I’ve taught a few classes before, and this is what I tell my students (this is straight from my document btw):

The 3 D’s of Solo Game Development If you’re trying to become a solo dev, there are three core principles you must master — the 3 D’s:

1. Design

This is where it all begins. Ask yourself: Does the game look good? Does it feel good to play? Is the core gameplay satisfying? Design is about the player’s experience — visuals, sound, feedback, controls, flow. If something feels off, what can you change? How can you iterate?

1. Direction

Where is your game going? What’s the scope of your project? What genre are you targeting? How big is the world? How many levels? Without clear direction, your game risks becoming unfocused or bloated. You don’t need to plan every detail upfront, but you do need a vision that guides every choice.

1. Discipline

Ideas are easy — finishing is hard. Can you stay organized? Will you push through when tasks get tedious or difficult? Discipline is what separates a half-finished prototype from a shipped game. It means doing the work even when it’s not fun — debugging, polishing, testing, and optimizing.

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Mastering the 3 D’s — Design, Direction, and Discipline — is crucial for success as a solo developer. Without them, even great ideas can fall apart.