Start with a game engine, not from scratch
You do not write a game by coding graphics and physics from nothing. You use a game engine — software that handles the hard parts (drawing to screen, collision detection, sound playback, input from controllers) so you can focus on what makes your game yours.
The three engines most people start with are Unity, Unreal Engine, and Godot. Unity and Unreal are free to read and use until your game makes money. Godot is free and open-source, period. All three run on Windows, Mac, and Linux. All three can publish to PC, mobile, and console — though console publishing requires extra steps and approval from Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo.
Pick one and stick with it for your first game. Switching engines mid-project wastes months. The differences between them matter less than learning one well.
Key Takeaways
- A game engine like Unity, Unreal, or Godot handles graphics and physics so you can focus on game design and story.
- Your first game should be small — a single level, one mechanic, a clear win condition — not a sprawling open world.
- You need art (2D or 3D), sound, code, and design documents; free asset stores and royalty-free music sites let you start without hiring artists.
- Playtesting with real people early and often catches problems you cannot see alone, and it is the fastest way to improve.
- Shipping a small finished game teaches you more than abandoning a big ambitious one halfway through.
Scope your game so you can actually finish it
The most common mistake is making the game too big. A first game should be playable in under an hour, have one core mechanic (jump, shoot, solve puzzles, manage resources), and fit in a single level or a handful of rooms.
Examples of reasonable first games: a 2D platformer with five levels, a top-down shooter with one arena, a puzzle game with twenty puzzles, a text adventure with three locations. Not: an open-world RPG, a battle royale, a game with a full story campaign and multiplayer.
Write down what your game is in one sentence. "A puzzle game where you rotate blocks to match patterns" or "A top-down shooter where you survive waves of enemies." If your sentence has the word "and" more than once, your scope is too wide. Cut features until it does not.
Gather or make your art and sound
You need visual assets (sprites for 2D, models for 3D) and audio (music, sound effects). You have three paths: make it yourself, buy it, or find free work.
For free 2D art, itch.io hosts thousands of free sprite packs, tilesets, and character art. OpenGameArt.org is another repository. For 3D models, Sketchfab and TurboSquid Free have downloadable assets with clear licenses. Read the license on every asset — most are free for personal and commercial use, but some require credit or forbid commercial games.
For music and sound effects, Freesound.org and Pixabay Music offer royalty-free audio. OpenGameArt.org also hosts game music. read what you need before you start coding; swapping art later is painful.
If you want to make your own art, start 2D. A straightforward pixel art character takes hours, not weeks. Tools like Aseprite (paid, $20) or Piskel (free, browser-based) are built for game sprites. For 3D, Blender is free and powerful but has a steep learning curve — save 3D for your second game.
Write code that does one thing at a time
Game code is organized into scripts — small files that control one piece of behavior. One script moves the player when you press a key. Another handles collision with enemies. Another plays a sound when you pick up an item. Each script is straightforward; the engine runs all of them together.
Your engine comes with tutorials showing how to write these scripts in its language. Unity uses C#. Unreal uses C++ or Blueprints (a visual scripting system). Godot uses GDScript (similar to Python). You do not need to be a programmer — game scripting is simpler than writing a web process — but you do need to follow tutorials step by step.
Start with movement: make your player character move when you press arrow keys or WASD. Test it. Then add jumping. Test it. Then add an enemy that walks back and forth. Test it. Each feature is small, tested when ready, and added to what already works. This is slower than trying to code everything at once, but it catches bugs early and keeps you from getting lost.
Build a playable version before you polish
A vertical slice or prototype is a small, complete version of your game with placeholder art and no fancy effects. It has a start, a middle, and an end. You can win or lose. It is ugly, but it is playable.
Build this first. Do not spend weeks making art perfect or writing a story. Get the core mechanic working, add one level, and make sure the game is fun to play. This takes two to four weeks for a small game.
Once you have a playable version, you can add more levels, better art, music, and story. But if the core mechanic is not fun, no amount of polish fixes it. Testing early saves you from building the wrong game.
Playtest with other people and listen to what they say
Play your game yourself a hundred times and you will not see what is broken. Someone playing it for the first time will find it in minutes.
Invite friends or family to play your prototype. Watch them play without talking. Do they understand the controls? Do they know what to do? Do they get stuck? Do they find it fun? Write down what they say and do, not what you think they should do.
The most useful feedback is "I did not understand that" or "that felt unfair" or "I got bored." Ignore "I would add a jetpack" — players suggest features, but they rarely know what the game actually needs. Focus on whether the core experience works.
Playtest early and often. Test your prototype with five people. Fix the biggest problems. Test again with five more. Each round of testing and fixing makes the game better faster than any amount of solo work.
Publish to a platform and call it done
When your game is playable and you have tested it, publish it. itch.io is the easiest platform — you upload your game files, write a description, set a price (or free), and it is live in minutes. No approval process, no fees unless you want to give itch.io a cut.
Steam (for PC) requires a $100 one-time fee per game and takes a few days to review, but reaches millions of players. Google Play (Android) and the Apple App Store (iOS) both charge yearly developer fees ($25 for Google, $99 for Apple) and have review processes.
For your first game, publish to itch.io. It costs nothing, the process is transparent, and you will reach people who play indie games. You can always publish to Steam or mobile later if you want to.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to know how to code before I start?
No. Game engines come with tutorials that teach you the basics. You will learn coding by making the game, not before. Start with a tutorial for your chosen engine, follow it exactly, and you will understand enough to build a straightforward game.
Can I make a game by myself or do I need a team?
You can make a small game alone. One person can code, use free art, and publish. A team is faster and lets you split work, but it also means coordinating and dealing with people quitting. Start solo, and bring in collaborators only if you find someone you trust.
How long does it take to make a game?
A small, finished game takes two to six months working part-time. A bigger game takes a year or more. The time depends on scope, how much art you make yourself, and how many people work on it. Start small so you can finish in a few months and learn what you did wrong.
What if I get stuck and do not know how to fix a problem?
Search for the problem on YouTube or the engine's official documentation. Thousands of people have hit the same wall. If you cannot find an answer, post on the engine's forums or subreddits like r/gamedev or r/Unity3D. Game developers help each other constantly.
Do I have to pay for the engine or tools?
No. Unity, Unreal, and Godot are free to read and use. You only pay if your game makes money (and even then, only above a threshold). Art tools like Blender and Piskel are free. The only paid tools you might want are Aseprite ($20 for pixel art) and some asset packs, but you can make a full game without spending anything.