How to Create a Game Design Document (GDD)
Creating a Game Design Document (GDD) is an essential step in the game development process. It serves as a blueprint for your game, outlining its mechanics, story, art style, and more. A well-structured GDD can help you stay organized, communicate your vision to others, and ensure that all aspects of your game are considered before you start development.
For my first indie game, I didn’t create a GDD, and started coding right away. This led to a lot of confusion and wasted time later on. Now, I understand the importance of having a clear plan before diving into development.
After some time I knew about the GDD, but I didn’t know how to create one. I found some examples online, but they were either too complex or not detailed enough. So, I decided to create my own template that I could use for future projects.
From that moment, every new game I started, I created a GDD first. This has helped me tremendously in organizing my thoughts and ensuring that I have a clear vision for my game before I start coding and this designing process has become a crucial part of my workflow, helping me a lot when taking decisions about the game.
What is a Game Design Document (GDD)? #
A Game Design Document (GDD) is a comprehensive document that outlines the vision, mechanics, and details of a game. It serves as a reference for the development team and helps ensure that everyone is on the same page regarding the game’s design and goals.
It’s important to note that a GDD is not set in stone; it can evolve as the game develops. However, having a solid foundation to start with can save you a lot of time and effort later on.
Why is a GDD Important? #
A GDD is important for several reasons:
- Clarity: It provides a clear vision of the game, helping you and your team understand what the game is about and how it will function.
- Organization: It helps you organize your thoughts and ideas, making it easier to plan and execute the development process.
- Communication: It serves as a communication tool between team members, ensuring that everyone is aligned on the game’s design and goals.
- Reference: It acts as a reference document throughout the development process, helping you stay focused on the game’s core mechanics and features.
What to Include in a GDD #
A GDD can vary in length and detail, but for my indie games I prefer to keep it simple and concise. Here are the key sections I include in my GDDs. Feel free to adapt this template to suit your project’s needs, since every game is different and may require additional (or less) sections or details.
1. Game Overview #
This section provides a high-level overview of the game, including its genre, target audience, and unique selling points. It should give a clear idea of what the game is about and what makes it stand out.
2. Game Categories #
What type of game is it? Is it an action game, a puzzle game, a role-playing game, a rogue-like, or something else? This section helps define the game’s genre and style.
Examples of game categories include: Action, Adventure, Puzzle, Strategy, Simulation, Role-Playing Game (RPG), First-Person Shooter (FPS), Third-Person Shooter (TPS), Platformer, Rogue-like, and more.
3. Platforms #
This section outlines the platforms on which the game will be released, such as PC, MacOS, mobile, or console. It also includes any specific technical requirements or constraints for each platform.
4. Languages available #
This section lists the languages in which the game will be available. This is important for reaching a wider audience and ensuring accessibility for players around the world.
For Medieval Chaos, I started with a ton of languages, like English, Portuguese, Spanish, German, Italian and French, but for The Beast is Yet to Come, I decided to focus on English at first. This allows me to maintain a high quality of translation and localization, while still reaching a significant audience and I plan to add more languages later on as the game grows and gains popularity.
5. Story Line #
This section provides a brief overview of the game’s story, including the main plot points, characters, and setting. It should give players a sense of the narrative and what they can expect from the game.
The story line is crucial for engaging players and providing context for the gameplay. It can also help define the game’s tone and atmosphere, whether it’s serious, humorous, or somewhere in between.
Not all games require a complex story, but having a basic narrative can enhance the player’s experience and motivation to progress through the game. For example, in Medieval Chaos, the story revolves around saving a kingdom from monsters, while in The Beast is Yet to Come, players take on the role of a beast fighting against hord.
6. Story Telling #
The way the story is told can greatly impact the player’s experience. This section outlines how the story will be presented, whether through cutscenes, dialogue, or environmental storytelling.
7. Gameplay Mechanics #
Details of the core gameplay mechanics, including how players will interact with the game, the controls, and any unique features. It should explain how the game will be played and what makes it engaging.
Here you list the items, skills, enemies, bosses, game economics, movement type and actions available to the player.
Also in this section, you can include any special mechanics like the number of enemies on screen, how they behave, any unique features that set the game apart from others in the genre, if it’s single player, multiplayer, PvP, Coop, etc.
8. Character Design #
This section describes the main characters in the game, including their appearance, abilities, and roles in the story. It should give players a sense of who they will be playing as and what makes each character unique.
9. Level Design #
This section outlines the design of the game’s levels or environments, including their layout, objectives, number of levels, and challenges. It should provide a clear idea of how players will navigate through the game world and what they can expect in each area.
10. Art and Visual Style #
This section describes the game’s art style, including the visual aesthetics, color palette, and overall look and feel. It should convey the mood and atmosphere of the game, helping to set the tone for players.
For, Medieval Chaos I have used a pixel art style with a medieval fantasy theme, while The Beast is Yet to Come features a low poly art style with dark and gritty medieval visuals.
11. Sound and Music #
This section outlines the sound design and music for the game, including the types of sound effects, voice acting, and background music that will be used. It should enhance the player’s immersion and emotional connection to the game.
12. User Interface (UI) Design #
This section details the design of the game’s user interface, including menus, HUD elements, and any other visual components that players will interact with. It should ensure that the UI is intuitive and enhances the overall gameplay experience.
If you have prints, drawings, or mockups of the UI, this is a good place to include them. It helps visualize how the game will look and feel from a player’s perspective.
13. Technical Requirements #
This section outlines the technical requirements for the game, including hardware specifications, software dependencies, and any other technical considerations that need to be addressed during development.
14. Monetization Strategy #
How the game will be monetized, whether through a one-time purchase, in-app purchases, ads, or a subscription model. It should align with the game’s design and target audience to ensure a sustainable revenue stream.
This section is crucial for indie developers, as it helps determine how the game will generate revenue and sustain itself in the market.
It also may include details about the financial goals for the game, such as projected sales figures, budget constraints, and funding sources. This can help guide the development process and ensure that the game remains financially viable.
15. Marketing and Promotion #
This section outlines the marketing and promotion strategies for the game, including how it will be marketed to the target audience, any planned promotional events, and social media strategies. It should help build awareness and excitement for the game before its release.
It links very strongly with the monetization strategy, as effective marketing can significantly impact the game’s success, revenue potential and also shall have a budget allocated for it.
16. Competitors benchmark #
This section analyzes similar games in the market, identifying their strengths and weaknesses. It helps to understand the competitive landscape and find opportunities for differentiation.
List other games number of players, platforms, monetization strategies, and any unique features that set them apart. This can help identify gaps in the market and inform the game’s design and marketing strategies.
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