What is a Game Design Document and How to Write it?

Game Design Document, aka GDD, is the first document when you start a venture to develop games. You might have heard that GDDs are outdated, or who does it anyway? However, documenting a game helps you in achieving the desired results.

 

One thing about game design documents has changed, and it is about their precision. Multi-page, rigid, and lengthy game development documents are no longer the trend. It is about the document being concise, clear, and effective to lay out all the details regarding game development and its structure.

 

What’s more about GDD? Let’s discuss in detail. 

 

What is a Game Design Document?

 

A game design document is a software design document that serves as the blueprint and central reference for the game you plan to develop. Moreover, a GDD explains the scope of the game, gives a direction to the game development team, and highlights the important aspects of the game such as game design, game art, game mechanics, features, etc. 

 

One can share the game design document with the stakeholders, investors, and outsourcing companies to represent the potential collaborations, communicate the game concepts, and show the potential value of the game. 

 

What does GDD include

 

For writing a comprehensive and brief document for game development, it is essential to understand some of the core factors. The following are the core factors for the game design document: