A curated list of software and services that game designers use at various stages of development — tools for prototyping, data analytics, collaboration, and more.
📍Don’t forget to use AI at every step - this is the most powerful tool nowadays.
🔍 Market & Genre Analysis
Tool | Description | Use Cases | Link | Accessibility | Ease of Use | Time to Learn |
Deconstructor of Fun | Analysis of top F2P games and market trends. | Competitor breakdowns, genre analysis, trend spotting. | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★☆☆☆☆ | |
Sensor Tower / AppMagic | Mobile game market analytics (revenue, installs, creatives). | Identifying successful monetization models, feature deconstructions. | ★★★☆☆ (paid) | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | |
GameRefinery | Visual tagging and feature analysis for mobile games. | Understanding genre feature sets, visual direction, monetization strategies. | ★★☆☆☆ (paid) | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ |
🧠 Idea Generation & Brainstorming
Tool | Description | Use Cases | Link | Accessibility | Ease of Use | Time to Learn |
Miro | Online whiteboard for collaboration. | Brainstorms, mind maps, feature dumps. | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★☆☆☆☆ | |
Notion / Obsidian | Knowledge bases with backlinks and templates. | Game concept wiki, idea library. | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★☆☆☆☆ | |
Whimsical | Diagramming tool for flows and wireframes. | UX flows, narrative maps, core loop design. | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★☆☆☆☆ |
🔄 Systems & Mechanics Design
Tool | Description | Use Cases | Link | Accessibility | Ease of Use | Time to Learn |
Machinations.io | Simulation and balancing tool for game economies. | Resource flows, balancing curves, economy design. | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | |
Excel / Google Sheets | Universal balancing and design tool. | Economy systems, enemy stat scaling, formula-based tuning. | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ |
🎲 Core Gameplay, Feel & Input Design
Tool | Description | Use Cases | Link | Accessibility | Ease of Use | Time to Learn |
Prototyping Tools (Unity, Godot, Unreal) | Building quick gameplay prototypes. | Testing core loop, controls, feedback. | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
🎭 Narrative Design
Tool | Description | Use Cases | Link | Accessibility | Ease of Use | Time to Learn |
Twine / Ink by Inkle | Tools for branching narrative and dialogue scripting. | Interactive stories, non-linear quests. | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★☆☆☆☆ | |
Miro | Online whiteboard for collaboration. | Online whiteboard for collaboration. | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★☆☆☆☆ | |
Notion / Obsidian | Knowledge bases with backlinks and templates. | Wiki, idea library. | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★☆☆☆☆ |
🪟 UX, Flow, UI Prototyping
Tool | Description | Use Cases | Link | Accessibility | Ease of Use | Time to Learn |
Figma | UI design and wireframing. | HUDs, menus, inventory screens. | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | |
Marvel App / Proto.io | Clickable UX prototypes. | Menu flow, onboarding, tutorials. | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ |
🧮 Balancing, Progression & Economy
Tool | Description | Use Cases | Link | Accessibility | Ease of Use | Time to Learn |
Google Sheets + Addons (Monte Carlo sims, Solver) | Simulation, progression modeling. | F2P tuning, gacha design, level pacing. | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
🧩 Level Design
Tool | Description | Use Cases | Link | Accessibility | Ease of Use | Time to Learn |
Tiled / LDtk | 2D level editors. | Puzzle design, platforming levels. | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | |
Unity ProBuilder / UE BSP Brushes | Blockout tools. | Grayboxing 3D environments. | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
👥 Communication, Documentation & Collaboration
Tool | Description | Use Cases | Link | Accessibility | Ease of Use | Time to Learn |
Notion / Confluence | Design wikis and documentation systems. | GDDs, feature specs, roadmap visibility. | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★☆☆☆☆ | |
Slack / Discord | Team chat & community interaction. | Daily syncs, external community building. | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★☆☆☆☆ | |
Loom / OBS | Video explainers and dev updates. | Pitching ideas, documenting UX. | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★☆☆☆☆ |
🛠 Build, QA & Publishing
Tool | Description | Use Cases | Link | Accessibility | Ease of Use | Time to Learn |
Unity Cloud Build / Jenkins / GitHub Actions | Automated builds. | Continuous integration, build sharing. | unity, github | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
TestFlight / Google Play Console | External playtesting. | Balancing, retention & monetization tests. | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ |
📣 Publishing & Feedback Loops
Tool | Description | Use Cases | Link | Accessibility | Ease of Use | Time to Learn |
Pitch Deck Templates (Slidebean, Decktopus) | Publisher pitching. | Clear vision and market presentation. | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★☆☆☆☆ | |
PlaytestCloud / UserTesting | Remote usability testing with target players. | Identifying UX friction, testing FTUE. | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ |