on game-making software that lets you create a wide variety of titles rather than a specific niche. If you only care about dating sims, fighting games , RPGs , esoteric text adventures, shoot 'em ups, or machinima movies, check out Ren’Py, Mugen, RPG Maker , Inform 7 , Shooting Game Builder, or Valve's Source Filmmaker , respectively. We highlight Inklewriter and Twine because those programs easily let you make a surprisingly varied amount of games in the interactive fiction format.

What Kinds of Games Can You Make?

Most products in this roundup specialize in 2D game creation. For 3D development, you need a more powerful tool. Still, developers have used these engines to create everything from side-scrolling platformers to top-down shooters based on Netflix movies to the highly influential indie RPG Undertale. If you grew up playing online Flash games on sites like Kongregate and Newgrounds, you’ll recognize the look and feel of these games.

However, not all engines are created equal. AppGameKit Studio, Core, Game Builder Garage, and Godot are capable 3D engines. GameMaker and Fuze4 offer limited support for 3D graphics. Stencyl lets you use a controller plugged into your computer, but you can’t add multiplayer to your projects. Core's games can only be played within Core's social PC ecosystem. Fuze4 and Game Builder Garage lock all of your projects to the Nintendo Switch. Every other tool lets you publish to the web via HTML5. Construct, Inklewriter, and Twine run in a web browser. Most subscriptions also offer tiers to publish PC games and mobile games with in-app purchase options.

As for consoles, only GameMaker sells licenses for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. GameMaker also recently added full support for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S . With other software, you'll need a third-party solution to port to consoles, or be prepared to do hard, expensive, and technical porting work yourself.

What Does Game Development Software Cost?

Pricing varies depending on what software you pick. Godot, Inklewriter, and Twine are completely free. Core is free to play, but you can buy optional cosmetics and credits. Fuze4 costs $20, but you own it forever. The same goes for Game Builder Garage, which costs $30. Construct and Stencyl offer free versions, but you need to pay at least $99 per year to fully take advantage of their features and sell your games for money. AppGameKit Studio sells a $99 base version, alongside optional DLC add-ons. GameMaker has a 30-day free trial, a $99 permanent license, as well as a $1,500 annual subscription for selling your creations on consoles. That price, while unavoidably high, may be worth it to gain access to the large and lucrative console audience.

Note that these are all standard, individual prices. Pricing can also change if you’re a company making more than a certain amount of money, or an educator looking to teach game development in the classroom. Teachers should also consider researching services just for them. Youth Digital, once an Editors’ Choice for coding classes with a focus on game design, has now become the digital curriculum Apex Learning. Even if you’re an adult, online learning services , in general, may nicely supplement your game development education.

Learn to Code

If you want to become a serious game developer, eventually you should learn how to code . Video games consist of wonderful art, smooth animations, catchy music, and clever gameplay systems created by talented individuals, but it’s code that binds them together. Learning code is tough, though, so what makes these programs especially convenient for consumers is how they ease you into the coding process, or make it fully optional.

With Twine, you only need to code if you want to make your game prettier or more complex by editing JavaScript or CSS. The same goes for Inklewriter, although you can take advantage of its open-source language or export your project to Unity for more advanced development. Construct, Core, Game Builder Garage, GameMaker, Godot, and Stencyl turn their code into easily understandable visual languages. Instead of writing in a specific syntax, you add object properties and modify their behaviors, as well as create events that tell the game what to do under certain conditions. Everything is just an if/then statement. If you press a button, then the character jumps. If you touch an enemy, then you die.

Heavily emphasizing a visual language makes game development much more accessible for non-technical users. At their best, visual languages weave in more complicated concepts (such as collision masks, frame rate, and variables) that help you better transition into proper coding, and set you up for success as you take your potential professional career more seriously. These programs also let you write your own code from scratch if you want more control from the start. AppGameKit Studio and Fuze4 force you to write in code, with no visual language option. With Fuze4, you'll need to connect a keyboard to your Nintendo Switch to avoid the annoyances of typing on its touch screen, a problem you'll also run into with AppGameKit's otherwise convenient mobile companion app.

By making coding simpler, these programs also free you up to focus on other vital, creative elements of game design. Use built-in image editors to draw sprites, animate them, and arrange them on the levels you build from tilesets. Synthesize your own sound effects or import music files. You’ll get deeply invested in your game much faster once you have a sense of ownership over it, and custom handmade sounds and visuals provide a more personal stamp than sterile code.

The Game Development Community

What good is art if you don’t share it with people? These engines aren’t just tools, they’re jumping-off points for users to share knowledge and resources. These programs provide helpful documentation on how to get started. Once you’ve mastered the tutorials, look to the community, on forums or through online videos, for tips on how to improve your projects.

Twine creators love swapping tricks on how to take stories to the next level. Game Builder Garage lets you share games with friends online. Fuze4 lets you download new games from strangers through the online portal. AppGameKit Studio's DLC add-ons include demo games. Construct, Core, GameMaker, Godot, and Stencyl feature community marketplaces where you can purchase or freely download graphics, sound effects, game demos, useful code, and other assets to speed your development. You don’t have to limit yourself to one store or another. Indie game store itch.io also sells plenty of assets.

Become a Video Game Developer

There’s nothing wrong with simply being a fan of video games. Still, making a video game yourself will give you a greater appreciation for the hard work that goes into the wonderful video games you play. Our top picks for consumer video game development software give you the skills and tools you need to get started on your journey to become the next Amy Hennig, Shigeru Miyamoto, or Gabe Newell.

Once your game is done, sell it to the masses using a PC gaming marketplace . Then, let an influencer give it attention via a video game live streaming service .



$29.99	$99	$99 per year	Free	Free	Free	Free	$99	$19.99	$99 per year
Nintendo Switch	Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Web, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S	Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, Xbox One, Web	Windows	Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Web, Linux	Web	Web	Android, iOS, Mac, Windows, Web, Linux	Nintendo Switch	Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, Web

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How To Make A Video Game From Scratch: Learn How

Ever wanted to learn how to make a video game? You can! Follow this guide on how to make a video game from scratch & learn to make your own game.

✓ Fact Checked

Last Updated: April 10, 2024

How To Make A Video Game From Scratch: Learn How

Learning how to make a video game from scratch can be a very fun and rewarding process. With the rise of mobile gaming, people throughout the world are taking advantage of the huge video game market by creating and selling their games . Naturally, the number of people who are learning game development has also increased.

Different video games for different platforms and operating systems are created slightly differently, but they are all based on the same general concepts. For instance, you will need to learn how to code in at least one language before you can make your own game, especially if you want to be able to customize the way it looks and works.

Now, since programming is the basis of video game development , learning how to make a game from scratch involves learning how to code . Lucky for you, there is a variety of coding courses on such renowned learning platforms as DataCamp , Udacity , or Udemy .

Table: Some general information about the DataCamp and Udemy online learning platforms

In this guide, I will introduce you to the main principles of video game development . I'll show you the general steps that you need to follow when you're finding out how to make your own game, and introduce you to the different programming languages that are used to build games on different platforms .

Finally, I'll give you a brief insight into a few of the other things that you will need to learn if you're serious about learning how to make a video game from scratch , instead of simply following a template.

1. Game Development vs Game Design
2. How to Make a Video Game: 5 Steps
2.1. Step 1: Do Some Research & Conceptualize Your Game
2.2. Step 2: Work On A Design Document
2.3. Step 3: Decide Whether You Need Software
2.4. Step 4: Start Programming
2.5. Step 5: Test Your Game & Start Marketing!
3. What Languages Can I Use To Make A Video Game?
3.1. JavaScript
3.4. The C languages
4. What Other Skills Do I Need To Learn?
4.1. How To Use Different Types Of Software
4.2. Some Design Skills
5. Conclusions

Game Development vs Game Design

Before jumping into the main steps that you will need to follow to make your first game from scratch, it's important to consider the difference between video game development and game design. Note that you will need both if you want to learn how to make a game on your own.

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To put it simply, video game design refers to the actual artistic design of a video game . Game designers spend their time conceptualizing new aspects of their games. They work out what a game needs to include, how the game should react under certain conditions, and exactly what needs to be created to make the game as good as it can be.

On the other hand, game developers - or game programmers - are the people who know best how to make a video game by writing the code so the game would do what it's supposed to.

In the rest of this guide, I will focus on the development side of learning how to code a video game, but it's important for you to understand that you will have to design your game before you can program it.

Note that it's entirely possible for the game designer and the game developer to be the same person. The design and the development process can be completed side by side if you're building simple games.

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How to make a video game: 5 steps.

At first, learning how to make your own game can appear very difficult. You might be tempted to back off and leave game development to the experts. However, I wouldn't recommend doing this! Instead, you should put in a bit of work to learn the basics of video game creation. It isn't as hard as you might think.

With this in mind, here's a very general step-by-step guide to help you learn how to make a video game. Note that the exact process varies according to the type of game you're building and the platform you want to release it on , but this will give you an idea of what's involved.

Step 1: Do Some Research & Conceptualize Your Game

The first thing that you need to do when you're trying to create your first game is to think about exactly what sort of game you're planning on creating . Do some research and find out what skills you need to build this game, and what sort of features it should have.

