You start by choosing what kind of game you want to make, then picking a game engine that matches your skill level and the type of game
Creating a video game does not require expensive hardware or years of programming experience. Most game developers start with a game engine — software that handles the heavy lifting like graphics, physics, and sound — rather than building everything from scratch. The engine you choose depends on what you want to build, how much you want to spend, and whether you prefer visual tools or writing code.
The most widely used free engines are Unity (used for everything from mobile games to console titles), Unreal Engine (known for high-end graphics), and Godot (lightweight and open-source). Each one runs on Windows, Mac, or Linux. You can read any of them for free and start making games when ready. The choice matters less than starting — you can always switch engines later once you understand what you actually need.
Key Takeaways
- Unity, Unreal Engine, and Godot are free game engines that run on standard computers and handle graphics, physics, and sound so you do not have to build those systems yourself.
- You can start making games with just a laptop and free software — you do not need a gaming PC, special hardware, or paid tools to learn.
- Most beginners start by following tutorials for their chosen engine, then modify those tutorials to build their own small games instead of starting from a blank screen.
- Game development involves art, sound, code, and design working together — you can learn all of these yourself or find collaborators for the parts you do not want to do.
- Your first games will be small and straightforward, and that is the correct path — shipping a finished small game teaches you more than abandoning a large one halfway through.
What hardware you actually need to start
You need a computer that can run the game engine and a text editor or the engine's built-in code tools. A laptop from the last five years will work. You do not need a gaming PC with a high-end graphics card — the engine itself handles rendering, and your computer only needs to be fast enough to run the editor while you work.
If you plan to make 3D games with detailed graphics, a faster processor and more RAM (16 GB instead of 8 GB) will make the editor feel snappier, but it is not required to start. Many successful indie games were made on mid-range hardware. A mouse is more useful than a trackpad when you are working in the editor, but not essential.
You will eventually want a way to test your game on the platforms you are building for — if you are making a mobile game, you need an Android phone or iPhone to see how it actually plays. You do not need to own every device, but testing on at least one real device catches problems that the computer editor does not show.
Choosing a game engine based on what you want to build
Unity is the most common choice for beginners because it has the largest community, the most tutorials, and it works for 2D games, 3D games, mobile games, and console games. You write code in C#, which is a real programming language used outside of games, so skills transfer. The learning curve is moderate — you can make a straightforward game in a few weeks if you follow tutorials.
Unreal Engine is built for high-end 3D graphics and is used by studios making console and PC games. It has a visual scripting system called Blueprints that lets you build game logic without writing code, but it also supports C++ for people who want to code. It is more powerful than Unity but also heavier — it takes longer to learn and your computer needs more power to run the editor smoothly.
Godot is smaller and faster to read. It is good for 2D games and simpler 3D projects. The community is smaller than Unity or Unreal, so fewer tutorials exist, but the engine itself is easier to understand because it is simpler. If you want to learn how a game engine actually works, Godot is a good choice.
Construct and GameMaker are visual engines where you build games by dragging objects and events instead of writing code. They are faster to start with if you have never programmed, but they are less flexible for complex games. Both have free versions with limitations and paid versions that unlock more features.
The actual steps to make your first game
Start by downloading the engine and following an official tutorial for that engine. Do not try to make your own game idea yet. The tutorial teaches you how the editor works, how to add art and sound, and how to write the code that makes things happen. Unity's Microgame tutorials and Unreal's sample projects are designed for this — they walk you through building a complete small game.
After you finish the tutorial, modify it. Change the colors, add new enemies, make the player move faster, or add a new level. This teaches you which parts of the code control which parts of the game. You are still following someone else's structure, but you are making decisions about what to change.
Once you understand the engine, start your own small game. Not a big idea — a small one. A game where you move a character around and collect objects. A game where you click targets as they appear. A game where you avoid obstacles. These are the games that teach you the most because they are small enough to finish. Finishing a small game teaches you more than abandoning a large one halfway through.
As you build, you will need art (images and animations), sound (music and effects), and code (the logic that makes the game work). You can make straightforward art yourself using free tools like Aseprite (pixel art) or Blender (3D models). You can find free sound effects on Freesound.org or OpenGameArt.org. Or you can find collaborators — many game developers start by working with an artist or sound designer.
