Choosing Between Planning and Improvisation: Adaptable Game Design

Posted by Gemma Ellison

July 30, 2025

Adaptable Game Design: Balancing Planning and Improvisation

Indie game development is a tightrope walk. You’re constantly juggling creative vision with practical constraints. Too much planning, and you risk analysis paralysis. Too little, and scope creep devours your project. The key? Adaptable game design. It’s about knowing when to plan meticulously and when to embrace improvisation.

The Perils of Over-Planning and Under-Planning

Many developers, especially beginners, fall into one of two traps. Over-planners create elaborate design documents that become outdated the moment development starts. Under-planners dive in headfirst, coding features without a clear roadmap, often leading to wasted effort and feature bloat. Both paths lead to frustration and abandoned projects.

Step 1: Identify Your Non-Negotiables

Before writing a single line of code, identify the core pillars of your game. These are the elements you absolutely cannot compromise on.

Core Mechanics: What makes your game unique and fun? Nail this down early.
Target Audience: Who are you making this game for? Understanding their preferences will inform your design decisions.
Genre: While you can blend genres, defining the primary genre helps set expectations.

These elements require upfront planning. Don’t be afraid to iterate, but have a solid foundation.

Step 2: Embrace Iteration in Flexible Areas

Some areas of game design benefit from a more improvisational approach.

Level Design: Create a rough blockout first, then iterate based on playtesting.
Narrative Tweaks: The core story should be planned, but dialogue and specific events can evolve.
Visual Style: Experiment with different art styles early on, but finalize it before creating too much content.

These areas are where you can afford to be flexible. Don’t be afraid to throw things out and try new ideas.

Step 3: Combatting Analysis Paralysis and Scope Creep

Analysis paralysis is the enemy of progress. Set time limits for planning. If you’re stuck on a decision, move on and revisit it later. Scope creep is equally dangerous. Constantly adding new features will derail your project. Learn to say “no” to ideas that don’t align with your core vision.

Step 4: Leverage Playtesting Data

Playtesting is crucial for adaptable game design. Get your game in front of players as early as possible. Observe how they interact with it, and gather feedback. Use this data to inform both your planned milestones and emergent design opportunities. You might discover that players are enjoying a feature you thought was weak, or vice versa.

Step 5: The Power of a Game Dev Journal

Documenting your game development process is essential. A game dev journal (or game development log) becomes your single source of truth. Track your progress, record your design decisions, and document your playtesting feedback. This will help you stay organized, avoid repeating mistakes, and make informed decisions.

Here’s what to track in your game dev journal:

Daily/Weekly Progress: What did you accomplish? What challenges did you face?
Design Decisions: Why did you make certain choices? What were the alternatives?
Playtesting Feedback: What did players say? How did you address their concerns?
Technical Challenges: How did you solve specific coding problems?
Unexpected Discoveries: What interesting things did you learn during development?

Consistency is key. Aim to update your game dev journal regularly, even if it’s just a few notes. Many indie developers also share public devlogs as a form of marketing and community building.

Example: Adapting Combat Based on Playtesting

Imagine you’re developing an RPG. You planned for a turn-based combat system, but playtesters find it slow and boring. Instead of stubbornly sticking to your original plan, you could experiment with a more action-oriented approach. Track these changes in your game dev journal, noting the reasons for the shift and the results of subsequent playtests.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Not starting a dev journal: You’ll forget important details and struggle to learn from your mistakes.
Inconsistent logging: Sporadic updates are better than nothing, but regular entries provide a more complete picture.
Ignoring playtesting feedback: Your players are telling you what works and what doesn’t. Listen to them.
Being afraid to scrap features: Sometimes, the best decision is to cut something that isn’t working.
Not defining clear milestones: Without milestones, you’ll lose focus and get bogged down in details.

Final Thoughts

Adaptable game design is a mindset. It’s about being open to new ideas, willing to change direction, and learning from your mistakes. By embracing a balance of planning and improvisation, and diligently tracking your progress, you’ll increase your chances of creating a successful and enjoyable game.

Ready to start documenting your game development journey? Get started tracking your own project’s journey today with our handy game development journal template!