If you're serious about learning how to make a video game, then you should take a couple of introductory courses before you move any further. For example, if you're interested in building a 2D role-playing game, I would recommend having a look at something like the Learn to Make a 2D Game in Unity course or the 2D Game Development with libGDX course .

Alternatively, if you're serious about creating an advanced video game, you might need to put some more effort into it. This study program will suit you best, as it offers two different courses to make sure you get a well-rounded education.

Step 2: Work On A Design Document

Once you've figured out how to make a video game, conceptualized it, and started to think about what you want it to look like, you need to put together a design document . For most people, a design document is a brief outline of a game, what it should look like, and what you need to do to build it.

When you're putting together your design document, consider the following things:

The skills at your disposal . Things can get expensive if you have to start hiring people to do things because you don't have the right skills. However, don't forget that you can always improve your skills online , with different courses and course providers, such as DataCamp , Udemy or edX .
What language/languages you're going to use . This will help you narrow down the way things are going to be built. If you wish to use Python, for example, you could check out this Python Fundamentals course .
What it needs to look/behave like.
Whether you want to include updates and new releases in the future. If you do, then you should think about how you're going to make them happen.

Once you've put your design document together, it's almost time to start programming!

Step 3: Decide Whether You Need Software

The last thing you need to do before you start discovering how to make a video game is working out what software you need . Simple mobile game development doesn't require a lot of fancy software - in many cases, you can get away with a code editor and compiler .

However, more advanced games can require very powerful and specific software such as 3D modeling programs and image editors . This advanced software can cost a lot, which means that you need to pay careful attention to your budget.

Note that you will also need a computer with a high-quality processor and a lot of RAM to run much of the software required to create complex games.

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Step 4: start programming.

Once you've downloaded the required software, it's time to start coding ! Although more complex games require game engines to run on, simple mobile games don't need anything like this. Simply decide what language you're going to write your game in and get right into it!

If you want to know how to make a video game with a lot of variabilities, such as an RPG game, then you should look at the Unity Video Game Creation Tutorial . This course contains an incredible 28 hours of video lectures. It will teach you everything you need to know to start using the Unity editor.

Step 5: Test Your Game & Start Marketing!

Knowing how to make a video game will not make it successful, to be so you will need marketing . The first thing that you have to do is make sure that you test everything about it so you can remove any bugs . This can take an extremely long time, so make sure that you're prepared to sit down for hours at a time testing things .

Marketing is relatively straightforward . I would recommend hiring a marketing consultant to at least get you started, especially if you don't have any marketing experience yourself. Getting your game out there for people to purchase is slightly more difficult, and you have some options:

Create a website where people can purchase your game for download.
Create hard copies of your game and distribute it via different game stores and other retailers.
If you've built a mobile game, make sure that you list it on the Apple app store and the Google Play store.

These are just a few of your options. Again, speak to an expert if you're not sure what the best way to sell your game is. Or, if you want to learn more about marketing when it comes to launching a new product, you can check out this App Marketing course .

What Languages Can I Use To Make A Video Game?

Simple mobile games can be created using a wide range of programming languages . If you're proficient in one language, you probably have enough knowledge to learn how to make a video game for mobile devices .

However, more complicated games designed for computers or consoles will require a much deeper understanding of programming languages and how they can be used to develop games. A few of the languages you can use to make your own game include:

Learning how to make a game with JavaScript is quite simple . As noted above, you can create simple mobile apps and games by combining JavaScript, HTML, and CSS with the PhoneGap platform .

Millions of people throughout the world have a working JavaScript knowledge already , which means that they already have the majority of the skills that they need to start building their games.

However, there's no need to worry if you don't already have a strong working knowledge of JavaScript - in fact, learning how to make your own game can be even easier if you don't have any previous bad habits .

I would recommend starting with a simple JavaScript course such as this JavaScript tutorial or this JavaScript Basics for Beginners course before moving onto something specific for game creation like the PhoneGap, which can also be found on our Courses section.

If your knowledge after completing this course doesn't suffice, you should continue learning. After completing the course you check out the Intermediate JavaScript course to expand your knowledge even more.

Java is the most popular programming language for creating Android games . When combined with the Android Studio, Java can be used to create games that are fully customized with respects to looks and behavior . Games built on Java are fast, efficient, and very easy to personalize.

If you're serious about learning how to make a video game for an Android device, the first thing that you need to do is learn how to code in Java. Luckily, Java is quite a simple language to learn. I would recommend starting with the extensive Java course .

Swift is a relatively new programming language that has been designed for use on the iOS operating system. It was created to make iOS app and game development easier than it used to be, and it has quickly become a favorite among programmers learning how to make a game for the first time.

