Game Dev Tycoon Manual
The complete manual for Game Dev Tycoon. Learn all game mechanics, strategies, and tips.
In Game Dev Tycoon you start as an independent game developer in the 1980s and build your own game empire. You develop games, hire employees, research new technologies, and try to become the most successful game developer in the world.
The Game Phases
1. Garage (Year 1-4)
You work alone and make small games. Focus on learning and first successes. Save money for moving to the first office.
2. First Office (Year 4-10)
Hire first employees. Develop medium games. Begin researching and build your fanbase.
3. Second Office (Year 10-20)
Larger team, larger games. Access to R&D Lab. Develop custom engines and AAA titles.
4. Endgame (Year 20+)
Hardware Lab, custom consoles, MMOs. Dominate the market with your game empire.
Your Goals
- Develop successful games with good reviews (8+)
- Build a loyal fanbase
- Expand your company and team
- Research new technologies
- Avoid bankruptcy!
The Three Development Phases
Every game goes through three phases with their own sliders:
Phase 1Engine & Gameplay
Here you lay the technical foundation. The sliders are:
Phase 2Dialogues & Design
Content development of the game:
Phase 3Presentation
Visual and audio quality:
Topic-Genre Combinations
Not every topic fits every genre. A war game as a casual game? A children's theme as a horror game? That doesn't work well.
The fit is rated from -3 (very bad) to +3 (perfect). Use our Recommender to find the best combinations!
Important: Avoid Repetitions!
If you use the same topic-genre combination twice in a row, you'll get worse reviews. Vary your games!
The quality of your game (and thus the reviews) is determined by several factors:
Topic-Genre Fit
How well does your topic match the genre? Fantasy + RPG = perfect. Horror + Children's theme = catastrophic.
Slider Settings
Each genre has optimal slider values. Use our presets! Wrong sliders can ruin even perfect combinations.
Platform Fit
Does the platform match the genre and audience? Action games on family consoles? Not ideal.
Technology Level
Is your tech up to date? Old graphics on modern consoles hurt reviews.
Tips for Better Reviews
- Use optimal topic-genre combinations (check our Recommender)
- Set sliders correctly for each phase (use our Presets)
- Match the platform to the genre
- Keep your technology current
- Vary your games - no repetitions!
A good team is the key to success. Here's how to best manage your employees:
Hiring
- Quality over quantity - one well-trained employee is better than three beginners
- Hire employees with complementary skills
- Match team size to game size
Training
- Train new employees immediately - their base stats are low
- Focus on weak areas first
- Training is expensive but worth it
Roles
- Assign clear roles: Design (Art, Story, Sound) and Tech (Engine, AI, Level Design)
- Specialists are better than generalists for specific tasks
- Balance your team - you need both Design and Tech skills
Next Step
Practical Team Setups & Tips
See phase-specific staff recommendations and concrete tips for every stage of the game.
Research is essential for staying competitive:
Research Priorities
- Audiences (Young, Everyone, Mature) - massively expands options
- Graphics upgrades - keep tech current
- Genre features (Dialogues, Multiplayer, etc.)
Timing
- Research 3D Graphics when 3D consoles appear
- Don't research what you can't afford
- Save research points for important unlocks
R&D Lab
- Unlocked with the third office
- Required for custom engines
- Assign 1-2 dedicated R&D staff
Custom Engines
Custom engines dramatically improve game quality. Invest in high tech skills and include all available features.
Sequels
Make sequels of successful games (9+ reviews), but wait 1-2 years between parts. Sequels sell better with established fans.
AAA Games
AAA games require: Large team (6+), custom engine, proper marketing. Only attempt with an experienced team.
Hardware Lab
With the Hardware Lab you can design your own console. Needs dedicated team and significant investment.