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Game Dev Tycoon Guide – Best Combinations and More

Game Dev Tycoon Guide 2021 - Best Combinations and More
Written by Ankit Gaba

This Game Dev Tycoon Guide will cover all the “To Dos” and “Don’t Dos.” Game Dev Tycoon can be a smooth experience if you follow what we will tell you in this Game Dev Tycoon Guide.

Note: This Game Dev Tycoon Guide will work for All Platforms Yes, even Android Version, iOS Version and Nintendo Switch Version

General Game Dev Tycoon Tips

Game Dev Tycoon is an addictive simulation game by Greenheart Games that allows players to create, manage, and expand their own game development studio. From humble beginnings in a garage to dominating the gaming scene with industry-defining titles, this guide will help you start and grow your game development empire.

  1. Selecting a Platform and Genre Combination:

Choose your platform wisely based on your target audience and the current popularity of the platform in the game. Early on, PC is a cost-effective choice thanks to its reasonable development cost and broad audience. As you progress, you can explore additional platforms to target more niche markets.

Pairing the right genre with the platform is essential. For instance, action games do well on consoles, while simulation games excel on the PC. Pay attention to the hints provided during the game, as they will clue you into the preferences of your target audience.

  1. Focus on Developing High-Quality Games:

Developing high-quality games is the key to success in Game Dev Tycoon. Your games’ quality depends on three factors: your selected topics, genres, and balance of development time spent on different elements. Matching the right topic and genre is crucial for initial success. Later, research target audience preferences to ensure your chosen combination is still viable.

As you develop games, adjust the sliders to strike an optimal balance for that specific genre. Some common balances are heavy on gameplay and engine for action games, or relying on story and quests for RPGs.

  1. Optimize Your Team:
    Hiring talented developers is vital in producing top-tier titles. Initially, you will handle everything, but as your company grows, hire employees with high ratings in design or technology. Make sure team members are placed in development roles that align with their strengths.Also, provide training opportunities to improve team performance. Invest in regular staff training to boost skills and keep them motivated. Additionally, utilizing boost features can aid in creating high-quality games during crucial developmental stages.

    1. Research and Improve:

    Keep researching new topics, upgrading your game engine, and unlocking new features to stay ahead of the curve in the gaming industry. Embark on regular research to gain a competitive edge and consistently produce engaging innovative games.

    1. Engage in Marketing and Publishing Deals:

    Work with publishers to expand your reach and improve your game sales. As a newcomer, you might not possess the marketing budget or brand recognition to successfully launch a game. By partnering with publishers, you increase your chances of success – just be cautious of contract terms and penalties.

    Once you achieve more significant traction, engage in more aggressive marketing campaigns. A well-promoted, high-quality game can propel your company to new heights, maximizing revenue and reputation.

    1. Follow Industry Trends and Events:

    Pay attention to industry news and events. At times, specific topic/genre combinations or gaming conventions can have a tangible impact on game success. Make the most of opportunities and trends to ensure your releases perform well and enhance your company’s image.

Start Game Dev Tycoon With A New Save if you keep getting bad games

Game Dev Tycoon is a fascinating journey into the world of game development, with the allure of creating top rated games. However, the challenge comes in when your business reaches maturity, and your games, despite having top-notch features and technology, can’t seem to surpass the performance of your previous successful hits. So, how do you move forward from this tricky stage?

Sometimes, you’ve pushed the envelope, innovated, and yet, your new games still aren’t receiving the high acclaim of yesteryears. As frustrating as it can be, this pattern can emerge when you’ve effectively reached the end-gate scenario of the game. You’ve unlocked all there is, trained your employees to the peak, and still, the coveted ’11/10′ or ’10/10′ ratings elude your latest releases. The core issue? Your new games are trying to compete with your past best ones, and it often feels like a futile exercise.

This is where a fresh start can completely revolution[1]ize your experience: A new save in Game Dev Tycoon.

Starting a new game may initially seem daunting, but it actually offers a surprising array of benefits. A fresh save clears the slate, allowing you to employ different strategies as you navigate early game challenges. This not only brings a refreshing change of pace but also lets you test other strategies that might enhance your knowledge about the game.

You’ll find yourself exploring new genre combinations, developing new engines from scratch, and uncovering new tech and game elements. These undertakings can offer a more casual, flexible gaming experience, steering clear from the consistent pressure to outshine your previous bests.

Moreover, this can be a fantastic opportunity to rethink your long-term strategy. Reflect on what worked best in your previous save and where you might have erred. Use these insights to prioritize different aspects, genres, or trends in your new journey.

Remember, Game Dev Tycoon, much like actual game development, is a journey – an exciting ride filled with trials, errors, and triumphs. Rather than being disheartened by the end-game plateau, use it as a chance to explore new paths. Embrace a fresh start and rediscover the magic of crafting something extraordinary from scratch.

Don’t Do These Things in Game Dev Tycoon.

  • Never create two or more games of the same genre and topic in a row; it will lead to poor reception and poor sales.
  • Do not create a sequel of a game with the same engine; it can lead to poor reception and poor sales as well.
  • Do not create a sequel of a game right after you created the game. No matter how many points it has, it will lead to poor reception.
  • Do not create an expansion of your MMO Game right after releasing the MMO Game to avoid poor reception of the expansion.
  • Never develop a large game if you have not managed to unlock 2D Graphics V3 or 3D Graphics V2, and Please only use those types of graphics in Large Games.
  • Do not develop a AAA Game if you have not unlocked 3D Graphics V6
  • Do not go over budget with your game, especially if you are not playing on the Easy Difficulty

Things You Should Do in Game Dev Tycoon

  • Train all your employees in any department you would like to if you can after making a game.
  • Specialise your employees in different sectors if you want to make a better AAA game
  • Generate a Game Report of all your games right away to get more research points and more knowledge on what to do
  • Always try to have the Best Combinations.
  • Always use the Sliders in the way we will tell you
  • Never add extra features in the places where they are not needed since it can cost you a lot of money and won’t help you that much.
  • Make sure that your game has 0 Bugs; even One single bug can make it a 9/10 instead of a 10/10
  • If you have the Booster Ability thing on any employees, just make sure to use it at the right time. For example, I have an employee with Booster ability, and I assign him to Gameplay. Now click on Boost when the development reaches Gameplay, and make sure to do the same for other employees.

NOTE: Age Rating depends on the topic and not the Genre, and do not worry about it that much; your main focus should be Best Topic + Genre