If you would like to learn how to make a video game for iOS devices, I would recommend learning how to write code with Swift . Sure, it's possible to create an iOS game or app without any coding knowledge at all but programming your own game gives you a lot more freedom and flexibility when it comes to customization.

If you would like to find out more about Swift and how you can use it to make your iOS apps have a look at the Beginner Friendly Swift Tutorial or the Swift for Beginners course .

The C languages

The C languages - C, C#, and C++ - are the most commonly used languages when it comes to advanced game and software development . Most console and desktop-based computer games are built with one or a combination of the C languages.

However, these are very complex and difficult to learn . I wouldn't recommend starting with them unless you're extremely serious about learning how to make a video game and turning this into a career.

If you would like to learn how to build a game with the C languages , I would suggest having a look at the How to Make a Game in Unity course . This course teaches the basics of C# with a special focus on game development. Or, if you're up for a challenge, take a look at this Learn C++ course .

What Other Skills Do I Need To Learn?

If you're serious about learning how to code a game, you will need to learn more than just a programming language . You will need to learn how to use various types of software, frameworks, and code libraries to build even the simplest games.

How to make a video game: working on a computer

Below are just a few of the most important skills to learn to get you started.

As always, remember that different types of games require different skills and knowledge.

How To Use Different Types Of Software

As I've already noted, the software is the key element of how to make a video game. This is especially true if you're hoping to create a console game .

One of the most common pieces of software that you will use when you're learning how to code a video game is a Unity - a cross-platform game engine that will form the basis of a wide range of different types of games . Here's a list of game making software to make your choice easier.

If you would like to learn more about using Unity to build your first game, have a look at the How To Make A Game In Unity tutorial.

Alternatively, head over to the Unity website and have a look around. Do some research regarding the type of game you want to create, and learn what sort of software you need to be familiar with according to your findings.

Easy to use with a learn-by-doing approach
Offers quality content
Gamified in-browser coding experience
Free certificates of completion
Focused on data science skills
Flexible learning timetable

High-quality courses
Nanodegree programs
Student Career services
Suitable for enterprises
Paid certificates of completion

A wide range of learning programs
University-level courses
Easy to navigate
Verified certificates of completion

Some Design Skills

If you're planning on learning how to make a video game on your own, you will need at least some design skills. Putting a video game together is about more than just coding - in fact, the coding doesn't even start until you've conceptualized and started designing your game !

If you don't have any designing skills then consider either asking a friend to partner with you or hiring a designer who you can work with.

However, don't forget that you can learn anything as long as you have some time and effort to spare . Check out some designing courses on Udacity , edX , or Coursera .

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Conclusions.

Learning how to make your own game from scratch can be fun, rewarding, and extremely difficult . However, if you're interested in coding, gaming, or just entrepreneurship in general, it's worth doing.

Start by understanding the general process that needs to take place for a game to be created. Even the simplest game needs to be imagined and conceptualized . This concept needs to be transformed into an in-depth design document, and then this document needs to be used to code the game that you want.

If you don't already know how to code in at least one language, you will need to spend a few months learning this before thinking about starting to build a game.

You will also need to get familiar with game engines like Unity . Besides that, you will need to make sure that you are working with someone who has at least some design skills.

Above all, don't let the bigger picture scare you away. Start small . Make a card game, a word game, or something equally simplistic. Choose to learn Python programming with DataCamp or Udemy , as well as browse over edX's game development courses and start one.

Remember, learning how to make a video game from scratch isn't something you can do in one weekend, but it will pay off if you will put enough effort!

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How to make video games?

Before starting making a video game , first, you need to get the idea of the game that you want to create and take some introductory courses on making video games. Then, you can start work on your design, and decide what software to use if needed. After that, choose a programming language and start to program your game.

How hard is it to make a game?

You need to have skills and put a lot of effort to make a video game, therefore, it is hard. To make a video game, you need to have programming skills, understand and be able to design, and also to know how to use various tools, including game engines. Moreover, if you want to sell your game you will also need to promote it, therefore, marketing skills are needed.

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Make Your Own Video Game for Kids!

How to Teach Variables to Kids
Python for Kids: A Beginner’s Guide to Learning Programming with Python

Kids love to play video games. That much is obvious. But wouldn’t it be cool if they could make their screen time less passive and more productive? With Tynker, they can. By learning to code their own games, kids become creators instead of just consumers. And not only will they be having fun, but programming video games has proven to accelerate kids’ academics in math, science and reading, while giving them a skill that will open up countless future job opportunities.

At Tynker, kids and teens of all ages and skill levels can video game development with programming activities, built-in tutorials, online support, coding puzzles , mini-games, and more. So let’s learn more about making your own games for kids.

