How to make a video game

The 10 steps at a glance

1. Start with one idea, in one sentence
2. Keep it small
3. Choose the right tool
4. Build the core loop first
5. Give players a clear goal
6. Build a world worth exploring
7. Add challenge and progression
8. Polish: look, sound and feel
9. Playtest with real people
10. Publish and keep improving

1. Start with one idea, in one sentence

Every good game can be explained in one sentence: "Survive the night shift in a toy store where the mascots move when the cameras are off." If you cannot say it in one sentence, your idea is probably three games at once. Pick the one that excites you most.

Out of ideas? Browse our list of 100 video game ideas or try the game idea generator, which gives you a complete concept and a prompt you can build right away.

2. Keep it small

The number one reason first games never get finished is size. An open world RPG with 50 quests can take years. A single haunted house with one monster and one goal is a weekend. Start with:

• One map (a house, an arena, an obstacle course)
• One main mechanic (hide, jump, shoot, serve customers)
• One goal (escape, survive, earn, reach the top)

You can always add more after people play it. You cannot get back the months spent on a game nobody plays.

3. Choose the right tool

There are three ways to make a game today. None is "the best". It depends on your goal and how much time you want to invest.

If your goal is a career in game development, learning an engine is worth it. If your goal is to make the game in your head and play it with friends, an AI game maker gets you there in an afternoon. On Arcade, you describe your game to Morph, Arcade's building assistant, then shape the world, the characters and the rules visually.

4. Build the core loop first

The core loop is what the player does over and over: see a monster, hide, wait, move to the next room. Or: serve a customer, earn coins, buy an upgrade, serve faster. Before you add anything else, make that loop fun on its own.

If moving around or the main action feels bad, no amount of content will save the game. Test it early: can you move, jump, interact, win and lose?

5. Give players a clear goal

Players decide in about 10 seconds whether they keep playing. If they do not understand what to do, they leave. When your game starts, show on screen:

• The goal: "Find 5 fuses and restore the power."
• The controls: which keys or buttons move, jump, interact and attack.
• How to win and how to lose: a timer, a health bar, a score.

This sounds obvious, yet it is the most common thing missing in new games. A simple start screen fixes it.

6. Build a world worth exploring

An empty map feels unfinished, even if the mechanics work. Fill the space with things that support the game: decor that sets the mood, obstacles that create challenge, items to collect, NPCs to meet or avoid. Every area should give the player a reason to be there.

Also check the edges: players will try to walk off the map, climb walls and fall through the floor. Make sure they cannot get stuck or fall into the void.

7. Add challenge and progression

A game that never gets harder gets boring. A game that is hard from the start makes people quit. Start easy, then add difficulty slowly: faster enemies, trickier jumps, more customers at once. Give players something to work toward: upgrades, new areas, a leaderboard or a boss at the end.

If your game needs opponents, make sure there are some. A fighting game with nobody to fight, or a multiplayer game when nobody else is online, feels broken. NPC enemies and bots solve this.

8. Polish: look, sound and feel

Polish is what makes a game feel good: a sound when you collect a coin, a small shake when you get hit, music that matches the mood, a cover image that makes people click. You do not need a lot, but a few touches change everything. Pick one visual style and keep it consistent.

9. Playtest with real people

You know your game too well to judge it. Watch a friend play it without helping them. Where do they get stuck? What do they ignore? When do they smile? Write it down, fix the biggest problem, and test again. Three rounds of playtesting will improve your game more than three weeks of building alone.

10. Publish and keep improving

Finished is better than perfect. Publish your game, share the link with friends and communities, and listen to feedback. On Arcade, publishing puts your game on the marketplace where players can find it, play without an account and rate it, and you can keep updating it as you learn.

The most common beginner mistakes

FAQ

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