Topic + Genre + Age Rating Combinations

  • Abstract + (Adventure = Best, Action = Good, RPG = Terrible, Simulation = Terrible, Strategy = Decent, Casual = Terrible) + (M Rating = Best, E Rating = Good and Y Rating = Decent)
  • Airplane + (Action or Simulation or Casual or Strategy = Best, RPG = Decent, Adventure = Terrible)  + (Y Rating or E Rating = Best and M Rating = Good)
  • Aliens + (Action or RPG = Best, Simulation = Terrible, Strategy = Good, Casual = Bad, Adventure = Decent)+ (M Rating or E Rating = Best and Y Rating = Good)
  • Alternate History + (Action or RPG = Best, Adventure or Simulation = Decent, Strategy = Good, Casual = Terrible )+ (M or E Rating = Best and Y Rating = Terrible)
  • Assassin + (Action = Best, Adventure = Bad, RPG = Best, Simulation = Decent, Strategy = Terrible , Casual = Terrible ) + (Y Rating = Terrible, E Rating = Decent, M Rating = Best)
  • Business + (Action = Terrible, Adventure = Decent, RPG = Decent, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Best, Casual = Terrible) + (Y Rating = Good, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Bad)
  • City + (Action = Bad, Adventure = Terrible, RPG = Bad, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Best, Casual = Bad) + (Y Rating = Good, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Decent)
  • Colonization + (Action = Bad, Adventure = Terrible, RPG = Terrible, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Best, Casual = Bad) + (Y Rating = Bad, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Decent)
  • Comedy + (Action = Terrible, Adventure = Best, RPG = Decent, Simulation = Terrible, Strategy = Terrible, Casual = Good) + (Y Rating = Decent, E Rating = Good, M Rating = Best)
  • Construction + (Action = Bad, Adventure = Terrible, RPG = Terrible, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Good, Casual = Decent) + (Y Rating = Decent, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Good)
  • Cooking + (Action = Good, Adventure = Bad, RPG = Decent, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Bad, Casual = Best) + (Y Rating = Decent, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Terrible)
  • Crime + (Action = Best, Adventure = Terrible, RPG = Decent, Simulation = Good, Strategy = Bad, Casual = Terrible) + (Y Rating = Terrible, E Rating = Decent, M Rating = Best)
  • Cyberpunk + (Action = Best, Adventure = Decent, RPG = Best, Simulation = Decent, Strategy = Bad, Casual = Terrible) + (Y Rating = Bad, E Rating = Good, M Rating = Best)
  • Dance +  (Action = Bad, Adventure = Terrible, RPG = Terrible, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Terrible, Casual = Best) + (Y Rating = Best, E Rating = Good, M Rating = Decent)
  • Detective + (Action = Terrible, Adventure = Best, RPG = Best, Simulation = Decent, Strategy = Terrible, Casual = Good) + (Y Rating = Good, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Decent)
  • Disaster + (Action = Good, Adventure = Decent, RPG = Terrible, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Best, Casual = Bad) + (Y Rating = Bad, E Rating = Good, M Rating = Best)
  • Dungeon + (Action = Best, Adventure = Decent, RPG = Best, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Best, Casual = Terrible) + (Y Rating = Decent, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Best)
  • Dystopian + (Action = Decent, Adventure = Good, RPG = Decent, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Good, Casual = Terrible) + (Y Rating = Bad, E Rating = Decent , M Rating = Best)
  • Evolution + (Action = Bad, Adventure = Terrible, RPG = Terrible, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Best, Casual = Terrible) + (Y Rating = Decent, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Bad)
  • Expedition + (Action = Bad, Adventure = Good, RPG = Terrible, Simulation = Good, Strategy = Best, Casual = Terrible) + (Y Rating = Decent, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Good)
  • Extreme Sports + (Action = Best, Adventure = Terrible, RPG = Terrible, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Bad, Casual = Good) + (Y Rating = Best, E Rating = Bad, M Rating = Best)
  • Fantasy + (Action = Best, Adventure = Best, RPG = Best, Simulation = Decent, Strategy = Best, Casual = Terrible) + (Y Rating = Best, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Best)
  • Farming + (Action = Terrible, Adventure = Bad, RPG = Terrible, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Terrible, Casual = Best) + (Y Rating = Good, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Decent)
  • Fashion + (Action = Terrible, Adventure = Decent, RPG = Best, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Terrible, Casual = Best) + (Y Rating = Best, E Rating = Decent, M Rating = Terrible)
