This is not a comprehensive list of all the resources that you can use for the class, but a starting point for you to think about how you want to build your game!

If you have a specific idea or question that is not listed here, please reach out to a CA to help you  troubleshoot your questions. If you’d like to add a resource, please feel free to edit/comment on the document. 

 

Physical Games

 

• Graduate School of Education Makerspace

• • • Power tools, laser cutting, led sign making supplies, sewing machines, 3-D printers, and electric component
    • Office hours for different skills are listed on website

• Lathrop Makerspace

• • • 3D printing, vinyl cutting, sewing, and laser cutting

• Product Realization Lab

• • • Laser cutting, metal work, wood work, 3-D printing, foam, and electric components 
    • Training required

• Textile Makerspace 

• • • Fabric work, knitting, crochet, etc.
    • Hours:
      • Usually 10:30-7 pm but check the calendar
    • Has OH and people to show you how to use stuff

• GameCrafter

• • Self publish your game and order custom game cards, pieces, etc.
  • You can upload your game materials to make a physical version of your game

 

Interactive Fiction (no coding required!)

Interactive fiction engages players in text-based adventures where their choices shape the outcome of the story.

• Twine: branching fiction 

• • • Beginner’s guide to tutorial

• Inform 7: natural-language-based programming language for writers of interactive fiction

• Chat Mapper: writing and testing nonlinear dialogue and events

 

Visual Novels (no coding required!)

Visual novels are narrative-driven video games characterized by their focus on storytelling, often featuring branching storylines, and player choices that influence the direction of the plot.

• Ren’Py

• Novelty – Visual novel maker 

• More options

 

3D Games

Game Engines

• Godot 

• Documentation: https://docs.godotengine.org/en/stable/tutorials/3d/introduction_to_3d.html 

• Building your first 3D game

• • • Playlist of tutorial videos for 3D platformer in Godot

• Unity

• Documentation: https://docs.unity.com 

• Tutorials: https://learn.unity.com

• Video Resources (3D): How to make a Video Game – Getting Started 

• • • Free Unity 3D Assets
    • 3rd Person Controller Template
    • 1st Person Controller Template 
    • Yarn Spinner Dialogue System 

• UnReal 

• Documentation: Unreal Engine 5.4 Documentation | Epic Developer Community 

• Tutorials: 

• • • • Build Your First 3D Game: Learn Collision Detection in Unreal Engine
      • How To Make A Video Game In Unreal Engine 5 ( Beginner Tutorial )

• Templates

• Templates | Unreal Engine 4.27 Documentation

• Various game templates: StudioDeepLake – itch.io

• Tiny games: GitHub – pfist/Nano: A tiny template for tiny Unreal games.

• 3D Modeling

• Blender

• Spline

• Download Maya 2025 | Maya Free Trial | Autodesk

2D Games

No coding required: 

• Gamefroot

• GDevelop

 

Game Engines

• Unity

• Documentation: https://docs.unity.com 

• Tutorials: https://learn.unity.com

• • • Video Resources (2D): How to make a 2D Game in Unity
    • Unity 2D Sprite Assets 
    • Unity RPG Templates 
    • Adding narrative & dialogue: 
      • ink 
        • Unity2D + Ink Dialogue System – YouTube 
      • Yarn Spinner Dialogue System 

• UnReal 

• Making an Action RPG in Unreal Engine 5 – YouTube 

•  Unreal Engine 5 Tutorial – Inventory System Part 1: Inventory Component

• Godot 

• Beginner video tutorial (very recently published!)

• Documentation: https://docs.godotengine.org/en/stable/tutorials/2d/index.html 

• Building your first 2D game

• Linked video tutorials from the Godot Docs

• Walkthrough video of how to build a top-down 2D game

• Game Maker

• GameMaker Tutorials | Learn How to Make a Game With GameMaker 

 

2D Assets 

• • Unity 2D Sprite Assets: Assets 

• Pixilart – Free online pixel art drawing tool

• Piskel