This question may have crossed your mind at some point if you’re both an avid gamer and a creative person. The good news is that there are now a plethora of free, open-source game engines available online!
You can achieve your dreams if you have the desire and the vision. Imagine and design your dream video game, then download free tools to make it come to fruition.
Prepare yourself for the worst-case scenario.
Dream big, but don’t lose sight of the here and now. Every year, the indie game market is flooded with new titles. Many people fail miserably. In its first year, 2004, video game distributor Steam only released 37 titles. In 2021, 10,696 games were released on the platform by developers.
In order to become a video game developer, you must first learn how to make money with your first game. You may even gain a small following that will help you in the future.
2. Begin with a thought.
As with any good piece of work, it all begins with an idea. The brainstorming phase of making a video game may be the most enjoyable part of the process. Decide on a few key elements of your game before you start brainstorming:
Platformer, puzzle, survival horror, and more.
It’s harder to create a 3D game from the ground up if you don’t use premade tools.
Predicate: A well-written story keeps players interested..
Give top priority to ideas that are a good fit for your skills and interests as well as ones that are within your financial means.
Create a design document after conducting research and brainstorming.
Create a game design document once your ideas are clear (GDD). As a Word, PDF, or Google Docs document lays out your game’s blueprint and creative vision, this document is essential. You should include in your GDD the following:
- Level/environment design for the characters in the story
- The mechanics of the game
- Controls and interface for the user
Make a decision on whether or not you’ll be writing code or using a game development platform that doesn’t require it. For game development, the most common programming languages are C++ (Java) and JavaScript (JavaScript). They are among the simplest programming languages to learn and use.
Decide on the tools you need.
Selecting your game-building software is your next step in this process. Even though you can create a game from scratch, there is no shame in using an existing game engine. They’re even used by designers who make their living from their craft.
Game engines like these can help you create a stunning-looking game with ease. If you have a computer science degree or prior programming experience, the learning curve is different for each engine.
Studio 2 of GameMaker
Windows, Linux, and macOS are supported.
Subscriptions start at $4.99 a year for the free version.
Useful for: 2D and 3D games, but mostly 2D C++, JavaScript, and Game Maker Language
There are no 3D features in GameMaker Studio 2, which is a top-of-the-the-the-line 2D game engine. To begin with, it has a beginner-friendly engine. To help new users get started, the company’s website has a number of tutorials.
GDevelop
It is compatible with Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux platforms.
Totally free.
Used for: 2D computer games
C++ and JavaScript are the two programming languages that are supported.
Free and open-source, GDevelop is a game development engine geared toward newcomers. On this list, it’s the simplest to use because of its drag-and-drop interface.
- Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, Android, and HTML5 are all supported platforms.
- One of Florian Rival’s creations
- There is no need for coding experience.
- Tutorials are available at any time.
Twine
Windows, Linux, and macOS are all supported.
Totally free.
Adventure games based on 2D text
CSS and JavaScript
Open-source game engine Twine is a visual novel and text-based adventure game development platform. The engine’s games are known for their experimental, nonlinear structures.
- Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux are all supported.
- Chris Klimas created it.
- Use the internet to create branching narratives for web-based interactive fiction
- The most popular ones: Story of Apocalypse Story, A Tale of Crowns, Unreal Engine Witch’s Word
It is compatible with Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux platforms.
Free; 5% royalties after $1 million in sales.
3D video games and simulations
These include C++ and Blueprints.
A cross-platform game engine, Unreal Engine was first created in 1988. This software’s visual rendering and ease of use make it a standout.
- PlayStation, Xbox, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux, and Blackberry are all supported.
- Developed by Epic Games
- The code is simple and can be easily modified.
- BioShock, The Forgotten City, and Atomic Heart are all well-known titles.
- Then iterate iteratively.
You have the vision and the resources to realise your creative vision. Now it’s time to get down to the business of making the game. A game can take weeks or longer to build, during which time you can fix bugs and solicit feedback from friends and family.
The following subreddits may be helpful as you learn the ropes and troubleshoot bugs:
It’s time to spread the word about your game.
Word of mouth and savvy marketing are the best ways to get your game out there. On a platform like Steam, Itch.io, or Gog, you can both sell and distribute your game. Create a Facebook, Twitter, or Discord group to help spread the word about your game.
In addition, you can submit your game to YouTube and Twitch streamers. For free publicity, they may play it for their audience! In summation,
A video game is a work of art in and of itself. What really matters is what you learn from the creative process, not just the outcome of your work.
It’s okay if your first video game isn’t perfect as long as you learn and improve from it. The next sleeper hit could be your first effort. Start trying. That’s the real secret of making a video game.
