Can all kinds of games be made using game engines? The short answer is yes, but some game types definitely require coding. Without knowing any programming language, if you are hoping to create a giant MMORPG by yourself, you should either lower your expectations or start learning coding as soon as possible.
You can not make complex and high-budget games like GTA and Skyrim in the comfort of your home without very advanced technical knowledge. On the other hand, it is known that independent productions such as Braid, Super Meat Boy and FEZ, which have put their stamps on history were made with great difficulties due to limited capital and labor force (source: Indie Game: The Movie). But nobody said it would be easy. Let’s compare some types of games and how difficult it can be to develop them so that you can better understand what you are facing.
Difficulty levels by genres
Simple 2D games: It’s easy to develop these games. You should take the time to learn the game engine and you must concoct all the dynamics. You will then have to design the levels, create the visuals and edit the user interface. Some of the game types you can develop with this drag-and-drop game engines are:
- Puzzle
- Platformer
- Arcade
- Racing
- Text based adventure
Complex 2D games: These games are made complex by having features such as physics, artificial intelligence or multi-player functions. You can also develop these games using the same game engines, but you are better prepared to spend a lot longer on the computer. Some of the categories that can be included in this genre are:
- Role playing
- Tower defense
- Adventure
- Fighting
Simple 3D games: The development process becomes more complicated when it goes to the third dimension. The game engines used to develop these games are quite strong compared to the previous ones, and more time is needed to master them. You can learn the basic principles and functions of these game engines between three months and a year, depending on your dedication and your willingness to do so. Here are some of the game types you will be able to make:
- Action-Adventure
- First person shooter
- Survival
Complex 3D games: Let’s be realistic: To start developing one of these games, you need to learn how to make games for a few years and improve your knowledge. Complex 3D games are not only challenging for programming; on the other hand it is also demanding in terms of visuals and sound. We can list the game types that are in this category as follows:
- MMORPG
- Open world
- Sports
- MOBA
- Real time strategy
- Virtual reality
- Simulator
- War
The more time you spend learning to develop your game, the more positive results you’ll get. On the other hand, it is recommended that you use the internet efficiently for technical resources. It is possible to learn how games actually work with full game templates that you can download at no charge.
Thus, we have completed the theoretical sections of our four part article. In the next part, we will examine and compare game engines you can use to develop your first game.
Visit our LinkedIn page for comments.
