How to Come up with a Game Idea: From Concept to Launch

Eldar Kalinin
By Eldar Kalinin

Game Designer at RetroStyle Games |

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Creating a game from scratch can be hard, but breaking it down into steps makes it manageable. Here’s a guide on coming up with a game idea and taking it all the way to launch.

The best ideas for video game development

How to Generate Game Ideas: The Importance of a Strong Game Idea

To understand the basics, let’s explore some key elements.

  • 1

    Unique solutions

    One exciting part of game design is when players find new ways to solve problems they didn’t expect. Imagine you’ve created a challenging puzzle or a tricky enemy in your game. If players develop creative solutions to these challenges, it shows your game is flexible and engaging. It means you’ve successfully designed a game that allows for multiple approaches and strategies.

  • 2

    Anticipatory vs. complex systems

    Good game designers try to predict what players will do and make the game respond accordingly. For example, if your game has a puzzle where players need to place weights on pressure plates, you might expect them to use nearby rocks. But what if they use weapons or summon creatures instead? Designing the game to accept these solutions is called anticipatory design. On the other hand, creating a system where any object with weight works on the pressure plates, regardless of type, is complex. 

  • 3

    Emergence

    Emergent gameplay happens when players create solutions from the game’s rules that the designer didn’t specifically plan. For example, in the old arcade game Centipede, players discovered a high-scoring strategy by observing the game’s behavior and creating creative solutions. Emergent gameplay makes the game more interesting and rewarding because players feel like they are discovering new things on their own.

  • 4

    Non-Linearity

    Non-linearity means giving players choices about how to proceed in the game, rather than following a single path. This could involve choosing different quests, exploring the game world in various ways, or making decisions that affect the story.

Key elements of game idea generation, the importance of a strong game idea

Ideas for Making a Game Fun

Creating a fun game is all about keeping players interested and balancing how challenging and rewarding the game is. Here are some simple game-making ideas to help make your game fun:

Elements of Engagement

  • Be unique: don’t just copy what other games are doing. Think about what makes your game different and special. Try new ideas for video games and put your twist on things. Experiment with different gameplay mechanics and features to see what works best.
  • Multiple versions: create different versions of your game to see which one players like the most. Test these versions and choose the best one.
  • Get feedback: ask players what they think about your game. Use their feedback to make improvements and keep updating your game to make it better.
  • Build a compelling fantasy: create a world where players can achieve great things. Whether it’s being a stealthy ninja or a powerful general, make sure the fantasy is engaging and satisfying.
  • Show progress: make sure players can see their progress in the game. This could be through levels, achievements, or unlocking new abilities. Visible progress makes players feel accomplished and keeps them motivated.
  • Immersive gameplay: create a game that draws players in with a combination of different elements like story, visuals, and interactive gameplay. The more immersive the game, the more players will enjoy it.
Ideas for making a game fun, how to create a fun video game

Balancing Challenge and Reward

  • Begin with easy levels or challenges and gradually make them harder. This helps players learn the game without getting frustrated.
  • Make sure the game is fair. Players should feel that if they try hard enough, they can overcome the challenges.
  • Give rewards for achieving goals. This could be new levels, items, or abilities. Rewards make players feel good about their progress.
  • Keep the game interesting by adding new elements regularly. This could be new challenges, enemies, or game mechanics.
  • Let players know how they are doing. Use sounds, visuals, or messages to give feedback on their performance.
How to balance between challenges and rewards while working on game idea development

Ideas from Different Types of Games and Genres

Game design is a creative field where different designers use various methods to come up with good video game ideas. 

Understanding your genre

One of the first steps in game design is deciding on the genre of your game. Genres like action, platformer, adventure, puzzle, or role-playing games (RPGs) each have unique characteristics and expectations. Knowing your genre helps set the foundation for your game’s theme and mechanics. However, it’s important not to stick too rigidly to genre conventions. Exploring new possibilities and mixing elements from different genres can lead to innovative and engaging games.  Knowing your genre helps set the foundation for your game’s theme and mechanics. For example, if you’re working on platformer-level design ideas, consider the typical elements like jumping challenges, moving platforms, and enemies.

