Common Mistakes Beginners Make in Game Development

Here you are, with your diploma in hand. Installed Unity. Took a look at how-to videos online. Maybe you began drawing a world map on the back of your notebook.

You’re pumped. Your idea is to create a survival RPG that features crafting, weather, and complex lore. 

Have you wondered what it will be like in two weeks? You have too much on your plate, trying to repair the jumping system and make wolf animations at the same time. Everyone faces similar feelings.

Everyone in development runs into problems. Though it’s normal to make errors during game development, some can cost you a lot of time and may even lead you to quit.

This blog helps you avoid making common mistakes in game development.

Mistake 1: Starting with a Project That’s Way Too Big

This is the classic trap: you fall in love with an idea that’s years ahead of your skill level. A full-scale RPG with custom mechanics, open-world navigation, crafting systems, and multiplayer? That’s not a beginner project. That’s a team of 20 with 18 months and a budget.

What to do instead:

Start with a 2D platformer. A pong clone. A top-down shooter. Nail the basics before layering complexity.

Beginner Tip: Think “one mechanic, one goal.” Finish small. Ship early. Iterate later.

Mistake 2: Skipping the Planning Phase

You have the idea in your head. Why bother writing it down, right? Huge mistake.

Without a basic Game Design Document (GDD), scope creep will eat you alive. Features will multiply. Systems won’t connect. You’ll burn out.

What to do instead:

According to our beginner’s guide to becoming a game developer, write out your mechanics, player goals, art style, and timeline. Doesn’t have to be fancy—just functional.

Mistake 3: Not Prototyping First

You dive straight into the final level, designing assets and enemies before testing if the core gameplay is even fun. Bad move.

What to do instead:

Use Unity to make quick prototypes. Test your core loop. Is it actually engaging? Does it feel good to control? You don’t need polish—you need proof of fun.

Mistake 4: Avoiding Feedback (Because It’s “Not Ready Yet”)

Waiting to show your game until it’s perfect? You’ll never show it.

Feedback, even in early stages, saves you from tunnel vision. It’s how you learn what works—and what doesn’t.

What to do instead:

Share builds early. Ask for critiques. Watch how players actually behave. Don’t explain—observe.

Want to hear it from real mentors?

Here’s a quick video from MAGES Institute, explaining

Experts Explaining the Game Development Program | MAGES Institute

This is more than a lecture—it’s a reality check from people who’ve trained actual game developers.

Mistake 5: Overcomplicating the Mechanics

You’ve got wall-running, grappling, elemental combat, and AI-driven NPCs… but nothing works.

What to do instead:

Pick one core mechanic and build the level around it. Polish that. Make it feel amazing. Then—maybe—add something else.

Mistake 6: Not Understanding Your Player

You’re designing for yourself. Cool. But if your game is for players, you need to know them.

• Are they casual?
• Do they like puzzles or action?
• What frustrates them?

What to do instead:

Define your audience. Play games they play. Test with real users—not just dev friends.

Mistake 7: Ignoring Performance & Optimization

A beautiful level that crashes on load isn’t playable that’s the common mistakes in game development.

What to do instead:

Optimize as you go. Unity’s Profiler is your friend. Keep your frame rate consistent. Limit draw calls. Test across devices.

Even simple games must run well.

Mistake 8: Overlooking Sound Design

Many beginners focus only on visuals and code. But sound creates atmosphere.

What to do instead:

Even placeholder sounds help. Use footstep audio, ambient noise, and click feedback. Don’t wait till the end to add it—it’s part of the player experience.

Mistake 9: Not Learning from Finished Games

You play games, but do you study them?

What to do instead:

Deconstruct a level from Hollow Knight, a menu from Celeste, a UI from Dead Cells. See what design decisions were made—and why.

That’s free mentorship in disguise.

Mistake 10: Going Solo for Too Long

Yes, game dev is full of solo heroes. But doing everything alone slows your learning curve.

What to do instead:

Join Discord servers. Participate in game jams. Follow devs on Twitter. Feedback and support accelerate growth.

Want to avoid more rookie errors?

Start smarter with structured guidance.

At MAGES Institute, our Game Design & Development programs are designed to help beginners avoid the common traps—from scope issues to system design—and build real, playable games using Unity and Unreal.

Explore the curriculum at MAGES →

FAQs

Q1. Is Unity or Unreal better for beginners?

Unity is beginner-friendly with a huge learning community. Unreal is more powerful for visuals. Start with Unity, then branch out.

Q2. Do I need to know how to draw or code?

No. However, understanding basic scripting (C# for Unity) is helpful. You can learn art or use assets as placeholders while prototyping.

Q3. How do I know if my game is good?

Playtest. If users can figure it out without you explaining everything, you’re on the right path.

Q4. How long does it take to become a game developer?

It depends on your commitment and learning path. With consistent practice, many beginners can build their first complete game within 6 to 12 months. Mastery takes longer, but you don’t need to be an expert to land your first opportunity.

Q5. What’s the best way to stay motivated as a beginner?

Set small, achievable goals. Break big projects into weekly tasks. Join game jams or online communities to share progress. And most importantly, finish something. Even a simple, messy game that works is better than a perfect idea that never ships.

Final Thoughts: From Stuck to Shipped

The road to becoming a game developer isn’t smooth, but it is walkable. The trick isn’t avoiding mistakes altogether—it’s knowing which ones will teach you something… and which ones will bury your momentum.

Start small. Build fast. Share early. And when you’re stuck, remember: every great developer was once a beginner who didn’t quit.