Top 5 Resources for Mastering Indie Game Documentation

Developing an indie game often feels like a race against time, with an endless to-do list. The idea of adding “documentation” to that list can trigger “perfectionism paralysis,” making you freeze before you even start. But what if documentation wasn’t a separate, burdensome task, but an integrated part of your agile workflow, much like the rapid iteration seen in game jams?

The “Good Enough” Mindset for Documentation

“Good enough” documentation prioritizes clarity and actionability over exhaustive completeness. It means capturing essential information needed for your next steps without getting lost in unnecessary detail. This approach prevents burnout and allows documentation to seamlessly integrate into an agile development cycle. Instead of being a separate chore, it becomes a natural byproduct of your work, improving project clarity and iteration speed.

Resource 1: Lightweight Design Documents

You don’t need a 50-page game design document to get started. Lightweight tools like Trello or Notion boards can serve as excellent platforms for quickly outlining core mechanics, art style, and your target audience. Create simple cards for game modes, character abilities, or level themes. Use bullet points for key features and link to relevant assets. The goal is to capture the essence without getting bogged down in minutiae. This keeps your vision clear and adaptable as your game evolves.

Resource 2: Version Control Comments

Your version control system, like Git, isn’t just for tracking code changes; it’s a living game development log. Use your commit messages to document decisions, explain changes, and note any known issues or future intentions. A good commit message describes what changed, why it changed, and what problem it solves. This practice helps you track game development progress and provides valuable context when reviewing past work or collaborating with others. Concise and descriptive messages like “Implemented player jump mechanic, fixed bug with double jump cancelling” are far more useful than “Updates.”

Resource 3: Player Feedback Journaling

Journaling player feedback is crucial for mastering indie game documentation and driving iterative development. It transforms raw feedback into actionable insights, making your game better with each iteration. This process is essential for anyone looking to track game development progress effectively.

To start, create a simple system for recording feedback. This could be a text file, a dedicated spreadsheet, or a section in your task management tool. When you receive feedback, immediately log it. Include the date, the source (e.g., “Discord tester,” “playtest session”), the specific feedback point, and the context (e.g., “player struggled with level 3 difficulty”).

Next, categorize the feedback. Common categories include “bug report,” “usability issue,” “feature request,” “balance concern,” or “general impression.” This helps you see patterns and identify areas needing the most attention. For example, if multiple players mention a specific UI element is confusing, it becomes a high-priority usability issue.

Then, prioritize the feedback. Not all feedback is equally important. Use a simple scale (e.g., “critical,” “high,” “medium,” “low”) based on impact and feasibility. Critical items might be game-breaking bugs, while low-priority items could be minor aesthetic suggestions. This structured approach helps you decide what to act on first.

Finally, connect the journaling to action. Once feedback is recorded, categorized, and prioritized, it directly informs your design changes and feature updates. For instance, a “critical” bug report from your journal might lead to a task to fix it immediately. A “high” priority feature request could be added to your development roadmap. This continuous loop of feedback, journaling, and action ensures your game constantly improves. For an even more streamlined approach to integrating player feedback and tracking your dev journey, our dedicated journaling tool can help you capture insights and keep your project on track. Start refining your game with actionable insights today: Dive deeper into player feedback with our journaling tool!

Resource 4: Simple Task Management

Your daily to-do list or Kanban board doubles as living documentation. Each task represents a piece of your game’s development, detailing what needs to be done. Tools like Trello, Asana, or even a simple bullet journal can help. A card titled “Implement enemy AI pathfinding” documents a key game system without requiring a separate design document. As tasks move from “To Do” to “In Progress” to “Done,” they provide a clear trail of your work, serving as a functional game development log. This approach helps you stay consistent with devlogs by integrating task management and progress tracking.