What is Game Dev Essentials?

Hi, I’m Alex. I’m a game designer with over 15 years experience, and I’ve seen both sides of the industry: indie, with my own game studio, releasing hit games like Rise of Industry, and AAA, spending years as a designer and consultant. 

Whether you’re a solo dev, student, or industry veteran, GDE is a space to learn, build, and share alongside others who value honest feedback, clear systems, and sustainable workflows.


We’ll cover everything from early design thinking to final polish, with content in both video and written form for game design, programming, art, production, and more.


Expect a friendly, focused environment where craft matters and progress is celebrated… even when it’s messy!

Game Dev Essentials is a community for developers who care about doing things right. No hype and no shortcuts, just thoughtful and practical game creation.

Latest Posts Section

My Latest Posts:

Game Dev Newsletters

GAME DEV
NEWSLETTERS

Game Dev Newsletters You Need to Know...

Stay ahead of the industry with these 11 must-read game dev newsletters. From analytics and design insights to indie tips and strategy.

Game Economy Design

GAME ECONOMY
DESIGN

A 7-Step Framework for Game Economy Design....

Learn a proven 7-step framework for game economy design: from defining purpose and mapping resources to live balancing and long-term maintenance. Keep your game economy engaging and sustainable.

Prototyping Your Game

PROTOTYPING
YOUR GAME

How to Prototype Your Game?

Learn how to build effective game prototypes that validate your ideas fast. This guide breaks down how to prototype video games with purpose: keeping it quick, focused, and free.

Game Development Tips

GAME DEV
TIPS

Essential Tips for Indie Game Developers

Discover key strategies and best practices that successful indie developers use. From scope management to marketing, learn what it takes to ship your game successfully.

Game Marketing

GAME
MARKETING

Marketing Your Indie Game: A Complete Guide

Master the art of indie game marketing with proven strategies. Learn how to build an audience, create buzz, and successfully launch your game in a crowded marketplace.

Join Our Discord

Join the GameDevEssentials Discord community for all things game dev! Chat with fellow designers, producers and developers.