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Write a Professional Game Design Document (GDD)
Rating: 4.7 out of 5(159 ratings)
1,653 students

Write a Professional Game Design Document (GDD)

Learn how to write GDDs that will stand out for their graphic design quality and engaging delivery.
Created byGabriel Chauri, Game Design Thinking
Last updated 12/2025
English

What you'll learn

  • Learn how to write Game Design Documents (GDD)
  • Learn how to write effective, efficient and compelling documents
  • Create effective 1-pagers and infographics
  • Use Notion for creating wiki-style documentation using databases
  • Practice updating the game through several changes like in a real game dev environment
  • Use Google Docs to create your own templates
  • Learning different GDD tools and choose the more appropriate one for your own purposes

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Course content

6 sections • 79 lectures • 3h 25m total length

  • Welcome2:37
  • Companion Website0:09
  • Our Discord Channel0:08
  • What is a GDD?0:51
  • Why should your document be Effective, Efficient and Compelling?4:51
  • How to create a killer document?0:04
  • Different Documents for Diverse Development Styles2:57
  • What types of GDD do exist?2:44
  • 1.1. Why documentation is so critical?0:12
  • What content should a GDD have?6:33
  • GDD Content Checklist0:26
  • If You Forget Everything, Remember This: 3S and 3C4:35
  • Is the GDD the final word? Development methods2:52
  • Vintage GDD references0:42
  • 1.2. Changes, changes, and more changes!0:05
  • Set Feature Goals on your GDD3:12
  • Don't do this while learning how to write a GDD4:07
  • Taking notes for analysis (video)7:57
  • Taking notes for analysis (graphic)0:04
  • Introducing your first document: Character Creator2:30
  • 1.3. Document a Character Creator0:12
  • Quiz — Setting up for Success

Requirements

  • Google Docs, Notion and Figma accounts (all are free apps)
  • A game will be provided for you, so you don't need to download or buy any game

Description

This course offers a comprehensive guide for creating effective, efficient and compelling GDDs.

At the end of this course, you will have the ability to use different tools and practical knowledge to create GDDs in different formats to communicate your game ideas effectively to teams of any size.


WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

  • Understand different types of GDDs

  • Understand how the development ethos affects your GDD

  • Understanding the importance of creating an effective, efficient and compelling document

  • How to productively use GDD checklists and outlines

  • Using word processors to create documents and create your own templates

  • Creating amazing screen and player flows that will massively improve your game design craft

  • Using Notion for making complex GDDs look easy using the power of databases

  • Writing "feature specs"

  • How to create amazing 1-pagers that will impress your teammates

HOW WILL YOU PRACTICE WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED

  • A concept game executable will be provided, and you will document this game using each tool taught in the course

  • The game will suffer changes during the course, like in a real game development environment

  • You will write a Google Docs GDD

  • You will create a Notion GDD using a wiki-style GDD with databases

  • You will create a 1-pager to represent one or several systems of your game

  • You will have the opportunity to share your documents using the companion website for getting direct feedback from the instructors.

What is NOT included in this course

  • Programming languages

  • Art asset creation

  • Game design theory

Who this course is for:

  • Beginner game designers who want to learn how to write a effective, efficient and compelling GDD
  • Game designers with industry experience who want to improve their documentation skills
  • Any type of developer or designer who wants to learn how to communicate effectively through documentation

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