How to decide the future genre of your game, what are the best video game genres

Choosing the right platform

The platform you choose for your game (PC, console, mobile, or web) significantly impacts its design. Each platform has its strengths and limitations, such as screen size, control methods, and performance capabilities. For instance, mobile games should focus on simple and intuitive controls due to the smaller screen and touch-based interface, here are game interface examples to understand what we mean by it. PC or console games can handle more complex graphics and gameplay mechanics.

Top 8 Principles for video game UI design

Knowing your audience

Different audiences have different preferences. For example, games for children often feature bright colors and simple language. Games for hardcore gamers might include complex challenges, strategic depth, and variety.

Importance of audience while working on game idea development

Balancing game mechanics

Game mechanics are the rules that define how players interact with your game. Balancing these mechanisms ensures that the game is fun and fair. For example, if you’re designing a horror game, you might focus on creating tension and fear, avoiding mechanics that make the player feel too powerful. Testing and refining these mechanics is important to prevent unintended consequences or frustrations.

How to choose game mechanics for game idea

Learning from other games

Studying successful games in various genres can provide valuable insights. For example, games like Portal and The Legend of Zelda blend puzzle and adventure elements. Observing how these games achieve their balance and cohesion can inspire your designs. Analyzing what works and what doesn’t in other games helps avoid common pitfalls and discover new opportunities.

RetroStyles Games map design, RetroStyles Games background design

Be creative and innovative

Creativity and innovation are key to making your game stand out. Don’t be afraid to experiment and iterate on your ideas. Some of the most successful games, like Minecraft and Undertale, gained popularity by offering unique experiences and breaking away from traditional genre norms. Always strive to bring something new and exciting to your players.

How to come up with creative and innovative game ideas

There is no single method for coming up with good game ideas. By understanding your genre, choosing the right platform, knowing your audience, balancing game mechanics, learning from other games, and being creative, you can create a fun and engaging game. In our recent game Ocean Keeper we stuck to the developed pipeline –  here is how we do it.

Game development process of survival roguelike

Each designer's approach may vary, but these fundamental principles can guide you toward making a successful game. Download Codename: Ocean Keeper Demo if you want to see whether our pipeline works. 

Getting Started: How to Come Up with a Game Idea

Creating unique game ideas by following some simple steps, will help you to come up with a concept that is both original and fun. Based on the workflow our devs used while making Ocean Keeper Roguelike Survival, here’s a step-by-step process to create game ideas:

Step 1: Gather inspiration

  • Look at existing games: play different games and note what you like and dislike about them. Pay attention to unique mechanics, storylines, and art styles. Focus on games with unique art styles to see how visual creativity can enhance the gaming.
  • Explore other media: books, movies, and TV shows can also provide good ideas for games. Think about how their stories or characters could be adapted into a game.
  • Research trends: check out current trends in the gaming industry. Look for popular genres and themes, as well as any gaps in the market that you could fill with a new video game idea.
The most popular isometric indie games, what is an isometric game

Step 2: Identify goals

  • Short-term goals: decide what you want to achieve in the next few months. This could be creating a basic prototype or developing a playable demo.
  • Long-term goals: think about where you want your game to be in the future. Do you want it to be a commercial success, or are you creating it for personal satisfaction?
Short-term goals and long-term goals while working on game idea development

Step 3: Brainstorm ideas

  • Free writing: spend some time writing down any ideas that come to mind, no matter how crazy they seem. The goal is to get as many ideas as possible.
  • Mind mapping: create a visual map of your game design ideas. Start with a central concept and branch out with related themes, mechanics, and features.
Methods of game ideas brainstorming

Step 4: Analyze and refine

  • Evaluate feasibility: look at your ideas and consider which ones are realistic given your resources and skills.
  • Combine ideas: sometimes the best concepts come from combining multiple video game ideas to make. See if you can merge different elements to create something unique.
Cartoon stylized Solitaire game background, farm

Step 5: Create a prototype

  • Simple version: develop a basic version of your game to test out the core mechanics. This doesn’t need to be perfect – it’s just to see if your idea for a game works.
  • Get feedback: show your prototype to others and ask for their opinions. Use their feedback to make improvements. Using concept art services is a good start to quicken this process because now your case is taken care of by professionals.
Cyberpunk 3D Game Environment Location Blender

Step 6: Iterate and Improve

  • Refine mechanics: based on feedback, tweak the game’s mechanics to make them more fun and engaging.
  • Polish graphics and sound: as your game starts to take shape, improve the visuals and audio to enhance the overall experience.
How to refine mechanics and polish graphics and sound while working on game idea

Coming up with a game idea is a process that involves gathering inspiration, setting goals, brainstorming, refining your ideas, and testing them out. The key is to stay open to new unique video game ideas and be willing to iterate and improve your concept as you go.

