Whether it’s the acrobatic combat of the most recent “Doom” installation or the adorable ways “Animal Crossing” characters socialize, today’s video games blur the line between interactive entertainment and Hollywood blockbusters. But you don’t need a computer science degree or Silicon Valley connections to join the game development revolution. Armed with nothing more than inspiration and determination, indie developers worldwide are crafting experiences that rival AAA studios—and you can, too, if you follow these steps.
1. Research and seek inspiration.
Every project begins with an idea, whether narrative or mechanical. Staying up to date on modern games and genres will help you find that idea and build your game with a strong perspective on the medium.
- Study genre-defining games. Learn the tropes and common gameplay expectations in your preferred genre. Your creativity and passion will help all the next steps in this process to flow far more smoothly. For horror, you might play “Silent Hill 2,” “Amnesia: The Dark Descent,” or “Phasmophobia”; for role-playing games (RPGs), “The Witcher 3,” “Disco Elysium,” or “Undertale”; for puzzles, “Portal 2,” “The Witness,” or “Return of the Obra Dinn”; for platformers, “Celeste,” “Hollow Knight,” or “Super Meat Boy”; and for visual novels, “Doki Doki Literature Club!,” “Ace Attorney,” or “VA-11 Hall-A.”
- Explore indie titles. Check out the independent video game options on Steam or Epic Games to see what other early video game creators are doing.
2. Choose your game development engine.
You might think that a supercomputer with the highest power GPU is necessary to create a hit game, but you’d be mistaken. The indie hit “Risk of Rain” originated from MS Paint and free tool GameMaker, and the renowned indie horror game-turned-multimedia franchise “Five Nights at Freddy’s” began with layered PNG images and GIFs created using Clickteam.
Your own decision will depend on your preferences and the tools that match the kind of game you want to create. Here are some popular options:
- Godot: A versatile powerhouse that takes designers from their first game to best sellers for both 2D and 3D formats.
- Unity: This tool offers deep creation potential for 2D and 3D games, but it can be tougher for beginners.
- GameMaker: An excellent resource for 2D-inspired games used by hobbyists and professionals alike.
3. Learn coding and game development fundamentals.
Now it’s time to really get into the nitty-gritty of game development. You’ll need basic coding skills in a programming language like C++, C#, Python, Lua, or JavaScript, and you will need to understand the fundamentals of game prototype creation to turn your ideas into video game reality. These tools can help:
- Brackeys: Beginner-friendly Unity tutorials (archived but still valuable)
- Code Monkey: Unity and C# programming tutorials
- Coursera: Structured courses across an array of game development fundamentals
- GameMaker Tutorials: Official learning resources for 2D game development
- GDC: Industry talks and postmortems from professional developers
- Godot Docs: Comprehensive guides for the Godot engine
- Matthew Colville: RPG design for both tabletop and video games
- Pirate Software: Streamlined advice from experienced game designer Jason Hall
- Udemy: A variety of classes on video game creation, coding, and more
- Unity Learn: Free official tutorials for Unity engine
4. Make a prototype.
Think of the prototype as the younger sibling of what your game will ultimately come to be. Use a platformer like those offered by Unity and Godot to test out your game’s core mechanics, visuals, and design. If something seems off, take the time to tweak it before moving to the next step.
5. Ask development communities for feedback.
Gaming development communities let you connect with peers who’ve faced and solved the same challenges. Search for communities tied to the games and styles that inspire you, and you’ll find like-minded peers who share excitement and technical know-how—and can provide you with valuable feedback. Here are a handful of the most popular forums, events, and groups:
- Discord: Game Dev Network, Game Dev League, Brackeys Community, GameMaker, Godot Engine
- Reddit: Game Dev, IndieGaming, Unity 3D, Godot, GameMaker
- Game jams: Ludum Dare, Global Game Jam, 7 Day Roguelike Challenge, Brackeys Game Jam
- Local meetups: Game development groups in your city listed on Meetup
- Developer forums: Unity Discussions, Godot Forum, GameMaker Community
6. Refine.
Going from prototype to full production is a long and arduous process—but a worthwhile one. Here’s how to begin the journey:
- Assess. Take the feedback you’ve received on your prototype and use it to critically assess if it has the foundation for a complete game. Does it show your core gameplay loop? Do the fundamental mechanics work? Is the game fun?
- Create a GDD. Then, write out a comprehensive game design document (GDD) that fleshes out your prototype in terms of systems, story, features, and technical requirements.
- Build and test a vertical slice. The vertical slice is a 10–15-minute section of gameplay that feels like a complete, polished miniature version of your game, with all major systems working together. Create one for your game, test it out, and fix any bugs and hardware concerns.
- Scale up. When you feel confident in your vertical slice, it’s finally time to move to full production. Be sure to test features and performance optimization throughout to ensure you don’t accidentally hit a snag just when you think you’ve finally finished.
7. Find and cast voice actors.
Once you have the gameplay down pat, consider adding voiceover for complexity and intrigue. Think about the power of Mark Meer’s delivery as Commander Shepard in “Mass Effect,” how Eartha Kitt’s feline purr gives comic villainy in “The Emperor’s New Groove,” or the nearly 12 hours of dialogue in “Metal Gear Solid” that helped skyrocket the series’ popularity. Just watch this powerful monologue from the latter’s protagonist, Solid Snake (David Hayter), to get an idea of the impact voice acting can have in games:
Follow these steps to find the perfect voice actors for your own game:
- Define your characters. Think about each character’s vocal identity (smooth-talking con artist? final boss baritone? plucky child?), then create detailed character breakdowns that go beyond basic demographics to include speech patterns, emotional range, and key personality traits.
- Find voice actors. Create a casting call for your game on our video game casting call database that includes the specific vocal traits and types you’re looking for. You can also ask your friends if they’d like to bring their voices and personalities to your project. Sometimes, the best way to build interest and maintain motivation during the creative process is to invite people you know to collaborate and share their insights.
- Hear them out. If you’re asking voice actors to audition or send in self-tapes, be sure to provide script samples showcasing different emotional beats so you can hear how they interpret your vision.
8. Add in sound.
After you build the base engine and visuals of your game and have voice actors ready to record, it’s time to turn to audio resources. Sound helps create an immersive and gripping experience, sonically grounding players in the world they’re exploring. Whether you’re a sound engineer or a one-person production team, using audio resources and editing software like the following will next-level your gameplay.
- Anvil: A free, simple, user-friendly tool for crafting games with classic MIDI sound
- Audacity: Free-to-use audio editing software that works with most file types and offers a beginner-friendly layout
- FL Studio: The industry gold standard that comes with a steep price tag—but it’s a one-time purchase that grants lifetime access to powerful features
- Freesound: Free sound effects and ambient audio
- Incompetech: Royalty-free music for games
- Purple Planet Music: Free game music tracks
- ZapSplat: A professional sound library with a free tier
9. Persevere.
Games take time! Even simple independent games can take developers months, if not years, to complete. Don’t let yourself be discouraged during this time. Know when to take breaks, when to push for timelines, and when to start over. Who knows? You may just level up.