Here's how you can learn from common mistakes made by game developers.

The biggest problem that most game developers especially indies face is scope creep, learn to limit your scope of the project and try making a GDD (Game Dev Document), it is worth it. Secondly, eliminate most mental barriers while developing. Try to write a rough coding approach on paper regarding the features and systems in your game at the beginning of the project, this should include PSEDO codes, algorithms, and mind maps, this will help you a ton while building the game Finally, I'd like you to try to get help from developers who are more skilled and experienced than you, LinkedIn comes in handy at this. This will not only make sure that you have a good approach to your project, but also you will learn a lot from them.

Define Clear Goals and Objectives: At the project's inception, establish a well-defined scope outlining the game's primary goals, features, and deliverables. This serves as a roadmap and helps keep the team focused on what's essential.

cope creep, the gradual expansion of a project beyond its original goals, is a notorious challenge in game development. Adding features can lead to endless projects and burnout. To avoid this, define your game's scope from the start and stick to it. Use a feature list and be disciplined about what makes it into the final product. Save new ideas for a sequel or update. Managing scope creep is crucial as it inflates project size. I always set clear scopes and goals. During meetings, we revisit our main targets to stay on track.This helps avoid unnecessary features and endless development cycles, keeping the project focused and achievable.By sticking to the defined scope, we maintain direction and prevent the project from becoming unmanageable

Focus on the core mechanisms. Create a working prototype and continuously test and refine it. Prioritize the essential features and avoid implementing extras for the initial release.

Create Detailed Design Documents: Outline the game's concept, mechanics, rules, and features in a comprehensive design document. This serves as a blueprint for development, guiding all subsequent stages.

Start Testing Early: Begin testing as soon as you have playable components or prototypes. Early testing helps identify fundamental design flaws and usability issues that can be more challenging to address later in development.

Optimize Asset Sizes: Reduce file sizes of graphics, audio, and other assets without compromising quality. Use compression techniques and formats that balance visual/audio fidelity with performance requirements. Consider using tools that automatically compress assets while preserving their quality.

Listen Actively: Pay close attention to what players and testers are saying about your game. Be open-minded and avoid taking feedback personally. Every critique, even if initially difficult to hear, can provide valuable insights.

Define Balance Goals: Establish clear goals for gameplay balance based on your game’s genre, target audience, and design objectives. Determine what constitutes a fair challenge and enjoyable experience for your players.

Thanks to my job, I see dozens of teams, observe how they work and their approaches. Then look at the resulting outcome. This is a fairly unique experience. Here are some common mistakes that almost always lead to problems: - The team does what they can, not what is needed. Typically, this means focusing on content. When they should be working on feeling, features, and how they interact, the team keeps adding content. - Violence, sex, and drugs do not make your game mature on their own. - The team postpones playtesting with players, thinking the game isn't ready yet. - The team completely forgets about marketing. Not just marketing as a tool for attracting players, but also marketing as a development tool. - The team does not planning.