What is Scope?

Scope in game design is the total size of the project — all the content, systems, features, and polish you're planning to build. It's not just what you want to make — it’s how much of it, and what it will cost in time and effort.

Scope is the invisible budget of design.

1️⃣ Definition

Scope is the full extent of a game’s planned work: mechanics, content, platforms, tech, story, art, audio, and systems — mapped against the available resources, timeline, and team capacity.

📍Scope is not an idea list. It's what must be built, tested, finished, and supported.

2️⃣ Why Scope Matters

Purpose	What It Enables	Example
Feasibility	Aligns ambition with budget	Solo dev = no 3D open world with cutscenes
Risk control	Prevents scope creep and burnout	Clear MVP avoids endless rewrites
Production clarity	Teams and deadlines get structure	Slices help manage velocity and QA
Player experience	Fewer features = tighter polish	Celeste over feature soup

📍Every good game is shaped by what was cut. Scope = design by subtraction.

3️⃣ What Defines Scope

Area	Scope Variable	Example
Core Systems	Number and depth of mechanics	Combat + inventory + dialogue?
Content Volume	Levels, enemies, quests, items	5 biomes vs 30
Tech Complexity	Features that require engine depth	Netcode, procedural gen, physics
Narrative Size	Lines, branches, VO, cutscenes	One ending vs dynamic story tree
Platform Targets	Certification, optimization	PC vs mobile + console
Fidelity Goals	Asset quality, FX layers, shaders	Stylized 2D vs high-poly 3D

📍Scope is how deep and how wide you go — and each dimension multiplies others.

4️⃣ Example: Crafting System Explosion

💥 Sounds simple: “Let’s add crafting.”
But it triggers:
Recipe UI
Loot table changes
Crafting stations
Tutorial rewrite
Save/load hooks
QA for 100+ combinations
Balancing economy
📌 One mechanic → touches every part of the game.

5️⃣ How to Control Scope

Technique	Description
MVP (Minimum Viable Product)	Build only what’s needed to express the core loop
Vertical Slice	Build one complete “chunk” with all systems to measure effort
Feature Tiers	Sort features: Must-Have / Should-Have / Nice-to-Have
Cuttable Design	Build systems modularly, so they can be trimmed without harm
Pre-mortems	Ask: “If this fails, what feature likely caused it?” — cut early

📍A good scope plan makes it easier to say no — before the pain hits.

6️⃣ Scope by Team Size

Team Size	Scope Strategy	Example
Solo / 1–2 devs	Tight core loop, repeatable content	Vampire Survivors
Indie (3–15)	System depth over content breadth	Slay the Spire, Into the Breach
AA–AAA	High interdependence, pipeline scaling	Elden Ring, God of War

📍Scope isn’t about dreaming smaller — it’s about delivering sharper.

✅ Scope Design Checklist

Is the scope mapped to your actual production constraints?

Does each feature support the fantasy or loop — or is it bloat?

Can parts be modular, trimmed, or postponed without breakage?

Is the MVP playable early? (no “all systems must ship together” trap)

Is QA time considered in the scoping?

📍Never scope just for the build. Scope for the finish line — polish, bugs, and all.

Summary

Term	Scope
What it is	The total amount of content, systems, and polish planned for a game
Why it matters	Ensures feasibility, focus, and finishability
How it's managed	Through MVPs, slices, tiers, and modular planning
Design goal	Deliver a clear, finishable vision — not just a big one

📍Scope isn’t the enemy of creativity. It’s what lets your creativity actually ship.