  • Game Dev + (Action = Terrible, Adventure = Bad, RPG = Terrible, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Terrible, Casual = Decent) + (Y Rating = Good, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Bad)
  • Government + (Action = Terrible, Adventure = Terrible, RPG = Terrible, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Best, Casual = Bad) + (Y Rating = Terrible, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Decent)
  • Hacking + (Action = Bad, Adventure = Decent, RPG = Bad, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Best, Casual = Terrible) + (Y Rating = Bad, E Rating = Good, M Rating = Best)
  • History + (Action = Decent, Adventure = Decent, RPG = Decent, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Best, Casual = Good) + (Y Rating = Decent, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Good)
  • Horror + (Action = Best, Adventure = Best, RPG = Decent, Simulation = Terrible, Strategy = Bad, Casual = Decent) + (Y Rating = Terrible, E Rating = Good, M Rating = Best)
  • Hospital + (Action = Terrible, Adventure = Terrible, RPG = Decent, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Decent, Casual = Bad) + (Y Rating = Bad, E Rating = Good, M Rating = Decent)
  • Hunting + (Action = Best, Adventure = Good, RPG = Good, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Bad, Casual = Good) + (Y Rating = Good, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Good)
  • Law + (Action = Terrible, Adventure = Best, RPG = Good, Simulation = Good, Strategy = Good, Casual = Terrible) + (Y Rating = Decent, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Bad)
  • Life + (Action = Terrible, Adventure = Best, RPG = Good, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Terrible, Casual = Decent) + (Y Rating = Best, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Decent)
  • Mad Science + (Action = Good, Adventure = Best, RPG = Bad, Simulation = Good, Strategy = Terrible, Casual = Terrible) + (Y Rating = Decent, E Rating = Good, M Rating = Best)
  • Martial Arts + (Action = Best, Adventure = Decent, RPG = Best, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Bad, Casual = Best) + (Y Rating = Bad, E Rating = Good, M Rating = Best)
  • Medieval + (Action = Best, Adventure = Best, RPG = Best, Simulation = Decent, Strategy = Best, Casual = Bad) + (Y Rating = Best, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Good)
  • Millitary + (Action = Best, Adventure = Terrible, RPG = Decent, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Best, Casual = Terrible) + (Y Rating = Bad, E Rating = Good, M Rating = Best)
  • Movies + (Action = Decent, Adventure = Decent, RPG = Terrible, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Terrible, Casual = Best) + (Y Rating = Good, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Good)
  • Music + (Action = Best, Adventure = Good, RPG = Terrible, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Terrible, Casual = Best) + (Y Rating = Best, E Rating = Good, M Rating = Decent)
  • Mystery + (Action = Terrible, Adventure = Best, RPG = Best, Simulation = Decent, Strategy = Terrible, Casual = Decent) + (Y Rating = Decent, E Rating = Good, M Rating = Best)
  • Mythology + (Action = Best, Adventure = Decent, RPG = Good, Simulation = Good, Strategy = Decent, Casual = Terrible) + (Y Rating = Bad, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Best)
  • Ninja + (Action = Best, Adventure = Decent, RPG = Decent, Simulation = Terrible, Strategy = Decent, Casual = Good) + (Y Rating = Best, E Rating = Decent, M Rating = Decent)
  • Pirate + (Action = Decent, Adventure = Best, RPG = Good, Simulation = Good, Strategy = Bad, Casual = Decent) + (Y Rating = Best, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Decent)
  • Post Apocalyptic + (Action = Best, Adventure = Decent, RPG = Best, Simulation = Terrible, Strategy = Good, Casual = Terrible) + (Y Rating = Terrible, E Rating = Good, M Rating = Best)
  • Prison + (Action = Best, Adventure = Best, RPG = Decent, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Decent, Casual = Terrible) + (Y Rating = Bad, E Rating = Good, M Rating = Best)
  • Racing + (Action = Good, Adventure = Terrible, RPG = Decent, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Bad, Casual = Best) + (Y Rating = Best, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Good)
  • Rhythm + (Action = Best, Adventure = Bad, RPG = Bad, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Terrible, Casual = Best) + (Y Rating = Best, E Rating = Good, M Rating = Decent)
  • Romance + (Action = Terrible, Adventure = Best, RPG = Decent, Simulation = Good, Strategy = Terrible, Casual = Good) + (Y Rating = Decent, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Best)
