The No-Nonsense Guide to Restarting Game Projects

“The first 90 percent of the code accounts for the first 90 percent of the development time. The remaining 10 percent of the code accounts for the other 90 percent of the development time.” – Tom Cargill

Sound familiar? Many indie developers face a daunting reality: sometimes, the best path forward is to restart a game project. It feels like failure, a painful admission that months (or years) of work were “wasted.” But framing it that way is wrong. It’s a strategic decision. A chance to build something better.

We’re going to cut through the fluff and give you a no-nonsense guide to restarting your game project. We’ll cover when it’s necessary, what to salvage, and how to come back stronger. Plus, we’ll explore how a game dev journal can be your secret weapon.

Red Flags: When to Consider a Restart

Ignoring warning signs only digs you deeper. Abandoned game projects are rampant. Research shows that scope creep and unmanageable technical debt are major contributors to failed launches. Ask yourself: are you experiencing any of these red flags?

• Scope Creep Nightmare: The game’s grown beyond your initial vision, adding features that don’t serve the core experience.
• Technical Debt Overload: The codebase is a mess of quick fixes and workarounds. Refactoring feels impossible.
• Motivation Drained: You’re no longer excited about the project. Development feels like a chore.
• Zero Player Engagement: Early playtesters are confused or bored. The core loop isn’t working.
• Feature Bloat: Your design document is 100 pages long, filled with half-baked ideas that don’t make the game any better.

If several of these apply, it’s time for a serious evaluation. Don’t let sunk cost fallacy cloud your judgment.

Objectively Evaluating Your Game

Emotion has no place in this stage. Use a structured process to assess the game’s current state. A clear, unemotional review of the project is critical to determine whether to continue, cut, or restart.

1. Define Core Loop: What is the core gameplay loop? Can you articulate it concisely? If not, that’s a problem.
2. Identify Technical Debt: List all known technical issues. Estimate the time required to fix them. Be honest.
3. Analyze Player Feedback: What are the consistent pain points? What do players enjoy?
4. Assess Remaining Scope: How much work is left? Is it realistic given your resources and timeline?
5. Decision Matrix: Create a simple table to score each area (Core Loop, Technical Debt, Feedback, Scope) on a scale (e.g., 1-5, 1 being “unacceptable”). Total the scores. Set a threshold for restarting (e.g., a score below 10 means restart).

This objective analysis will provide the clarity you need.

Step-by-Step Guide to Restarting

You’ve decided to restart. Now what? This is your chance to fix what went wrong.

1. Identify the Core Loop: Distill the game down to its absolute essence. What is the one thing that makes it fun?
2. Scope the “Restart” Project: Focus solely on the core loop. Cut everything else. Set realistic milestones (e.g., a playable prototype in one month).
3. Choose the Right Tech: Is your current engine/framework hindering progress? Consider alternatives if necessary. But don’t fall into the trap of chasing the “shiny new toy” if your current tools are adequate.
4. Create a Minimal Viable Product (MVP): Aim to create the smallest playable project that has the core gameplay loop.

Managing Scope and Avoiding Past Mistakes

The key to a successful restart is avoiding the same pitfalls.

• Document Everything: Keep a detailed game development log of your decisions, progress, and challenges. This will help you learn from your mistakes and stay on track.
• Scope Discipline: Ruthlessly cut features that don’t enhance the core loop.
• Regular Playtesting: Get feedback early and often. Don’t wait until the end to test.
• Timeboxing: Allocate specific time blocks for each task. Stick to the schedule.
• Celebrate Small Wins: Acknowledge progress, even if it’s just a minor bug fix.

Remember: a restart isn’t failure; it’s an opportunity to build something great. Embrace the challenge, learn from your mistakes, and stay focused on the core vision.

To ensure you keep track of the lessons you’ve learned, and document your progress to stay on track, consider using a game dev journal. It’s invaluable for reflecting on your process, documenting your decisions, and ensuring you don’t repeat past errors. Get started with your own game development journal right here!