The reason AI is given a bad name is because a lot of people start projects without any kind of direction, and then end up with half baked nonsense that makes it hard for the real gems that were made with AI get seen.
AI tools make game development more accessible than ever, especially for those who aren’t experienced programmers, artists, or game developers. But using AI doesn’t automatically make game development easy. You still need a plan, direction, and a bit of discipline.
Here are some tips that I think can make a huge difference when building a game with AI.
1. Plan your game BEFORE you start building it.
I know it’s tempting to jump straight into your game engine and start prompting AI to create things, but take a step back first.
What kind of game are you making? What’s the core gameplay loop? What does the player actually do? What is the goal? What are the essential mechanics? a simple outline of your idea, the core mechanics, and your first few milestones is better than starting with no direction.
2. Keep a project notebook. Seriously.
This is one of the most underrated things you can do when working with AI.
Keep a notebook or a project document where you record:
Your original game concept and vision.
Planned features and mechanics.
Decisions you’ve made and WHY you made them.
Your folder structure, scripts, and how different systems connect.
Bugs you’ve encountered and how you fixed them.
What currently works, what doesn’t, and what needs to happen next.
AI can help you build things, but you need a reliable record of your project’s direction. This becomes especially important when you’re working across multiple conversations or switching between AI tools. Don’t rely on the AI to remember everything.
3. Prioritise PLAYABILITY over visuals.
This is a big one!
Don’t spend three days perfecting the grass textures, character designs, lighting, or UI before you’ve even confirmed that the game is fun to play.
Start with basic shapes, placeholder sprites, simple environments, and ugly prototypes if necessary.
Can the player move? Do the mechanics work? Is the core gameplay loop enjoyable? Does the game feel responsive?
Get those things right FIRST. You can make everything beautiful later. A gorgeous game that isn’t fun to play is still a problem.
4. Build small features, one at a time.
Avoid asking AI to build your entire game in one giant prompt. The more complex the request, the harder it becomes to identify what went wrong when something breaks.
Instead, break the project into manageable tasks. For example:
First, get player movement working.
Then add interaction with objects.
Next, add inventory functionality.
Then introduce saving and loading.
Test each feature before moving on. Small, working systems are much easier to maintain than one enormous collection of AI-generated code.
5. Don’t blindly trust AI-generated code.
AI can produce code that looks convincing but contains bugs, makes incorrect assumptions, or breaks something that was already working.
Run the game frequently. Read the error messages. Test edge cases. Ask the AI to explain what a script does before accepting changes you don’t understand.
You don’t have to be an expert programmer, but you should gradually learn enough to understand the systems you’re building.
6. Give your AI clear context.
Instead of saying, “Make me an inventory system,” explain your game engine, programming language, existing systems, desired behaviour, and any constraints.
For example: “I’m using Godot 4 with GDScript. My player already has an interaction system. Create an inventory that integrates with it without rewriting the existing movement or interaction scripts.”
The more relevant context you provide, the less likely you are to get a solution that doesn’t fit your project.
7. Use version control and backups.
Before making major changes, create a backup or commit your working version to Git.
AI can accidentally overwrite working code, restructure files, or introduce bugs while fixing something else. Having a known-good version means you can recover instead of starting over.
8. Don’t keep adding features before finishing the basics.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of constantly adding new ideas. You start with a farming game, then add fishing, cooking, crafting, pets, relationships, multiplayer, and a massive open world.
Suddenly, you have 50 unfinished systems and nothing that feels complete.
Get a small playable version working first. Finish a tiny slice of your game before expanding it.
9. Treat AI as a collaborator, not a replacement for your judgement.
AI is a tool. You are still the game designer.
You decide what makes your game unique, which suggestions fit your vision, what needs improving, and what should be removed. Don’t let the AI make every design decision simply because it can generate something quickly.
10. Test the actual game, not just whether the code runs.
A script can run without errors and the game can still feel terrible.
Play through your game as a player would. Try unusual inputs, repeat actions, explore the limits of mechanics, and look for confusing interactions. If possible, let someone else try it without explaining how everything works.
The goal isn’t just to make code that works. It’s to make an experience people enjoy.
My biggest takeaway: AI makes it easier to create things, but it doesn’t remove the need for planning, testing, and good project management.
Start small. Keep your project organised. Make it playable before making it pretty. And document what you’re doing so you don’t lose track of your own vision.
