So you want to design your own game? Whether it’s a card game, board game, or digital prototype, jumping into game design is both exciting and challenging.
But if you’re just starting out, you’re likely to make a few missteps—don’t worry, we all do!
In this post, we’ll break down five of the most common game design mistakes beginners make and how you can avoid them. These tips will save you time, frustration, and help you build better, more enjoyable games from day one.
1. Designing a Board Game Without a Clear Goal or Vision
The mistake:
New game designers often jump in with cool mechanics or themes, but no clear objective for their game.
Why it’s a problem:
Without a focused goal, your game can feel disjointed, unbalanced, or confusing for players.
How to avoid it:
Ask yourself:
-
What kind of game am I making? (Check out some popular board game types here)
-
What should players feel while playing?
-
What’s the win condition?
Create a short “design statement” and refer to it often as you develop your game. Here’s our Planning Phase Checklist to help out.
2. Overcomplicating the Game with Too Many Mechanics
The mistake:
Trying to include every cool mechanic you can think of—deck building, dice rolling, role-playing, bluffing—into one game.
Why it’s a problem:
Too many mechanics can overwhelm players and make the game hard to teach and play.
How to avoid it:
Start small. Focus on one core mechanic and build around that. Let your game grow naturally through playtesting and feedback.
3. Skipping Playtesting (Or Not Testing Enough)
The mistake:
Spending tons of time designing the game on paper without actually testing it with real players. Or having the game ready for playtests but being subconsciously scared about feedback you might receive on your game.
Why it’s a problem:
Only real playthroughs will reveal what’s broken, boring, confusing, or surprisingly fun. I’ve found friends through playtest groups that were helpful in the direction of my own games for example.
How to avoid it:
Start playtesting early—even if it’s just with paper scraps and index cards. Gather feedback from friends, game design communities, or online groups. Be ready to iterate.
4. Poor Balance Between Luck and Strategy
The mistake:
Games that rely too much on luck or, conversely, are so strategic they feel like spreadsheets. It’s natural for games to be hedged towards luck or strategy, but going too far can highly limit your target audience.
Why it’s a problem:
Too much luck = players feel helpless.
Too much strategy = less accessibility for casual players.
How to avoid it:
Aim for a mix: allow player choices to matter, but include just enough randomness to keep things exciting. Playtesting will help you strike the right balance.
(There’s some Strategy games which have some luck mixed in this popular post)
5. Spending too Much Money on Art Before Your Game is Done
The mistake:
I’ve made the mistake of spending too much money on my prototypes before they were ready for production.
Why it’s a problem:
Sometimes you end up scrapping the idea for the game. Or if you are going through a publisher, they will often have their own artists/art style that they rather use anyways.
How to avoid it:
Even in your early prototypes, use placeholder images and develop a basic theme. Give your game a working title and a short blurb—it helps others take it seriously (and helps you stay inspired).
Here’s some free artwork by SLG to help you get started!
✅ Bonus Tips to Avoid Beginner Game Design Mistakes
-
Keep rules short and clear. Use bullet points and examples.
-
Watch new players play without helping much if at all—see where they struggle.
-
Don’t be afraid to kill your darlings. If something isn’t working, cut it.
Final Thoughts on Avoiding Game Design Pitfalls
Game design is a learning process. These game design mistakes are common because designing games is hard—but also incredibly rewarding. By staying aware of these traps and playtesting often, you’ll be miles ahead of the average new designer that is stuck overthinking their game.
🚀 Ready to take your first game to the next level?
- Start making your prototype here.
- Find fun board game pieces to help your playtesting here.
- Or Print Your card games at home using this method.
Good luck and enjoy the process!
Kayışdağı su kaçak tespiti
Kayışdağı su kaçak tespiti Feneryolu su kaçağı tespiti: Feneryolu’nda su kaçağı tespiti için güvenilir hizmet. https://barauditoriump2.com/?p=192302
Londyn622
Awesome https://is.gd/tpjNyL
binance referral code
You guys nailed it—thanks for the detailed responses and for taking the time to be so thorough.
Cosplay Türkiye
I’ll be bookmarking this thread—super helpful responses, and I’ve learned more than I expected.
Cosplay Etkinlik Takvimi
This thread turned out to be way more helpful than I expected. Grateful to everyone who shared their input.
Cosplay blog
All the different perspectives shared here really opened my eyes. Thanks for helping me approach this differently.
binance referral code 2025
I truly appreciate all the feedback and support I’ve received in this thread. You guys make this forum such a valuable place to learn and grow.
Tomas3533
Very good https://is.gd/tpjNyL
Luca3969
Awesome https://is.gd/tpjNyL
Sakarya Escort
Sakarya Elit Escort Kızlarla Vip Bayanlar Esort Güzel Vakit Geçirin
sigmaslot
SIGMASLOT : Platform Slot Online dengan Peluang Menang Terbesar
sigma slot online
Situs Slot Online yang Menjamin Keuntungan Maksimal, cari di SIGMASLOT
cosplay
I’m grateful for this community. Reading through the replies here reminded me why I keep coming back to this forum.
Stephania Kertzmann
SMM Bayi
Macy Walter
SMM Bayi
Zombie Outbreak PG soft
Zombie Outbreak : Slot Online Resmi dengan Bonus Menarik dan Pembayaran Cepat
Zombie Outbreak
Zombie Outbreak : Situs Slot Online Gacor yang Menjanjikan Kemenangan Besar
Zombie Outbreak PG soft
Zombie Outbreak : Slot Online Resmi dengan Bonus Menarik dan Pembayaran Cepat
situs slot gacor
Situs Slot Online yang Menjamin Keuntungan Maksimal, cari di SIGMASLOT
sigmaslot
Situs Slot Gacor dengan Permainan Seru dan Hadiah Menarik, kunjungi SIGMASLOT
Daftar slot
Nikmati Pengalaman Bermain yang Seru di Slot Gacor : Situs Slot Online Gacor dengan Jackpot Besar
Celeste2428
Very good https://lc.cx/xjXBQT
link sigmaslot
Informasi akses situs Sigma slot