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Your First Game: How to Plan, Design, and Actually Ship It

Updated 2025-08-29

Choosing a Game Engine

Your choice of engine depends on your goals and background. Here are three major engines used by beginners and professionals alike:

• Godot – Open-source, lightweight, and excellent for 2D. Uses GDScript, C#, and C++. A great choice if you like transparency and community-driven development.
• Unity – Beginner-friendly, with a massive ecosystem. Uses C#. Great for both 2D and 3D, mobile or desktop. Its Asset Store and tutorials make it approachable.
• Unreal Engine – Industry standard for AAA visuals. Uses C++ and Blueprints visual scripting. Best if you want to dive into 3D or cinematic-quality games.

From Idea to Release: The Game Development Lifecycle

1. Brainstorming – Define a simple, achievable concept. Start with a one-screen arcade-style game (Pong, Breakout).
2. Game Design Document (GDD) – Draft a one-page GDD covering your pitch, core loop, win/lose conditions, content, and milestones.
3. Setup – Install your chosen engine, configure source control (GitHub, GitLab), and create a basic project.
4. Development – Build core mechanics first. Keep scope minimal. Focus on one core loop before adding extra features.
5. Playtesting – Test early and often. Get feedback from friends or communities.
6. Polish and Production – Refine visuals, add sound, ensure UI clarity.
7. Publishing – Package and upload. Popular platforms: itch.io, Epic Games Store, Steam, Apple App Store, and Google Play.

Tips for Success

• Keep your first project under one month.
• Focus on learning, not perfection.
• Participate in game jams for deadlines and community feedback.
• Use free assets where possible to save time.

Conclusion

Your first game doesn’t need to be groundbreaking. It only needs to be finished. Every completed project teaches you more than an abandoned one. Build small, ship it, and move on to the next idea.