Known and unknown documents essential in game production

“When a game succeeds, players see only the final product. What remains invisible is the documentation framework that made that success possible.”

In today’s collaborative game development environment, proper documentation is the critical foundation that aligns teams, preserves vision, and prevents costly miscommunications. Having worked with development teams of various sizes, I’ve seen firsthand how the proper documentation can mean the difference between smooth production and chaotic development cycles.

While documentation will vary depending on the project scope and team size, five specific documents consistently prove essential across professional game studios:

1. Game Design Overview (GDO) – This concise, one-page document distills the game’s core concept, design pillars, target audience, and main features into an easily digestible format. The GDO serves as a quick reference during critical decision-making moments and is especially valuable for onboarding new team members or communicating with stakeholders.

2. Game Design Document (GDD) – A comprehensive blueprint detailing all gameplay mechanics, systems, narrative elements, level design, and technical specifications. As a living document, the modern GDD evolves throughout development while maintaining consistency with the core vision established in the GDO.

3. Technical Design Document (TDD) – This engineering roadmap translates design concepts into technical specifications, covering system architecture, coding standards, performance requirements, and technology stack decisions. A well-structured TDD helps prevent technical debt and ensures programming efforts align with design goals.

4. Narrative Bible – For story-driven games, this comprehensive reference details world-building elements, character profiles, narrative structure, and thematic elements. It ensures consistent storytelling even when different writers contribute to various sections of the game.

5. Art Bible / Style Guide – A visual reference document that maintains artistic consistency across all assets. It includes color palettes, visual style definitions, asset creation guidelines, and reference materials to ensure a cohesive aesthetic regardless of which artist creates the asset.

For development teams looking to improve their documentation practices:

• Treat documents as evolving tools rather than static deliverables

• Prioritize clarity and accessibility over exhaustive detEstablish clear ownership and review cycles for each documentail

• Establish clear ownership and review cycles for each document

• Use collaborative tools that enable real-time updates and team input

• Focus on practical utility rather than documentation for its own sake

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Sources:

• Intro to Game Development

• Ultimate Guide to Game Design Documents

• Technical Design Document (TDD)

• Art Bible

• Your Guide to Game Design Documentation (with templates)