← Back to News
If you've made the choice to break into the world of game development and/or asset creation, it can be both an exciting and overwhelming time.
Whether you're designing your first indie game, crafting pixel-perfect art, or building your portfolio as an audio creator, every other developer or creator has been in those same shoes at some point.
Over the last few years of us running our Member Spotlight series of posts, GDM members have been sharing their number one tip for someone starting out. We've gathered some of the best tips below, which should help keep you motivated, focused and moving forward.
1. Just Start – You Don’t Need Everything to Be Perfect
"Start now, even if you don't have everything ready. If you wait for everything to be perfect, you'll never start. People might tell you all kinds of reasons why you shouldn’t start, but don’t let that deter you. If you put enough passion into something, one day it will shine through. It just takes time."
This is one of the most common pieces of advice from experienced creators. The fear of not being "ready" can hold you back for years, but the truth is, perfection is usually an impossible target anyway.
The sooner you start, the sooner you can begin learning, improving, and building something you’re proud of.
2. Be Consistent and Persistent
"Progress may feel slow at times, but if you commit to working on your craft every day, even if it’s just for 5 minutes, you’ll build momentum. Consistency is key. Don’t let setbacks define your journey."
Every small step adds up over time. Whether it’s learning a new animation technique, experimenting with different art styles, or refining your 3D modelling skills, the key to mastery is regular practice.
Even when motivation dips, remember, consistency beats perfection.
3. Learn from Mistakes and Keep Levelling Up
"Make mistakes. If you’re not making mistakes, you’re not learning."
"Treat the knock-backs as experience in an RPG game. Every time you get back up after a setback, you’re levelling up. Once you’ve levelled up enough times, you’ll be exactly where you want to be."
Mistakes are the foundation for improvement, so you should try to treat every setback as a learning opportunity, keep pushing forward and don’t let the rough patches discourage you.
More Great Tips from the Community:
- Share Your Work Early: Don’t be afraid to put your creations out there. Feedback is invaluable, and you’ll often learn more from others’ perspectives than from months of solo work.
- Find a Community: Surround yourself with like-minded creators. Not only can they provide support, but they can also become collaborators and lifelong friends.
- Stay Organized: Keep your files tidy and your projects well-structured. It will save you countless hours in the long run.
- Start Small: Don’t try to make your dream game as your first project. Focus on small, achievable goals to build confidence and experience.
- Focus on Fundamentals: Whether it’s game design, pixel art, or sound production, strong fundamentals will always set you apart.
- Keep Your Passion Alive: Remember why you started. Stay curious, stay inspired, and keep pushing your creative boundaries.
Wrapping Up Starting a journey in game development can feel like a daunting task, but the advice from the GameDev Market community proves that persistence, passion, and patience can be the keys to success.
Whether you’re designing your first game or creating assets for others, keep moving forward, stay consistent, and remember - every expert was once a beginner.
If you've got any of your own tips, or would like to put a post together to feature on our site, just send an email over to
[email protected].
GDM Team