How to Make Easy Games for Kids?

Kids can make their own video games with coding platforms designed for kids! Children can use user-friendly game development tools like Scratch , Tynker , and GameMaker to build their own video games. These platforms are designed to be accessible and suitable for all skill levels, making it easy for kids to learn programming and game design without feeling overwhelmed

Children can develop their creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills through engaging tutorials and interactive interfaces as they make games. As they gain experience, kids can graduate into more advanced video game coding tools like Unity or Unreal Engine to create increasingly sophisticated games.

Collaborating with others, either online or in-person, can further enhance their learning and foster teamwork. When encouraged to “build your own video game,” children have fun and develop a valuable skill set that can translate into future opportunities within the growing gaming industry. Plus they experience the pride that goeas along with being able to say, “I know how to create my own video game.”

Where to Begin When Your Child Wants to Create a Video Game?

If your child is interested in creating a video game, start by researching age-appropriate game maker online platforms like Scratch , Tynker , or Kodu , which are designed to be accessible and engaging for young learners. Please encourage your child to explore tutorials, examples, and community projects to familiarize themselves with the platform and gather inspiration. Next, help them brainstorm and plan their game concept, including characters, storyline, and game mechanics. As they develop their game, provide support and encouragement and celebrate their progress. Encourage collaboration with friends or online communities to enhance learning and teamwork.

What is the Easiest Game to Code for Kids?

One of the easiest games for kids to code is a block coding game using Tynker. Tynker is a fantastic platform designed specifically for young learners who are new to coding. It utilizes a block-based coding system, which means that instead of typing out complex code, kids can use colorful blocks that snap together like puzzle pieces. This makes coding accessible and fun for children, as they can drag and drop blocks to create their own games, characters, and interactive stories. With Tynker, kids can explore their creativity, learn coding fundamentals, and see their ideas come to life in the form of fun and engaging games. Whether it’s designing a maze, creating a character that jumps, or making a simple storytelling game, Tynker provides a supportive environment for kids to embark on their coding journey while having a blast along the way.

5 Great Reasons to Make Video Games with Tynker

Empower your kids to make their own games paving the way for endless creativity and fun. Experience the thrill of making your own video games for free, and watch as your children unlock their true potential with Tynker.

Award-Winning Platform – Over 600 hours of unique content.
Self-Guided – Your child will make games on their own, at their own pace.
Support – Step-by-step instructions, how-to video guides, and online classes.
All Ages – From block coding to text coding like Python and JavaScript.
Mobile Apps – take Tynker Junior, Tynker, and Mod Creator on-the-go.

*All for a fantastic price! Our annual plan breaks down to just 33 cents per day .

Game Design Courses on Tynker

Intro to coding:.

Glitch Manor – (Ages 7+) Explore a haunted mansion, fight off zombies, solve mysteries, and more with 80 programming activities and 16 coding puzzles.

Turing’s Tower – (Ages 9+) Scour the globe and repair a flying tower to fight off a giant robotic dragon in this steampunk-styled platformer game with 56 programming activities and 16 coding puzzles.

Intermediate Game Design: Ages 8-13

Star Runner – Build 8 fun arcade games to advance your coding skills and learn 2D motion, pen drawing, and animation.

Goblin Quest – Use code to explore secret worlds, solve dungeon puzzles, and program armies to follow your commands.

Advanced Game Design: Ages 14+

Drone Menace – Program a multi-level arcade game with a scoring system, win-loss scenarios, and special effects.

Gravity Sling – Build an Angry Birds-style physics-based catapult game while learning to program gravity and collisions and even create a black hole!

Ninja Runner – Use advanced physics engine commands as you program a platformer game with your own hero and enemy A.I.

How Kids Learn to Code while Building Games

Building a game is an involved process, touching on a variety of left brain (logic) and right brain (creativity) functions while designing and programming scenes. All the planning that goes into game making increases kids’ ability to focus on tasks for long periods of time and see projects through to completion while developing their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Interactive Scenes – place characters, make animations, and add effects. Kids can even draw their own characters and animate them with multiple frames.
Sound – set the mood for any kind of scenario with music. Whether they want a dramatic intro sequence or an exciting duel, kids can choose from a variety of music clips and sound effects from our library. They can even compose their own music using our built-in MIDI interface and Tynker’s Synth Blocks.
Character Motion – use loops to program the motion of characters and coordinate geometry to move sprites across the screen. For example, when programming a Pong or Brick Breaker game, kids have to use angles and speed to move the paddle and the ball.
Game Play – program whether to detect user input from a mouse or the arrow keys and write code to handle these events. For example, press the spacebar to jump or click and the mouse to pop a balloon.
Keeping Score – use variables and counters to keep track of the score, health, and number of lives, increasing and decreasing them based on key events during gameplay. Advanced users can even build leaderboards to rank players in the community.
Detecting Win/Loss Conditions – use conditional logic to determine if a player won or lost a game.

