Game Design Document
A Game Design Document is like a blueprint for your game. It explains what the game is, how it works, what it looks like, and who it’s for. It includes all the important details so that anyone reading it would understand exactly how to make the game.
In the games industry, design documents are used by developers to plan games before they are made. It helps the whole team stay on the same page and build the game properly.
What goes into a Game Design Document?
Your Game Design Document is more detailed than your proposal and pitch. While your proposal was about ideas, and your pitch was about presenting a chosen game, the design document is where you go into depth about exactly how your game will work.
You’ll cover things like:
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The main idea of your game
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The story and characters
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The gameplay and controls
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The visual style
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The user interface
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What makes your game fun or interesting
The more detail you include, the easier it is for someone else to understand and help build your game.
Each level builds on the last, with more depth and detail expected. Below is a guide to what’s involved at each stage.
Level 4
At Level 4, your Game Design Document should:
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Be based on one of your proposed games.
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Briefly cover the five key areas: genre, aim, gameplay, character, and setting.
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Focus more on creative ideas than detailed explanations.
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Include simple visuals like sketches or labelled diagrams.
You’re showing you understand what goes into planning a game.
Level 5
At Level 5, your Game Design Document should:
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Clearly expand on the game you proposed and pitched.
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Cover all five key areas in greater detail.
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Include more technical information, like controls and target platform.
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Add early design work such as mock-ups or storyboards.
You’re showing your ability to plan a game others could understand and build.
Level 6
At Level 6, your Game Design Document should:
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Fully develop your chosen game idea from proposal and pitch.
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Clearly explain gameplay mechanics, controls, goals, and user interface.
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Include target audience, platform, and additional features like accessibility.
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Include detailed visual planning – diagrams, layout plans, or storyboards.
You’re showing you can design a game at a professional level.
Ready to build?
Now that you’ve developed your game idea and pitched it, this is your chance to turn that idea into a clear, detailed plan. Use your Game Design Document to bring your game to life – the more thought you put in now, the easier it will be to develop later.
Download the workbook, look at the examples, and start designing!