Creating your first video game from scratch can be an exciting challenge! Here’s a step-by-step guide to get started:

1. Choose Your Game Idea & Genre 🎮

• Keep it simple for your first game (avoid MMO or open-world RPGs).
• Choose a genre: Platformer, puzzle, shooter, or arcade.
• Example: A Flappy Bird-style game is great for beginners!

💡 Tip: Write a Game Design Document (GDD) with core mechanics, characters, and goals.

2. Pick a Game Engine 🛠️

Your choice depends on your skill level and goals:
✅ Unity (C#) – Great for 2D/3D games, widely used in the industry.
✅ Unreal Engine (Blueprints/C++) – Best for high-quality 3D graphics.
✅ Godot (GDScript/C#) – Open-source, lightweight, and beginner-friendly.
✅ GameMaker Studio – Great for 2D pixel-art games, uses drag-and-drop + GML.
✅ Pygame (Python) – Good for simple 2D games if you’re learning Python.

💡 Best for Beginners: Unity (for flexibility) or Godot (if you prefer simplicity).

3. Learn Basic Programming & Game Development Concepts 🧑‍💻

You’ll need to understand:
🔹 Variables & Data Types (e.g., integers, strings)
🔹 Loops & Conditions (if-else, while, for loops)
🔹 Functions & Objects (OOP is useful for game development)
🔹 Game Physics (gravity, collision detection)
🔹 Game Loops (update player movements, enemy AI, etc.)

💡 New to coding? Start with Scratch or Pygame before moving to Unity.

4. Create Your First Game Prototype 🏗️

• Start with a basic character and movement system.
• Add simple player controls (jump, move left/right).
• Implement collision detection (walls, floors, objects).
• Use free assets from Itch.io, OpenGameArt, or Unity Asset Store.

💡 Example: Make a small platformer where a character jumps between platforms.

5. Add Gameplay Features & Polish 🏆

Enhance your game by adding:
✅ Enemy AI – Basic chase or attack behaviors.
✅ Sound Effects & Music – Use Freesound.org for free sounds.
✅ UI & Menus – Start, Pause, and Game Over screens.
✅ Scoring System – Keep track of points or achievements.

6. Playtest & Fix Bugs 🔍

• Playtest constantly – Get feedback from friends or online forums.
• Use debugging tools to fix glitches and crashes.
• Refine controls and difficulty to make gameplay smooth.

7. Export & Share Your Game 🌎

Once ready, export your game to:
🎮 PC/Web – Upload to Itch.io or GameJolt.
📱 Mobile – Publish on the Google Play Store.
🕹️ Consoles – More advanced, but Unity supports Xbox & PlayStation.

💡 Tip: Start with a browser-based game so people can play it easily.

8. Keep Learning & Build More Games 🚀

• Follow game dev tutorials on YouTube, Udemy, or Coursera.
• Join game dev communities (r/gamedev, Itch.io forums).
• Participate in Game Jams (like Ludum Dare or Global Game Jam).