Solo Dev Survival Guide: Avoiding Common Pitfalls and Building Your First Game

Starting your first game as a solo developer or student is exhilarating, but it’s also fraught with common traps. Many aspiring creators get stuck in the ideation phase, never moving to actual development. Others scope their projects far too broadly, leading to burnout and unfinished work.

The biggest mistake is often over-scoping. You envision a massive open-world RPG when a simple, polished arcade game is a more realistic starting point. Begin with a ‘vertical slice’ mindset: focus on making a tiny, complete, and fun core loop.

Another pitfall is neglecting proper planning. Jumping straight into coding without a clear direction wastes significant time and effort. Even for a small project, a basic game design document (GDD) is invaluable.

Tools like Blueprint can help you quickly outline your game’s core mechanics, art style, and target audience. This structured approach forces you to think through crucial details before significant development begins.

Asset creation can also become a bottleneck. As a solo developer, you can’t be an expert in everything. Resist the urge to create every single asset from scratch, especially if art or music isn’t your primary skill set.

Leverage existing asset libraries, even for commercial projects. Royalty-free assets save immense time and allow you to focus on gameplay. Wayline’s Strafekit offers a wide range of assets, from 2D sprites to audio, that can jumpstart your project.

Marketing is often an afterthought, which is a critical error. Even for your first game, start thinking about how you’ll present it to the world early on. Building a small community or showcasing progress can be highly motivating.

Don’t wait until launch day to create a presence. A dedicated page to showcase your work, like a Devpage, allows you to consolidate all your projects and share updates easily. This creates a central hub for your portfolio and future games.

Feedback is essential, but be selective about who you ask. Friends and family might be too kind; seek feedback from other developers or playtesters who understand game mechanics. Early, honest feedback helps identify critical flaws before they’re deeply ingrained.

Learn to iterate quickly. Don’t fall in love with your first idea or implementation. Be prepared to discard features that aren’t working or aren’t fun. The faster you can test and revise, the better your final product will be.

Monetization strategies should be considered early, even if your first game is free. Understanding potential revenue streams or simply the value proposition of your game is important. This helps you define your goals and measure success.

Finally, remember that consistency trumps intensity. Short, regular development sessions are more effective than sporadic all-nighters. Treat game development like a marathon, not a sprint. Celebrate small victories and learn from every setback.