Solo Dev Survival Guide: Shipping Your First Game Without Burning Out
Developing a game solo is a marathon, not a sprint. Many aspiring developers start strong but falter before reaching the finish line. This guide offers practical advice to help you ship your first game without succumbing to burnout or scope creep.
First, define your Minimum Viable Product (MVP) rigorously. This isn’t about cutting features, but identifying the core loop that makes your game fun. Stick to this core and resist the urge to add anything beyond it until your MVP is shippable.
Next, prioritize your game design document (GDD) early. A clear GDD acts as your north star, guiding every decision and preventing feature creep. Tools like Blueprint can streamline this process, helping you transform ideas into professional, detailed documents quickly.
Break your project into small, manageable tasks. Large, ambiguous tasks are intimidating and lead to procrastination. Aim for tasks that can be completed within a few hours or a single day.
Establish a consistent work schedule. Treat your development time like a job, even if it’s just a few hours each day. Consistency builds momentum and makes progress feel tangible.
Embrace iteration over perfection. Your first version won’t be perfect, and that’s okay. Get a playable build out quickly, gather feedback, and then iterate. Waiting for perfection is a common trap that delays releases indefinitely.
Learn to say no to new features. Every new idea, no matter how small, adds development time and complexity. Park new ideas in a ‘future features’ list and revisit them only after your current scope is complete.
Develop a solid understanding of your chosen engine and its limitations. Trying to force an engine to do something it’s not designed for will lead to frustration and wasted time. Master the basics before attempting advanced techniques.
Don’t neglect playtesting. Even as a solo developer, you need outside perspectives. Ask friends, family, or online communities to test your game and provide honest feedback. Early feedback can save you from costly mistakes later on.
Focus on a single platform for your initial release. Porting to multiple platforms adds significant overhead and can delay your launch. Get your game out on one platform, and then consider expanding.
Understand the basics of marketing, even if it feels daunting. A great game can go unnoticed without some effort to promote it. Start building a presence early, perhaps by showcasing your work on a Devpage to consolidate all your projects.
Set realistic expectations for launch. Your first game likely won’t be an overnight sensation, and that’s perfectly normal. Focus on the achievement of shipping and the lessons learned.
Celebrate small victories. Shipping a game is a huge accomplishment, but so is fixing a tricky bug or implementing a new feature. Acknowledge these milestones to maintain motivation.
Finally, remember that learning is an ongoing process. Every game you make will teach you something new. View challenges as opportunities to grow your skills and refine your approach to game development.