How Can Video Game Coding Help Develop Programming Skills?

Video game coding is engaging and motivating for developing programming skills.
It keeps individuals invested in coding through fun and interactive games.
Real-world challenges like character movement and collision detection reinforce programming concepts.
Game development fosters problem-solving and logical thinking by breaking complex problems into smaller tasks.
It combines technical and creative abilities through storytelling, art, and game mechanics.
Debugging games teaches attention to detail and effective error-handling.
It often involves teamwork, improving communication and collaboration skills.
Coding games exposes programmers to various technologies and platforms.
Completed game projects can be showcased in portfolios for job or academic opportunities.
Overall, video game coding is a practical way to develop a broad spectrum of programming skills applicable to computer science and beyond.

Tynker’s Global Community

Check out these great block coding projects from our global community to see how kids are creating stages, animating characters, and producing sound with a variety of activities and interactive games.

For support, check out our Tynker Toolbox blog where we show kids how to design their own platformer game using two great tools:

The Level Editor lets you drag-and-drop game elements visually and create fun levels super fast.
The Platformer Blocks help you code platformer actors to move left-and-right. Many of the props and characters in the Level Editor come with prebuilt code, which can be customized as needed.

Tynker Summer Code Jam

Here are a few game gifs designed by our code jammers:.

We also have an incredible 8-week Summer Code Jam in which young coders from around the world compete for up to $10,000 in prizes by creating their own projects.

This is the perfect time to unlock your child’s potential with a subscription to Tynker.

We can’t wait to see what your child will create with code!

EXPLORE PLANS

About Tynker

Add Webcam Controls to Your Tynker Games

The Importance of AI

Why is artificial intelligence important.

Tynker’s AI Courses for Kids

My coding path.

Take your child from novice to expert. Just follow the path.

Block Coding Courses

Apply your coding skills! Find your passion!

Other Advanced Tynker Courses

Graduate to Python and other text coding languages with Tynker’s advanced elective courses.

What You’ll Learn in Game Design School

June 25, 2024

As the gaming industry continues to grow at an unprecedented rate, aspiring game designers are seeking a comprehensive education to break into this exciting field. Game design schools offer a unique blend of technical skills, creative development, and industry knowledge providing the building blocks of a successful career. In this blog, we’ll explore what you’ll learn in game design school and how it can set you on the path to the gaming world.

Game Design Principles

One of the foundational elements of any game design program is learning the core principles of game design. This includes understanding game mechanics, player psychology, and the elements that make games fun and engaging. Students will study various game genres, dissect successful games, and learn how to apply these principles to their own projects.

Storytelling and Narrative Development

A compelling story can make or break a game. In game design school, you’ll learn how to craft engaging narratives and develop complex characters that resonate with players. Courses on storytelling will cover everything from plot structure and dialogue writing to world-building and character arcs, ensuring you can create immersive and memorable gaming experiences.

Technical Skills and Software Proficiency

Game design is a highly technical field, requiring proficiency in various software and tools. Students will gain hands-on experience with industry-standard software such as Unity, Unreal Engine, and Blender. You’ll learn programming languages like C# and Python, and understand the basics of 3D modeling, animation, and sound design, equipping you with the technical skills needed to bring your game ideas to life.

Art and Visual Design

Visual appeal is crucial in game design. Courses in art and visual design will teach you the fundamentals of color theory, composition, and graphic design. You’ll also explore character design, environmental art, and user interface design, learning how to create visually stunning games that attract and retain players.

Project Management and Collaboration

Game development is often a collaborative effort involving multiple disciplines. Game design school will teach you essential project management skills, including how to work effectively in teams, manage time, and meet deadlines. Understanding the roles of various team members and learning how to communicate and collaborate effectively are key components of a successful game design career.

Playtesting and Iteration

An integral part of game design is playtesting and iteration. You’ll learn how to gather feedback from players, identify issues, and refine your game to enhance the player experience. This iterative process ensures that the final product is polished and ready for the market.

Industry Insights and Networking

Game design school provides valuable insights into the gaming industry, including trends, best practices, and career opportunities. Guest lectures from industry professionals, internships, and networking events will connect you with potential employers and peers, helping you build a robust professional network.

Start Your Journey in Game Design

University of Silicon offers a comprehensive programs that cover all aspects of game art , game design and game engineering from conceptualization to final production. With a blend of creative and technical training, you’ll be well-equipped to enter the competitive gaming industry. If you’re passionate about creating games and eager to turn your ideas into reality, game design school could be the perfect starting point for your career.

