As the video game industry keeps growing larger and larger every year, so does the demand for innovative and engaging titles. Billions of players across the globe enjoy immersing themselves in virtual worlds where endless possibilities lie in wait, fostering a market worth hundreds of billions.
Developing a successful game, however, is not all about creating something entertaining. It requires a lot of hard work, meticulous planning, and organization to bring a game to life, and that’s where a tool called “game design document” (GDD) enters the spotlight.
But what exactly is a GDD, and how can you create one? This is exactly what you will see in this article. Furthermore, we’ll dive deeper into the importance of the GDD, the three different types of GDD, and discuss the best practices for creating your own.
By the end of this post, you will have a broad understanding of the GDD and how it can help you develop a successful game. So let’s get started!
What is a game design document?
Simply put, it is a document that serves as the blueprint for a video game. It is a detailed document that outlines every aspect of a game – all the way from its executive summary to gameplay mechanics, art style, in-game progression, and many more.
What makes a GDD even more valuable is that it’s a living document. In case you don’t know, it means that the document is in constant change and evolution throughout the development process.
As designers further refine their vision and developers are hard at work implementing them, testers have a first look at the game, giving extremely valuable feedback. This is then taken into account to further polish the game’s mechanics and features, increasing the odds of creating a successful game.
You can think of the game design document as a highly-detailed adventure map, outlining the starting point, the destination, and the path you’ll take. It includes every detail needed to make the journey a successful one, like which supplies to bring, landmarks to be on the lookout for, and even how to navigate potential obstacles along the way.
However, not even the most minute planning can protect you against unexpected twists and turns. Maybe the path you are supposed to take is blocked, or maybe some supplies got lost on the way, but there’s only one way out: adjust your plans and make the best of whatever you have in hand.
This is why the GDD is a living document: it needs to be constantly updated to accommodate new design changes and unexpected setbacks, like technical limitations and budget constraints.
Do I need a game design document?
While the GDD is an incredibly useful tool for developers of all skill levels, it’s not a necessity for projects of smaller scope.
For instance, if the game you’re working on has simple mechanics (like Cookie Clicker), you’re trying to replicate a well-known game (like Bomberman or Tetris), or you’re taking part in a game jam, events where every minute counts, then doing the GDD should not be among your concerns – unless you want to practice it, of course!
However, if you’re working on something that has tons of moving parts, like a fully-fledged game, you will most likely have to work as a team. In this case, the GDD serves not only as a blueprint but as the guiding light keeping everyone on the same page. It ensures everyone knows, at all times, the goals they’re working towards, and it lets project managers delegate tasks more efficiently.
What makes the game design document important?
The GDD was of fundamental importance in the development process of many successful video games. As you have seen so far, it serves as the blueprint, the reference guide that spells out how everything should work, and the nitty-gritty of all those game mechanics. By outlining every aspect of the game, the GDD shows developers and artists the ideal envisioned by the lead designers and top-level executives, giving them a better feel for what they need to build.
Once more, it helps project managers delegate tasks on time, ensuring the game is assembled piece by piece in the correct order and helping them see ahead of time which professionals might be needed to hire or outsource.
Without the game design document to serve as the guiding light for team members, the development process can quickly become a chaotic mess, with team members working on different aspects of the game at the same time and priority features being left behind.
Furthermore, the GDD is crucial for pitching the game to potential investors and publishers. With a carefully curated presentation, you can articulate your vision, mechanics, business model, and target audience clearly, making it easier for others to understand your game.
Last but not least, the GDD also helps you avoid “scope creep,” which happens when a project grows far beyond its initial scope, becoming troublesome (if not impossible) to complete within the stipulated budget or timeframe. By having a carefully designed plan and sticking to it as a team, you can ensure that your project doesn’t suffer from it and stays on track to meet its goals.
Creating a game design document
Now that you understand what a GDD is and its significance in the gaming industry, it’s important to be aware of the many types of GDD available. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, so knowing the most appropriate game design document format for you is critical to saving time and effort, ensuring you have a document that is suitable for the scope of your project.
The three types of game design document
No GDD is created equal, and games of different scopes have different requirements for their game design document. For example, you can’t expect someone working on a Tetris clone to write a 120-page GDD the same way it’s unreasonable to expect Cyberpunk 2077’s GDD to only contain 4 pages.
