Game Prototype Checklist: Essential Steps for Lean Game Development & Rapid Iteration

Effective game prototyping is crucial for validating ideas and saving development time. A structured approach ensures you focus on core mechanics and avoid feature creep early on. This checklist guides indie developers through lean game development, promoting rapid iteration and smart decision-making.

Define Your Core Hypothesis

Before writing any code, clearly articulate what you are testing with this prototype. Identify the single most important question your prototype needs to answer about your game’s mechanics or player experience. This focused objective prevents unnecessary feature additions.

Keep your prototype’s scope extremely narrow. It should only include elements directly relevant to testing your core hypothesis.

Pre-Prototype Planning

Outline the minimum viable features required to test your core concept. This involves a brief design document or even just a bulleted list of essential interactions.

Identify the target audience for your prototype. Knowing who will test it helps define the fidelity and features needed.

Choose the simplest tools and assets available to get started quickly. Over-engineering visuals or complex systems at this stage is counterproductive.

Core Mechanics Implementation

Implement only the primary gameplay loop. This is the repeatable action or sequence of actions that defines your game’s core.

Ensure basic player input and control are functional and intuitive. The player must be able to interact with the core mechanic effectively.

Add placeholder art and sound. These temporary assets are sufficient to convey information and atmosphere without consuming valuable development time.

Focus on making the core mechanic feel good. Even with placeholders, the fundamental interaction should be engaging and responsive.

Technical Considerations for Prototypes

Keep the code clean enough to be understandable, but do not strive for production-ready quality. Prioritize functionality over perfect architecture.

Use simple collision detection and physics. Advanced systems can be integrated later once the core gameplay is proven.

Implement basic UI elements for essential feedback, such as score or health. Avoid complex menus or extensive HUDs.