Ready to dive into the world of game design? Explore our game design programs at the University of Silicon Valley and start your journey today. Our comprehensive curriculum and experienced faculty will guide you every step of the way, ensuring you have the skills and knowledge to succeed in the exciting world of game design. Contact us to learn more!

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I want to learn how to make games, where is a good place to start?

This year in high school, I was "forced" to choose a couple of subjects. I ended up taking a programming class, and soon I fell in love with the art of programming. In this class we learn how to use adobe flash, and the programming language actionscript AS3.

However, I'm thirsty for more, and I want to go further. I'm a big fan of games, and I would really try to develop one myself. The only problem is; I have no idea where to start. What kind of programming language is most suited for game-producing? What kind of software do I need? Can I make a game in C++? Should I keep using flash to make games? So many questions.

If anyone could give me a place to start, or some advice, that would be greatly appreciated. Anything helps!

	Interface	Full Audio	Subtitles
English	✔	✔	✔
French	✔		✔
Italian	✔		✔
German	✔		✔
Spanish - Spain	✔		✔
Japanese	✔		✔
Korean	✔		✔
Polish	✔		✔
Russian	✔		✔
Simplified Chinese	✔		✔
Portuguese - Brazil	✔		✔
Ukrainian	✔		✔

Planned Release Date: To be announced

About This Game

Grounded fantasy adventure, dynamic combat with a focus on interactive environment, master the craft of alchemy, immerse yourself in the journey, mature content description.

The developers describe the content like this:

This game may contain content not appropriate for all ages or may not be appropriate for viewing at work.

System Requirements

OS: 64-bit Windows 10, 11
Processor: 3.0 GHz Quad Core CPU
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: GeForce GTX 1060 with 3GB of video RAM or Radeon RX 580 with 4GB of video RAM
DirectX: Version 11
Storage: 15 GB available space
Additional Notes: Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
Processor: 3.6 GHz Quad Core CPU
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: GeForce RTX or Radeon RX5600 or above
DirectX: Version 12