Developing Your Core Concept Idea

Creating good ideas for games starts with developing a strong core concept. Here’s how to get started in the process of simple game ideas:

Step 1: Define the purpose and objectives

  • Purpose: what do you want players to get from your game? Is it about fun, learning, or experiencing a great story? Clearly defining the purpose helps guide the rest of your design.
  • Objectives: set clear goals for the game. These could be completing levels, solving puzzles, or defeating enemies. Objectives give players a sense of direction and achievement.
an isometric disney fantasy map of a continent, Disney's architecture

Step 2: Identify your unique selling point (USP)

  • What makes your game special: think about what sets your game apart from others. Is it a unique gameplay mechanic, an interesting story, or a new way of interacting with the game world?
  • Highlight the USP: make sure this unique feature is prominent in your game. It should be something that makes players excited to try your game.
How to identify unique selling point of your game idea

Step 3: Consider the player's perspective

  • Gameplay experience: think about what players will see, hear, and do in your game. The game should be enjoyable from the player’s point of view.
  • Player interaction: consider how players will interact with the game. Are the controls easy to use? Is the game intuitive and user-friendly?
Progression of match-3 game background from sketch to color garden scene concept art game ripped 3D models

Step 4: Analyze your target audience

  • Who are your players?: determine who is most likely to play your game. Good game ideation considers their age, interests, and gaming habits.
  • Tailor the game: design your game to fit your target audience. For example, if you’re making a game for kids, use bright colors and simple controls. If your audience is hardcore gamers, make sure to include challenging elements and deep mechanics.
How to design the game to fit the target audience

When you pitch your game, make sure to clearly communicate these aspects to show how your game is unique and enjoyable.

Narrative and Storytelling Ideas

Creating a good story for your game can make it more engaging and memorable. Here are some tips:

  • 1

    Start with a strong premise

    Think about the main idea of your story. What is it about? Is it a hero's journey, a mystery, or an adventure?

  • 2

    Develop characters

    Create interesting characters that players will care about. Give them unique personalities, backgrounds, and motivations.

  • 3

    Create a compelling world

    Design a setting that is rich and immersive. Whether it’s a fantasy land, a futuristic city, or a historical era, make sure it feels real and detailed.

  • 4

    Build a plot with twists

    Plan out a storyline with exciting events and surprises. Keep players interested by introducing twists and turns that they won’t see coming.

  • 5

    Use dialogue and cutscenes

    Use conversations between characters and cinematic scenes to tell your story. Make sure they add to the game and don’t slow it down too much. For example, use conversations and cinematic scenes to build up the boss’s character and explain their significance in the story. Ensure these elements add to the excitement and don't slow down the action too much. When designing boss ideas for games, consider these steps to ensure they fit well with your unique game mechanics and appeal to your target audience. Make bosses challenging and memorable to enhance the overall player experience.

A collage of pixel art scenes showcasing various 8-bit pixel gifs animate famous movie moments and comics

Game Mechanics Ideas

Game mechanics are the rules and systems that make your game work. Here are some original game ideas:

  • 1

    Core gameplay mechanics

    Decide what the main actions in your game will be. This could be things like jumping, shooting, solving puzzles, or building things. Make sure these actions are fun and feel good to play.

  • 2

    Reward systems and progression

    Keep players motivated by rewarding them for their progress. This could be through points, new levels, better equipment, or unlocking new abilities. Make sure the rewards feel meaningful.

  • 3

    Balance

    Make sure your game is not too hard or too easy. Test it to find the right level of difficulty. Ensure that all players, whether beginners or experts, can enjoy the game.

Original game mechanics for your game idea, core gameplay mechanics

Game Art Style Ideas

The art style of your game sets its visual tone and mood. Here’s how to choose the right one:

  • 1

    2D vs. 3D

    Decide if your game will use 2D or 3D graphics. 2D is great for simple, retro, or cartoon-like games. 3D can create more realistic worlds.

