Over the past year, I’ve been learning game development, making small games, and collecting resources along the way. I started with Unreal Engine. I loved its 3D tools and how much I could build with Blueprints without writing code. I spent months learning and experimenting, but Unreal felt like an ocean: every new thing I learned revealed something else to explore.
Then I wanted to make a 2D game and found Godot. Its open-source approach appealed to me, and I used it to make a few game jam projects and small games. Finishing those projects helped me put what I was learning into practice. More recently, I got curious about why so many indie developers enjoy Unity. As I’ve explored it, I’ve really enjoyed the built-in features and workflows. I’ve decided to use Unity as my primary engine for my next release. That’s a personal choice shaped by what I want to make.
Throughout this journey, I’ve saved resources in my Notion board. This repository brings that collection together so I can share it with the community I’ve learned from.
There are plenty of great game development lists out there. This is my version: a growing collection of resources gathered during my own learning journey. Contributions, corrections, and suggestions are welcome, see how to contribute.
- Start
- Design
- Gameplay systems
- Art and presentation
- Build and release
- Study formats
🌱 Beginner · 🌿 Intermediate · 🌳 Advanced
Game development is simply the art of combining storytelling, design, and code to build interactive worlds that people can play and have fun.
While that might sound complicated, getting started is easier than you think.
Start with one small, playable game. No engine or programming experience required.
- Think of a simple idea: Keep it very very small, like - licking a moving target.
- Pick a engine: So many game engines out there, pick one and just go, Game engines.
- Follow a tutorial: Find a tutorial and build a game step-by-step from start to finish. Event just understanding all about basic engine features and basics will get you far when starting.
- Make it yours: Once the tutorial game works, try changing one small thing (like the player's speed or color).
- Share it: Have a friend play your game and celebrate your first creation!
- Repeat: Keep doing it and practice more. Join game jam.
| Engine / tool | Focus | Learning links |
|---|---|---|
| Godot | 2D / 3D, GDScript / C# | Step by step · First 2D game |
| Unity | 2D / 3D, C# | Essentials · Junior Programmer |
| Unreal Engine | 3D, Blueprints / C++ | New user guide |
| GameMaker | 2D, GML / visual logic | Tutorials · LTS manual |
| GDevelop | Visual events | Getting started |
| Defold | Lua | Tutorials and manuals |
| Phaser | Browser games, JavaScript / TypeScript | Setup · First game |
| Ren'Py | Visual novels | Engine · Quickstart |
| Twine | Interactive stories | Tool · Cookbook |
| Construct | Visual events | Tutorials · Mixed levels |
| MonoGame | C# framework | Getting started · C# basics needed |
| raylib | C programming library | Examples · C basics needed |
Engine licensing and export costs are separate from learning-resource access.
- Official documentation — Engine manual and feature guides · 🌱🌿🌳
- Official demo projects — Working examples by feature · Match engine version · 🌱🌿
- GDQuest — Projects and workflows · Free tutorials; paid courses · 🌱🌿
- Performance guides — CPU, GPU, optimization · 🌿🌳
- Asset Library — Add-ons, templates, tools
- Godot Forum — Questions and community discussions
- Unity Manual — Editor and engine systems · 🌱🌿🌳
- Unity Learn — Structured learning paths · Free; account for progress · 🌱🌿
- Shader Graph — Visual shader workflows · Package 17.0 · 🌱🌿
- Unity Asset Store — Assets and extensions · Free and paid
- Unity Discussions — Questions and community discussions
- Official documentation — Engine systems and workflows · 🌱🌿🌳
- Blueprints visual scripting — Visual gameplay logic · 🌱🌿
- Epic learning library — Tutorials, courses, demonstrations · 🌱🌿🌳
- Fab — Assets and plugins · Free and paid; check compatibility
- Epic Developer Community Forums — Questions and community discussions
- GameMaker Manual — Editor, language, features · Monthly documentation · 🌱🌿🌳
- Official tutorials — Projects and individual techniques · Filter by level · 🌱🌿🌳
- GameMaker Community — Forums and community channels
- Microsoft: Get started with C# — C# fundamentals · 🌱
- Learn C++ — C++ fundamentals and beyond · 🌱🌿🌳
- Harvard CS50x — Computer science and problem solving · Free course materials · 🌱
- MDN: Game development — Web game programming · 🌱🌿
Suggested order: coordinates → vectors → trigonometry → interpolation → matrices → quaternions.