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COMMENTS

11 tools to get you started making video games
A commercial cross-platform 3D game engine developed by Amazon that is based on an older version of CryEngine. It has been used for games like Star Citizen and The Grand Tour Game. Intended for ...
How to Make a Video Game
Learn how to create your own games from scratch with different game engines and tools. This article covers Unity, Unreal, Godot, Phaser, GameMaker Studio, CryEngine, Amazon Lumberyard, Ren'Py and more.
Learn game development with Unity
Free tutorials, courses, and guided pathways for mastering real-time 3D development skills to make video games, VR, AR, and more. My Learning Pathways. Browse. Live. For Educators. Search. Welcome to Unity Learn. ... Register today with your Unity ID and let the learning adventure begin! Learn more. Education Licenses. Are you a student or ...
From Zero to Game Designer: how to start building video games even if
Optimize shaders. Give each renderer a material. This'll save resources in the beginning since the game doesn't have to create new materials for everything. Have the shader for the material only include what's functionally needed (for example, a button that doesn't need masking can use a Sprite shader instead).
The Video Game Development Beginners Guide
Programming is the language of game development. Game developers should learn how to make games using one of the several coding languages to better their product. But the real question here for some more rookie game developers is how to program video games. Game developers can learn video game programming using a multitude of different ways.
A Beginner's Guide to making your own Games
A Beginner's Guide to making your own Games. This guide is made for new and aspiring indie devs who have no prior knowledge of game development. The reader should learn about the most essential parts of game development, from the idea to the finished game, to enable them to make their own game. Joey Heinze, Blogger. July 10, 2020.
Game Development Courses & Tutorials
Learn Phaser.js: Animations and Visuals. Make your Phaser game stand out visually using animations and camera effects. Intermediate. 2 hours. Discover game development courses & tutorials at Codecademy: C#, 3D Modeling, and more. Launch your career in game development today.
How to Make a Video Game: 6 Steps to Develop Your Game
How to Make a Video Game: 6 Steps to Develop Your Game. Written by MasterClass. Last updated: Jun 7, 2021 • 3 min read. From big-budget triple-A (AAA) games to indie games, the first step in developing any game is to identify a great concept that you want to bring to life. With enough time and patience, anyone can create their own video game.
Learn Game Development with Core for Free
Create interactive experiences, build virtual worlds, and publish multiplayer games with courses, live classes, and complete intensive bootcamps. Learn the basics of game design, scripting, modeling, environment art, and more with Core, powered by Unreal Engine.
Unity Learn
Free tutorials, courses, and guided pathways for mastering real-time 3D development skills to make video games, VR, AR, and more. My Learning Pathways. Browse. Live. For Educators. ... "Very well designed: you learn almost without realizing it. I have done other Unity courses, many paid, and they were much more confusing and less motivating. ...
Make Your Own game
Make Your Own Game. In this 10-part video course, you'll learn how to make your first game from scratch with Buildbox. We're supplying you with all the art, sound and tutorials you need… and there's no programming required. Here is a document you can use to easily follow along: Make Your Own Game Handbook.
How To Make A Game
Game development - put simply - is the process by which we take ideas, design, and technical tools to, well, make a video game. While technically this could apply to any game, including board games, it's usually used to specifically refer to games made for PC, mobile, and consoles.
How to Make a Video Game! The complete beginners guide to Game
It's never been easier to not only create but release your own game. Anyone can make a video game, no matter your age, gender, or location. Contrary to popul...
The Complete Guide to Video Game Design
Core game concept. Character design. Narrative and plot. Level design. And that's just the obvious stuff. Video games need to be coded, tested, and debugged (and tested again, debugged again, tested again, debugged aga-you get the point). Ultimately, your goal as a game designer is to create a game that's fun.
How to Make a Video Game from Scratch: Start to Finish
First, start by setting a deadline for the entire project. Then set deadlines for the smaller milestones along the way to project completion. Then break down the tasks for the smaller deadlines even further and set deadlines for those. You may even want to create a Gantt chart with all the different tasks lined out.
How to Make a Video Game: The Best Game Development Software ...
The same goes for Game Builder Garage, which costs $30. Construct and Stencyl offer free versions, but you need to pay at least $99 per year to fully take advantage of their features and sell your ...
Game Development Discussions on Reddit
Anyone can make a video game; Making video games can be both a frustrating and rewarding activity. There is no 'one' or 'best' way to make a video game. * ... Starting is the only choice you have to actually learn to make a game. That being said, there's lots of small bits of making a game that have been covered before. The information is out ...
How to make a videogame (with no experience)
Unity. Famous games created with it: Ori and the Blind Forest, Inside, Yooka-Laylee, Layers of Fear, Super Mario Run, Firewatch, Pokemon Go. Best for: 3D games. Strengths: Unity is the free engine ...
Learn How to Code Video Games: A Beginner's Guide
Step 2: Choose a game engine. Research popular game engines like the ones we've described above. Select the one that best suits your video game needs and interests. However, remember that your choice of game engine may also impact the programming language (s) that you need to learn.
GDevelop: Free, Fast, Easy Game Engine
Free and easy game maker. Make and publish your games with GDevelop. Start with our tutorials and discover tons of examples inside the app. Try it online. Download. GDevelop is a free, fast, easy, open-source game engine. Learn 2D and 3D game development with our tutorials. Publish everywhere: iOS, Android, Steam...
How to Make a Video Game: The Best Game Development Software for 2024
Fuze4 costs $20, but you own it forever. The same goes for Game Builder Garage, which costs $30. Construct and Stencyl offer free versions, but you need to pay at least $99 per year to fully take ...
How To Make A Video Game From Scratch: Learn How
Step 3: Decide Whether You Need Software. The last thing you need to do before you start discovering how to make a video game is working out what software you need. Simple mobile game development doesn't require a lot of fancy software - in many cases, you can get away with a code editor and compiler.
Make your own Video Games for Kids!
Kids can make their own video games with coding platforms designed for kids! Children can use user-friendly game development tools like Scratch, Tynker, and GameMaker to build their own video games. These platforms are designed to be accessible and suitable for all skill levels, making it easy for kids to learn programming and game design ...
What You'll Learn in Game Design School
This includes understanding game mechanics, player psychology, and the elements that make games fun and engaging. Students will study various game genres, dissect successful games, and learn how to apply these principles to their own projects. Storytelling and Narrative Development. A compelling story can make or break a game.
I want to learn how to make games, where is a good place to start
Try pygames, its a python library that makes designing games simple for beginners. If you don't mind learning a new programming language (C#) try XNA they have good tutorials on how to start. The rice university coursera class on python starts Monday. Every assignment is a different type of game.
Alkahest on Steam
Alkahest is an Action-Adventure RPG set in a murky medieval world. Where satisfying melee combat with highly interactive environments takes center stage. Explore realistic locations, learn alchemy and make a name for your family.
Download The Rockstar Games Launcher
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San Diego Padres at Texas Rangers Preview
This browser does not support the video element. Jurickson Profar is riding a 21-game on-base streak and a 13-game hitting streak Nathan Eovaldi is 3-0 with a 2.22 ERA in 8 home starts this season, punching out 47 over 44 2/3 innings