  • 2

    Consistent style

    Keep the art style consistent throughout the game. Whether it’s realistic, cartoonish, or abstract, make sure all elements match.

  • 3

    Colors and lighting

    Use colors and lighting to set the mood. Bright colors can make a game feel happy and fun, while darker tones can make it feel serious and intense.

Superheroe Atom Game FX Fire Explosion Particles Destruction

User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) Design Ideas

A good UI UX for games makes your game easy and fun to play. Here’s how to design them:

  • 1

    Simple and clear UI

    Keep the interface simple and easy to understand. Players should be able to find what they need quickly without confusion.

  • 2

    Intuitive controls

    Make sure the controls are easy to learn and use. They should feel natural and responsive.

  • 3

    Feedback

    Give players feedback on their actions. Use sounds, visuals, or vibrations to let them know when they’ve done something right or wrong.

  • 4

    Accessibility

    Ensure your game is accessible to as many people as possible. Consider options for players with different abilities, such as customizable controls or colorblind modes.

User Interface and User Experience design ideas

Prototyping Unique Game Ideas

Prototyping is an important step in creating unique video game ideas. It helps to quickly test and refine ideas to see what works best. Here’s how you can approach prototyping, inspired by the information and images provided:

Why Prototyping is Important

  1. Test ideas for a video game quickly: prototyping allows you to try out different game concepts quickly without investing too much time or money. It helps identify what’s fun and what needs improvement early in the development process.
  2. Get feedback early: by creating prototypes, you can show your game ideas to others and get valuable feedback. This helps you understand what players like and what they don’t.
  3. Refine the game: prototypes are a rough version of your game. They help you refine the mechanics, story, and design before making the final game.
Prototyping unique game ideas

Steps to Prototyping

  1. Start with a simple concept: begin with a basic idea of what your game will be about. This could be a unique gameplay mechanic, an interesting story, or a new way of interacting with the game world.
  2. Create a basic version: make a simple version of your game. Use basic graphics and simple controls. The goal is to test the core mechanics, not to create a polished game.
  3. Test and iterate: play the prototype and see how it feels. Ask others to play it and give feedback. Use this feedback to make changes and improve the game.
  4. Focus on core features: identify the most important features of your game and focus on getting those right. This could be the main gameplay loop, the unique mechanics, or the key story elements.
  5. Use prototyping tools: tools like the ones mentioned in our other text can help. They use a mix of artistic expertise and sometimes AI-generated assets to quickly understand what the game will look like.
Workflow process of Game Prototyping by Outsourcing Studio

Prototyping Art and Design

  • Art prototypes: create simple sketches or 3D models to visualize your game’s style. This helps in understanding the visual direction early on.
  • Greybox prototyping: use simple shapes and placeholder graphics to design levels and game environments. We are explaining how to draw environment concept art in our other article. This helps focus on gameplay without worrying about final graphics.
Art and design prototyping

How they help

  • Character sketches: drawings of characters doing different actions help in visualizing how they will look and move in the game.
  • 3D Models: basic 3D game ideas, models of characters, and items give a sense of how the game will appear in three dimensions.

Prototyping is a crucial part of game development. It allows you to test game creation ideas quickly, get feedback, and refine your game before investing in full development. By starting with simple concepts, creating basic versions, and focusing on core features, you can develop unique and engaging games efficiently. Using tools and methods like sketches, 3D models, and grey box prototyping helps visualize and improve the game design early in the process or hiring game prototype designers who can do all of this instead.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about Platformer Level Design and role of storytelling in platformer level design

Developing a game idea can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks. It depends on the complexity of the idea and how much brainstorming and refinement are needed.

Some of the best tools for prototyping a game are Unity, Unreal Engine, Godot, and simple 2D/3D modeling software like Blender. For basic sketches and planning, tools like paper and pencil or digital drawing tablets are also useful. For example, if you’re thinking about how to design a city, city planning software like SimCity, Cities: Skylines, and professional tools like AutoCAD and SketchUp are highly recommended.

Common mistakes include copying other games too closely, not considering the target audience, making the game too complex, and ignoring feedback during the early stages.

Following trends is important to understand what players currently enjoy, but it’s also crucial to bring fresh and unique ideas to stand out. Balancing trends with originality is key.

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