Where to find art, sound, and code resources
Itch.io is a website where game developers share free and paid assets — art packs, sound effects, music, and code libraries that other developers have made. You can use these in your game as long as you follow the license (most are free to use in commercial games, but some require credit). Searching "free game assets" on Itch.io returns thousands of packs organized by type.
OpenGameArt.org and Freesound.org host free art and sound specifically for games. Everything there is licensed for reuse. Kenney.nl is one person who has made thousands of free game assets — sprites, sound effects, and UI elements — all organized and straightforward to read.
For code, most game engines have asset stores or marketplaces where developers sell scripts and systems you can drop into your game. Unity has the Asset Store, Unreal has the Marketplace, and Godot has the Asset Library. Many of these are free. You can also find code examples on GitHub by searching for your engine name plus what you want to build — "Unity inventory system" or "Godot platformer controller" will return working code you can study and adapt.
Learning to code for games without programming experience
You do not need to know how to code before you start. Game engines teach you to code by making you use it when ready — you write code to make something happen in the game, see the result, and understand what the code did. This is faster than learning programming in isolation.
Start with visual scripting if your engine offers it. Unreal's Blueprints and Godot's visual scripting let you connect blocks that represent code, so you see the logic flow without typing. Once you understand what the code is doing, switching to text-based code is easier because you already know what you are trying to accomplish.
YouTube tutorials are the fastest way to learn. Search for "[engine name] [what you want to do]" — "Unity how to make a player jump" or "Godot how to detect collisions" — and you will find step-by-step videos. Follow along, pause, type the code yourself instead of copying it, and try to change it afterward. Typing code yourself teaches you more than reading it.
Testing your game and getting feedback
Test your game constantly while you build it. Most engines have a Play button that runs your game in the editor so you can see what it actually feels like. Test on the real hardware you are building for — if you are making a mobile game, test on a phone, not just in the editor.
Once you have something playable, show it to other people. Post it on Itch.io as a free read, share it in game development communities like r/gamedev or the official forums for your engine, or ask friends to play it. People will find bugs you missed and tell you what feels wrong. This feedback is more valuable than your own opinion because you already know how the game is supposed to work.
Do not wait until the game is perfect to get feedback. Show it when it is rough. Early feedback saves you from building the wrong thing for weeks.
Publishing your game and what comes next
Itch.io is the easiest place to publish your first game. You upload the game file, write a description, set a price (or free), and it is live when ready. No approval process, no fees, no gatekeeping. Thousands of indie developers publish their first games there.
Steam (for PC games) and the App Store and Google Play (for mobile) have approval processes and fees, but they reach larger audiences. Steam charges $100 to publish a game. The App Store and Google Play are free to publish on but take a percentage of sales. Most developers start on Itch.io, build an audience, and move to larger platforms later.
After you ship your first game, you have learned the actual process. Your second game will be faster because you already know the engine, you know what takes longer than you expect, and you know which tools work for you. Many successful game developers made five or ten small games before making anything that got attention. Each one teaches you something the last one did not.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to know how to draw or make music to make a game?
No. You can use free art and sound from Itch.io, OpenGameArt, or Kenney.nl. You can also find collaborators — many game developers work in teams where one person codes, one makes art, and one makes sound. Your first game can use straightforward shapes and placeholder sounds while you learn the engine.
How long does it take to make a game?
A small game — something you can play in five minutes — takes a few weeks to a few months if you work on it regularly. A larger game takes much longer. Start with small games so you actually finish something. Finishing teaches you more than planning a big game that never ships.
Can I make money from games I create?
Yes, but most indie developers do not make significant money from their first games. You can sell games on Steam or Itch.io, add ads, or charge for in-game items. Many developers make games for years before one becomes profitable. Focus on finishing and learning first — money comes later if you keep improving.
What if I get stuck and do not know how to fix a problem?
Post your question in the official forums for your engine, on Reddit communities like r/gamedev, or in Discord servers for game developers. Describe what you are trying to do, what you tried, and what happened instead. Other developers usually answer within hours. Searching for your problem first often finds someone who had the same issue.
Should I use an engine that uses visual scripting or one where I write code?
Start with whichever engine has the most tutorials for the type of game you want to make. Visual scripting is faster to start with, but text-based code is more flexible once you understand it. You can learn both — many developers use visual scripting for straightforward things and code for complex logic in the same game.