A Game Design Document that’s dedicated to Indie Game Devs.

Tired of losing brilliant ideas in random text files? Fed up with design docs that feel like homework instead of creative tools? Minimalist GDD is a feature-packed, modular game design document template created for indie game devs.

Minimalist GDD provides a modular game design document template that packs a ton of features and example content: Add only the parts you require for your current project's GDD from a large collection of over 36 database templates, ranging from management sections such as the game vision, marketing details, expenses and revenue overview, and press kit, to game design-related topics like story and narrative, gameplay concepts and rules, input controls, UI, actor-related- and world design specs. Use extensive databases to flesh out ultra-detailed characters, creatures, factions, locations, items, quests, and a lot more. Finally, store all your referential data and knowledge in dedicated tables for concept art and lookup tables. Tag, rate, and categorize any data by development stage. Comes included with lots of finely-crafted example content that you can use to get your bearings and to be inspired.

Modular Design

Minimalist GDD’s modular design let’s you add features from a collection of over 36 database templates to put together your project’s GDD tailored to your desire.

• Over 36 databases to chose from, many with sub-databases.

• Add only the parts you need for your project, keeping it free of unnecessary clutter and easy to navigate.

Scalable

Use it as a sole developer or in a team, for any small game or large-scale game, be it a 2D puzzle game or a role-playing game with 1000s of elements, and anything in between.

• Works, regardless whether you’re a sole indie dev or working in a team.

• Suitable for any type of game project, small or large.

Flexible

Minimalist GDD flexibility allows for changing and updating content quickly. Tag content, and link between different content, use star ratings to decide the best version of any similar items, and set development stages to get your design specifics from idea to final.

• Update as your game evolves, not just at the beginning.

• Tag and rate almost any content.

• Use development stages to signal the current state of any content.

Tons of Example Content

Unlike many other templates Minimalist GDD turns the example content to eleven. Every one of the included modules and pages comes with a ton of example content about a horror-themed multiplayer game, hopefully to inspire you.

• Packed with useful example content.

• Use the included content to learn the template’s features or just be inspired by it.

What’s Inside

• Game Design Foundation:
  Define, update, and keep track of game design matters such as gameplay concepts, mechanics, combat systems, game rules, UI, world building, and story elements.

• Game Elements:
  An extensive collection of databases to help you define and maintain any elements required for your game: characters, creatures, locations, factions, items, abilities, quests, missions, and a lot more.

• Development Management:
  Keep track of your game’s vision, marketing, expenses, revenue, tech stack, press kit, and team.

• Knowledge & Resources:
  Store and maintain referential information like concept art, knowledge data, look-up tables, localization, etc.

• Roadmap & Planner:
  Plan your development cycles and phases with the included task management system.

More information and screenshots can be found at https://surrealcosmic.com/projects/minimalistgdd/