Game development may look overwhelming at first, but every great game is built on a few universal foundations. Whether you’re a student, an indie developer, or just curious about how games are made, understanding these basics will give you the right perspective to explore deeper.
This guide brings together five essential topics—from genres to engines—each with its own dedicated article.
🎮 Game Genres
Genres define how players experience games: action, adventure, role-playing, puzzle, strategy, and more. Each genre has unique mechanics, pacing, and expectations that shape the design process.
To dive deeper into this topic, check out: Game Genres
🎥 Camera Perspectives
Camera perspective changes everything: first-person immerses you directly, third-person gives awareness of character and space, top-down emphasizes strategy. Choosing the right perspective defines how players connect with the world.
To dive deeper into this topic, check out: Camera Perspectives in Games
🎨 Art Styles
From pixel art to photorealism, art style sets the tone and emotional feel of a game. It communicates identity, atmosphere, and often affects technical requirements.
To dive deeper into this topic, check out: Game Art Styles
🕹 Core Gameplay Elements
Core loops, mechanics, and feedback systems are what make a game “playable.” These elements ensure the player is challenged, rewarded, and motivated to keep going.
To dive deeper into this topic, check out: Core Gameplay Elements
⚙️ Game Engines
Game engines like Unity, Unreal, and Godot provide the technical foundation—handling graphics, physics, audio, and tools—so developers can focus on building experiences instead of reinventing the wheel.
To dive deeper into this topic, check out: Game Engines Explained
🏁 Conclusion
These five areas form the backbone of game development knowledge.
- Genres show you what types of games exist.
- Camera perspectives and art styles define how they look and feel.
- Core gameplay elements define how they’re played.
- Engines give you the power to bring them to life.
Mastering these basics is the first step toward becoming a skilled game developer.
Author: Pouria Mojdeh
References:
- Jesse Schell – The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses (CRC Press, 2019)
- Tracy Fullerton – Game Design Workshop (CRC Press, 2018)
- Jason Gregory – Game Engine Architecture (CRC Press, 2018)
- Steve Rabin – Introduction to Game Development (CRC Press, 2021)
- Game Developer (formerly Gamasutra) – www.gamedeveloper.com