Where should I start learning game development as a beginner?
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MellowKite42
I'm in my second year of studying software development, but an accident caused me to miss many classes. Most of my first year focused on pseudocode and presentations, so I'm now relearning the basics independently whenever I have time around my full-time job. I'd eventually like to create a story-focused game, possibly in Unity or Unreal, but I'm not ready to jump into those engines yet. The game would be fairly simple—more like a walking simulator involving exploration, collecting items, and finding clues, with no combat. I'd prefer to learn and build it myself without using AI. What programming language, websites, tools, or beginner-friendly game development path would you recommend?
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Godot may be a better starting point than Unity or Unreal. Its scripting language, GDScript, is relatively approachable, and the official documentation includes a step-by-step beginner tutorial. Work through that tutorial and then rebuild the project yourself so you understand what each part does. RPG Maker can be useful for quickly making a prototype, but it hides much of the programming. Godot will give you more direct practice while still letting you create a real game.
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Start with a very small text-based adventure before worrying about graphics or a full engine. You could print a description such as a hallway with paths in different directions, accept the player’s input, and respond based on what they choose. Once that works, add features like inventory, health, items, and clues. Python is a good choice if you don’t already know another language. Keeping the project text-only lets you focus on programming logic and storytelling instead of getting distracted by visuals and editor tools. After you’re comfortable with those fundamentals, moving to a game engine will be much less overwhelming.
MellowKite42: I’m not planning to start with Unity or Unreal immediately. My idea is closer to a simple walking simulator with exploration, pickups, and clues, without combat. Are there any websites or courses you’d recommend for learning programming specifically for games?
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MellowKite42: Thanks for suggesting Godot. I’ve only recently heard about it, so I’ll look through its documentation and try the beginner tutorial.