Solo Game Dev

The Landscape — What's Actually Possible as a Solo Dev in 2026

Get a clear, honest picture of solo game development today — what's possible, what's not, and why 2026 is the best time to start.

Choosing Your Engine — Unity vs Godot vs Unreal (and Why It Matters)

Make an informed engine choice before writing a single line of game code.

The Game Dev Process — From Idea to Shipped

Understand the full pipeline so nothing surprises you mid-project.

Your Head Start — What Your C# Background Gets You For Free

Map your existing .NET/Xamarin/MAUI skills to Unity concepts so you know exactly where you're starting.

AI's Role in Game Dev — Where It Actually Helps (and Where It Doesn't)

Build a clear mental model of your AI-assisted dev pipeline before you start using the tools.

The Asset Pipeline — 2D, 3D, Audio, and UI from Scratch

Understand how game assets flow from creation to in-game, so you know what to generate and where it goes.

Week 1 Recap + Your First Game Concept Exercise

Consolidate Week 1 and define your first game concept — the one you'll build over this course.

AI for Game Ideation — Prompting for Concepts That Actually Work

Learn to use AI as a game design collaborator, not just an executor.

AI for 2D Art — Generating Sprites, Backgrounds, and UI That Look Intentional

Build a practical 2D art generation workflow you can actually use in production.

AI for 3D Assets — From Text to Textured Model in Under 10 Minutes

Generate usable 3D assets for desktop and mobile without knowing how to 3D model.

AI for Audio — Music, SFX, and Voice Without a Composer or Sound Designer

Build a complete audio pipeline using AI tools — music that loops, SFX that punch, voice that fits.

AI for Code — Using Claude Code and Cursor to Write Unity Scripts

Establish your AI coding workflow for Unity — the biggest time saver in your pipeline.

AI for Game Design — GDDs, Mechanics, Narrative, and Balance

Use AI as your game designer co-pilot — beyond just asset generation.

Week 2 Recap — Your AI Pipeline Is Ready, Let's Build It

Consolidate your full AI pipeline and set up the tools you'll use this week.

Unity Fundamentals — Scenes, GameObjects, and the Inspector (For C# Devs)

Get oriented in Unity fast — you already know C#, so we skip the basics and go to what's different.

Your First Mechanic — Building the Core Loop in Unity

Build one working mechanic in Unity — the heart of your game — using Claude Code to assist.

Mobile-First Design — Touch, Performance, and Safe Zones

Understand what makes a mobile game different from desktop — design for the platform from day one.

Desktop Publishing — Steam, itch.io, and Cross-Platform Builds

Understand the desktop publishing landscape and how to export from Unity to Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Game Idea Deep Dive #1 — Casual Puzzle Games (Best Fit for Solo Dev)

Explore the casual puzzle genre in depth — why it's ideal for solo devs and how to make yours stand out.

Game Idea Deep Dive #2 — Narrative and Story-Driven Games

Explore narrative game design — how to tell a story through mechanics, not just cutscenes.

Game Idea Deep Dive #3 — Arcade and Action Games

Explore arcade/action game design — fast, satisfying, replayable.

Game Idea Deep Dive #4 — Productivity and Utility Games (Your Software Background Is an Asset)

Explore the intersection of games and software tools — a genre where your background is a unique advantage.

Monetisation — Ads, IAP, Premium, and What Actually Works for Solo Devs

Understand how games make money and which model fits your game and audience.

App Store and Google Play — Submission, Review, and What Gets Rejected

Understand the submission pipeline end-to-end so launch day isn't a surprise.

Marketing Your Game — What Actually Works for Indie Devs With No Budget

Build a realistic, no-budget marketing strategy that fits around development.

From Prototype to Alpha — What Changes and When to Make It

Know when your prototype is ready to become a real game — and what that transition looks like.

Polish and Game Feel — The Difference Between Good and Memorable

Understand game feel — the invisible quality that separates games people love from games people finish and forget.

Realistic Timeline — What 3, 6, and 12 Months of Solo Dev Actually Looks Like

Set a realistic schedule for your first shipped game — accounting for your health, workload, and available time.

Your Personal Game Concept — Let's Refine It Together

Take everything you've learned and sharpen your specific game concept into something you can actually build.

Day 30 — Your Game Development Roadmap. What's Next.

Leave this course with a concrete 90-day plan, the right tools, and the confidence to ship your first game.