- Khan Academy: Trigonometry — Angles, sine, cosine · 🌱
- 3D Math Primer — Coordinate spaces, matrices, rotations, quaternions · Free online book · 🌱🌿🌳
- Red Blob Games — Grids, geometry, probability, algorithms · Interactive · 🌱🌿
- The Nature of Code — Forces, motion, simulation · JavaScript basics · Free online book · 🌿
- The Art of Game Design — Mechanics and player experience · Paid book · 🌱🌿
- Game Maker's Toolkit — Design analysis and production · Video · 🌱🌿
- The Level Design Book — Layout, blockout, encounters · Free online; work in progress · 🌱🌿
- How to make a level — Design workflow · 🌱
- Blockout — Playable greybox prototypes · 🌱🌿
- Game Programming Patterns — State machines, events, object pools · Programming basics · 🌿
- Godot: Best practices — Scenes, scripts, project structure · 🌿
- Godot: Physics introduction — Bodies, collision shapes, layers · 🌱
- Gaffer: Fix Your Timestep! — Simulation timing · Classic article · 🌿
- Box2D documentation — Rigid bodies, contacts, joints · Match library version · 🌿🌳
- Red Blob: Introduction to A* — Graph search and pathfinding · Interactive · 🌱🌿
- Unreal: Behavior Trees — NPC decision making · 🌿
- Game AI Pro — Production AI techniques · Free chapters · 🌿🌳
- Krita user manual — Painting, layers, brushes · 🌱🌿
- Aseprite documentation — Pixel art, sprites, animation · Free docs; paid official binaries · 🌱🌿
- Kenney assets — Study consistent sprites and UI packs · Asset library · 🌱
- Blender: Modeling — Modeling tools and UV overview · Overview · 🌱
- Blender modeling manual — Meshes and modeling workflows · Blender 4.0 reference · 🌱🌿
- Blender: Animation and rigging — Armatures, constraints, animation · Blender 4.2 reference · 🌿
- Dikko — Character modeling and rigging · Video · 🌿
- The Book of Shaders — GLSL fragment shaders · Interactive · 🌱
- Catlike Coding — Unity shaders and rendering · Version-specific series · 🌱🌿🌳
- Unity: Shader Graph — Visual shader authoring · Package 17.0 · 🌱🌿
- LearnOpenGL — Rendering, lighting, textures · C++ required · 🌿
- Scratchapixel — Graphics mathematics and implementation · 🌿🌳
- Audacity manual — Record, edit, and process sound · 🌱
- FMOD Learn — Interactive audio and game integration · Check software access and licensing · 🌱🌿
- Unity: UI Toolkit — Interface construction · Unity 6.0 · 🌿
- Game Accessibility Guidelines — Controls, readability, alternatives · 🌱
- The Level Design Book: Playtesting — Observe players and collect feedback · 🌱
- GitHub: Hello World — Repositories and pull requests · Account required · 🌱
- Pro Git — Branching, merging, team workflows · Free online book · 🌱🌿🌳
- Git LFS — Large art and audio files · Hosting limits vary · 🌿
Platform documentation is free to read; using publishing tools may require an approved developer account. Check current eligibility for funding and events.
- Develop Games — Scope and project planning · 🌱
- The Level Design Book: Pre-production — Research and planning · 🌱🌿
- itch.io: Your first page — Upload and share · Account required · 🌱
- Steamworks: Store presence — Store pages and release presentation · 🌿
- Steamworks: Pricing — Pricing tools and regional currencies · 🌿
- How To Market A Game — Audience, positioning, and email marketing · Free articles; paid courses · 🌱🌿
- How To Market A Game: Starter articles — Selected marketing lessons · 🌱🌿
- Steamworks: Wishlists — Wishlist features and notifications · 🌱🌿
- Derek Lieu: How to make a trailer — Capture, structure, editing · Free guides; optional paid course · 🌱🌿
- Steamworks: Trailers — Store video requirements · 🌿
- presskit() — Build a game press kit · Self-hosted tool · 🌱🌿
- Steam Playtest — Recruit players and manage test access · 🌿
- Steam Next Fest — Demo festival preparation and eligibility · 🌿
- The Level Design Book: Playtesting — Gather and interpret player feedback · 🌱
- Steamworks: Events and announcements — Updates, announcements, player communication · 🌿
- Kickstarter Creator Handbook — Campaign planning, rewards, communication · 🌱🌿
- Epic MegaGrants — Program scope, eligibility, application guidance · 🌿
- Kenney — 2D, 3D, UI, audio.
- Poly Haven — Models, textures, HDRIs.
- OpenGameArt — Community art and audio; licenses vary.
- Freesound — Sound recordings; licenses vary, download account required.
- itch.io game jams — Time-boxed practice and themes.
- Gamedev.js — Web game development community and events.
Keep each asset's license and attribution requirements with your project.
- Godot demo projects — Small examples by feature · 🌱🌿
Use each repository's documented engine version and setup instructions.
| Book | Author(s) | Topic / level | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Art of Game Design | Jesse Schell | Design and player experience · 🌱🌿 | Paid book |
| Game Programming Patterns | Robert Nystrom | Code structure and patterns · 🌿 | Free online; paid editions |
| 3D Math Primer for Graphics and Game Development | Fletcher Dunn, Ian Parberry | Vectors, matrices, rotations · 🌱🌿🌳 | Free online |
| Real-Time Rendering | Tomas Akenine-Möller et al. | Rendering techniques · 🌳 | Paid book; free selected chapters |
| Physically Based Rendering | Matt Pharr, Wenzel Jakob, Greg Humphreys | Renderer implementation · 🌳 | Free online; paid print |
| The Level Design Book | Robert Yang and contributors | Level design · 🌱🌿 | Free online; work in progress |
- Advances in Real-Time Rendering — SIGGRAPH course slides and talks · 🌳
- Real-Time Rendering resources — Papers, bibliographies, graphics references · 🌳
- DiGRA Digital Library — Game studies research and proceedings · 🌿🌳
- GDC Vault: Free content — Production talks and postmortems · 🌿🌳
| Channel | Topics | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Brackeys | Godot; older Unity tutorials | 🌱 |
| GDQuest | Godot, GDScript, workflows | 🌱🌿 |
| Game Maker's Toolkit | Game design, levels, player experience | 🌱🌿 |
| 3Blue1Brown | Visual mathematics | 🌱🌿🌳 |
| Acerola | Shaders, rendering, graphics experiments | 🌿🌳 |
| Dikko | Character modeling and rigging | 🌿 |
- Unity Learn pathways — Guided Unity learning · Free; account for progress · 🌱🌿
- GDQuest courses — Structured Godot learning · Paid courses; free tutorials · 🌱🌿
- GameDev.tv — Unity, Unreal, Godot, art · Paid courses / account required · 🌱🌿
Last updated: 2026-09-17.