How to Avoid Pitfalls in Scope Creep for Solo Devs

Subject: Avoiding Scope Creep: A Solo Dev’s Journaling Guide

Hey everyone,

Scope creep is the silent killer of solo game development projects. It starts subtly: a cool new feature idea, a small polish pass here, an extra mechanic there. Before you know it, your manageable project spirals into an unfinishable beast, leading to burnout and abandoned dreams. This isn’t about lacking ambition; it’s about not having a clear, actionable strategy to manage it.

This post outlines a simple, powerful journaling technique to keep your project on track. This method helps you balance your grand vision with realistic constraints, ensuring you actually ship your game. This is a practical, step-by-step approach to managing your “game dev journal” effectively.

Step 1: Define Your Core, Essential Features

The first step in any “game development log” is to mercilessly define your game’s absolute core. What is the minimum viable product (MVP) that still delivers the intended experience? This isn’t about cutting corners; it’s about identifying the bedrock of your game.

Grab your journal or open your preferred digital note-taking tool. At the very top, write down your game’s single, overarching goal. For example: “A puzzle platformer where players use time manipulation to solve environmental challenges.” Below that, list 3-5 core mechanics essential to that goal. If you’re building a “game dev journal,” make sure these are non-negotiable.

Resist the urge to add anything extra here. This is your foundation. Every subsequent feature must directly serve these core elements. This helps you “track game development progress” against a clear baseline.

Step 2: Establish Your Feature Hierarchy (Must-Haves, Nice-to-Haves, Dream Features)

Now that your core is defined, create three distinct sections in your "game development log":

1. Must-Haves: These are the features you defined in Step 1. They are critical for the game to exist and be playable.
2. Nice-to-Haves: These features would enhance the game experience but are not essential for its core functionality. Think quality-of-life improvements, additional levels, or secondary mechanics.
3. Dream Features: These are the ambitious, “wouldn’t it be cool if” ideas. They might be revolutionary mechanics, extensive lore, or multiplayer modes. These are for future consideration, long after the game’s core is complete and shipped.

When you think of a new feature, immediately categorize it. If it’s not a “must-have,” it goes into “nice-to-haves” or “dream features.” This simple act of organization in your “game dev journal” prevents immediate integration and forces critical evaluation.

Step 3: Daily Check-Ins and Progress Tracking

Consistency is key for any “game development log.” Each morning, before you start development, open your journal. Review your “must-have” list. What is the single most important task you need to accomplish today to move a “must-have” feature forward? Write it down.

At the end of your development session, write a brief entry. What did you accomplish? Did you complete your planned task? If not, why? Be honest and brief. This daily habit helps you “track game development progress” effectively.

This isn’t about shaming yourself; it’s about identifying bottlenecks and understanding your actual productivity. Over time, your “game dev journal” will show you patterns, helping you set more realistic daily goals.

Step 4: Feature Evaluation (When and How to Cut)

Here’s where the journaling technique truly shines in preventing scope creep. Periodically (weekly or bi-weekly), dedicate time to a “feature evaluation” session in your “game development log.”

Review your “nice-to-haves” and “dream features.” Ask yourself:

• Does this feature still align with my core vision?
• How much development time will it realistically take?
• What is the return on investment for this feature (i.e., how much will it improve the player experience versus the effort required)?
• Can this feature be easily added after the core game is shipped?

If a “nice-to-have” starts looking like it requires significant time or deviates too much, move it to “dream features” or even discard it. If a “dream feature” still feels too large or complex for the current project, make a conscious decision to defer it.

This process of actively pruning your scope, rather than letting it grow unchecked, is vital. It’s not a failure to cut features; it’s smart project management. Indie success stories are often built on tightly focused, polished experiences, not sprawling, unfinished epics. Use your “game dev journal” to make these hard decisions deliberately.

Step 5: The “Release Barrier” Mindset

Visualize a “release barrier” between your “must-have” features and everything else. Your game cannot cross this barrier until all “must-haves” are complete and polished. No “nice-to-haves” or “dream features” are allowed on the “must-have” side of the barrier.

This mental model, reinforced by your “game development log,” creates a clear target. It helps you resist the temptation to add “just one more thing” when you’re close to completion. Your “game dev journal” becomes the definitive record of what needs to be done before release.

This journaling system helps you “track game development progress” with intention and discipline. It provides a historical record of your decisions, your successes, and your challenges, all invaluable for future projects. If you’re looking for a structured way to implement this journaling technique and really nail down your project management, our powerful game development journaling tool is designed to guide you through each of these steps, keeping your game on track and preventing those common pitfalls of burnout and unfinished projects.

Start applying these techniques in your “game dev journal” today. You’ll find yourself making consistent progress, feeling less overwhelmed, and ultimately, shipping more games. Your ambition is powerful, but it needs a plan. This journaling method provides that plan.