Having said that, most game design documents will fall under one of the following three types:
- Single-page GDD: as its name suggests, it’s a game design document that only comprises one page. It won’t contain a lot of information, as it’s only going to describe the game’s core features in brief, but its succinctness is wonderful for marketing teams and pitching for potential investors. This type of GDD is best suited for those working on small projects;
- 10-page GDD: unlike the previous type of GDD, the 10-page document describes its core features in greater detail, striking a balance between conciseness and depth. They usually come with some visual elements (or even interface mockups), a breakdown of some game mechanics, an executive summary, a brief description of the setting, and technical requirements to name a few. This is the ideal GDD format for most indie developers working on complex projects;
- Game Bible: this type of GDD is infamous for being thorough and long, with some documents surpassing the 100-page mark. They contain almost every detail about the game, including its lore, characters and their relationships, levels, art style, concept art, and everything in between. They are best suited for AAA companies creating next-generation games, like Bethesda and CD Projekt Red.
Best practices to create your game design document
Finally!
Creating a game design document can seem like a daunting task. After all, how are we supposed to condense the most important information about our creation into a single or few pages?
It is certainly no easy task to write a concise and informative GDD, but you can make the process smoother and more efficient by following some best practices. Here are some key things to keep in mind when writing your own GDD:
- Start with an executive summary: nailing this part is especially critical if you plan on pitching your game to potential investors. This section should contain an overview of your game (its genre, concept, setting, project scope, core gameplay loop, and tools/software used to create it), its business model, your target audience, the market gap it’s trying to fill, budget, timeframe for completion, and how it differs from competitors in the same niche;
- Describe the gameplay and core game mechanics in deeper detail: this section should provide a detailed breakdown of the game’s mechanics, controls, and user interface. Explain how players interact with the game and the experience they can expect to have. If you have the space, consider adding visual aids to explain your vision – even simple hand-drawn diagrams can go a long way;
- Establish the game’s progression: in most games, the player will have to take on a series of challenges, which get harder as they advance through the game. In this section, you’re going to outline the game’s overall structure, including its levels, missions, goals, and rewards, providing a clear sense of what the player needs to do to progress in the game;
- If applicable, outline the story, setting, and characters: explain the overarching plot of your game, describe its setting, and write about the main characters in your project. You don’t need to go overboard and describe everything down to the T, but don’t forget to include the main plot points and explain the critical worldbuilding elements in your game;
- Define the art style: this section should provide a detailed description of the game’s visual style, which includes the color palette, the mood you want to convey, and the overall aesthetic. If possible, explain how your chosen art style goes well with the game’s core mechanics and narrative;
- Anticipate potential problems: in game development, there is no such thing as a perfect plan. In this section, you’re going to address potential issues that might arise during development, such as technical limitations, budget constraints, and design challenges, explaining how you intend to overcome them if needed.
Crafting a Comprehensive Game Design Document: Strategies for Success
For every game designer embarking on a new project, the game design document (GDD) is the essential blueprint. It serves as a roadmap, detailing the main idea, design decisions, and elements of the game. Writing a game design document isn’t just a task; it’s a crucial part of the design process. Using a GDD template or game design document examples can guide you in creating a structured document that covers different parts of your game, from the overarching concept to specific elements like UI design and level design.
Whether you’re working on an indie game or a grand project like Grand Theft Auto, a well-written GDD keeps your team on the same page, providing clarity on the game’s scope, design goals, and the overall vision. A good GDD, even for complex games, is like a comprehensive reference manual, helping your team navigate the entire game development process with a shared understanding of the original design and the path the game will take.
Closing thoughts
In summary, the game design document is an essential tool for game developers of all levels, serving as the blueprint for the game’s design and providing a roadmap for the development team. As a living document, the GDD evolves as progress is made, designs are tested, and feedback is evaluated, allowing top-level executives and designers to refine their vision and improve the game mechanics.
Putting some effort into creating a well-structured and informative GDD can make development quicker and more efficient, and it can help pitch the game to potential investors and publishers – we’re all looking to hit that jackpot, aren’t we?
Even though not necessary for smaller projects, the GDD might ultimately make the difference between a smooth and a chaotic, highly frustrating development process.
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Not only can we develop fully-fledged games in Unity and Unreal Engine, but we’re also an outsourcing studio for many game-related processes, like sound design, asset creation, and writing the GDD for you! And all you have to do to get started with Main Leaf is request a game quote below.
