Start Small, Finish Strong: The Solo Dev's Guide to Shipping Your First Game

Many aspiring solo game developers begin with grand visions, often leading to unfinished projects. The key to shipping your first game isn’t about revolutionary ideas; it’s about disciplined execution.

The most significant hurdle for solo developers is overscoping. Resist the urge to build an open-world RPG with a dynamic weather system and 50 unique characters for your first project.

Instead, focus on a single, core gameplay mechanic that is fun and polished. Can you make a compelling game with just one screen, one character, and one objective?

Define your minimum viable product (MVP) early on. This is the simplest version of your game that still delivers a complete experience.

Documenting your ideas is crucial, even for small projects. A well-structured Game Design Document (GDD) helps you stay on track and avoid feature creep. Blueprint can help you quickly outline your game’s core elements.

Break your project down into small, manageable tasks. Work on one feature at a time, get it working, and then move to the next.

Embrace iteration. Your first version of a mechanic or asset won’t be perfect, and that’s okay. Get it functional, then refine it.

Don’t get bogged down in finding the ‘perfect’ name too early. A good name is important, but a finished game is more important than a perfect name for an unfinished one. When you’re ready, Marquee can help you brainstorm creative titles.

Leverage existing assets and tools. You don’t need to create every sprite, sound effect, or 3D model from scratch. Asset stores and free resources can save immense amounts of time.

Prioritize gameplay over graphics for your initial versions. A game with simple visuals but solid mechanics will always be more engaging than a beautiful but broken one.

Set realistic deadlines for yourself. Break your project into weekly or bi-weekly sprints, and review your progress regularly.

Learn to say ‘no’ to new ideas during development. Park them in a ‘future features’ document and focus on what’s essential for the current project.

Playtesting is vital, even for solo projects. Get friends, family, or online communities to test your game early and often. Their feedback is invaluable for identifying issues and improving the experience.

Don’t be afraid to cut features that aren’t working or are taking too long. It’s better to ship a smaller, complete game than an ambitious, unfinished one.

Celebrate small victories. Finishing a single level, implementing a new mechanic, or fixing a stubborn bug are all reasons to acknowledge your progress.

Once your game is complete, don’t forget to showcase your work. Even if it’s a small project, putting it out there builds confidence and a portfolio. Create a dedicated page for your game to share your progress and released titles. Devpage offers a simple way to consolidate all your game projects in one place.

Shipping your first game is a huge accomplishment, regardless of its size or commercial success. It teaches you invaluable lessons about the entire development process.

Focus on learning, finishing, and then improving with your next project. Each completed game makes you a better developer.