  • School + (Action = Decent, Adventure = Best, RPG = Best, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Best, Casual = Decent) + (Y Rating = Best, E Rating = Good, M Rating = Bad)
  • Sci-Fi + (Action = Best, Adventure = Best, RPG = Best, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Best, Casual = Decent) + (Y Rating = Decent, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Best)
  • Space + (Action = Best, Adventure = Decent, RPG = Terrible, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Best, Casual = Bad) + (Y Rating = Decent, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Best)
  • Sports + (Action = Best, Adventure = Terrible, RPG = Terrible, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Bad, Casual = Best) + (Y Rating = Best, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Decent)
  • Spy + (Action = Best, Adventure = Best, RPG = Best, Simulation = Decent, Strategy = Bad, Casual = Decent) + (Y Rating = Decent, E Rating = Good, M Rating = Best)
  • Superheroes + (Action = Best, Adventure = Terrible, RPG = Good, Simulation = Terrible, Strategy = Terrible, Casual = Bad) + (Y Rating = Best, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Best)
  • Surgery + (Action = Decent, Adventure = Bad, RPG = Terrible, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Bad, Casual = Terrible) + (Y Rating = Decent, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Good)
  • Technology + (Action = Terrible, Adventure = Bad, RPG = Terrible, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Good, Casual = Terrible) + (Y Rating = Decent, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Good)
  • Thief + (Action = Good, Adventure = Decent, RPG = Best, Simulation = Good, Strategy = Terrible, Casual = Good) + (Y Rating = Bad, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Best)
  • Time Travel + (Action = Good, Adventure = Best, RPG = Best, Simulation = Bad, Strategy = Terrible, Casual = Bad) + (Y Rating = Good, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Decent)
  • Transport + (Action = Terrible, Adventure = Terrible, RPG = Terrible, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Best, Casual = Terrible) + (Y Rating = Good, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Bad)
  • UFO + (Action = Best, Adventure = Decent, RPG = Terrible, Simulation = Decent, Strategy = Best, Casual = Decent) + (Y Rating = Decent, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Good)
  • Vampire + (Action = Best, Adventure = Decent, RPG = Best, Simulation = Terrible, Strategy = Terrible, Casual = Bad) + (Y Rating = Bad, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Best)
  • Virtual Pet + (Action = Terrible, Adventure = Decent, RPG = Good, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Good, Casual = Best) + (Y Rating = Best, E Rating = Decent, M Rating = Bad)
  • Vocabulary + (Action = Terrible, Adventure = Terrible, RPG = Terrible, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Best, Casual = Best) + (Y Rating = Good, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Terrible)
  • Werewolf + (Action = Best, Adventure = Decent, RPG = Best, Simulation = Terrible, Strategy = Terrible, Casual = Bad) + (Y Rating = Bad, E Rating = Good, M Rating = Best)
  • Wildwest + (Action = Good, Adventure = Bad, RPG = Best, Simulation = Terrible, Strategy = Terrible, Casual = Bad) + (Y Rating = Bad, E Rating = Good, M Rating = Best)
  • Zombies + (Action = Best, Adventure = Bad, RPG = Good, Simulation = Terrible, Strategy = Good, Casual = Best) + (Y Rating = Good, E Rating = Decent, M Rating = Best)

If you follow the Game Dev Tycoon Guide given above and choose the Best Topic + Combination + Rating, you are very likely to have a good reception of the game and most likely great sales.

If you choose the Best Age Rating, your game has a high chance of having better sales. As far as I have seen, it does not affect the reception by critics that much.

In the world of Game Dev Tycoon, there’s something deeply fulfilling about unlocking achievements, representing a tangible testament to your strategic prowess in game development. Here is your guide on how to unlock every achievement in Game Dev Tycoon!

How to unlock achievements in Game Dev Tycoon

Good Judgement

This is unlocked when you create a game with a good theme/genre combination. Simply align a popular genre with a complementary theme i.e., Sci-Fi/Action, Medieval/RPG, etc.

Cult Status

Create a game that sets a new standard for the early gaming industry. Most players unlock this by starting with the PC and developing early on before the market evolves.

Engine Investment Achievements

This includes 100K Engine, 500K Engine, and 1M Engine. Invest over $100K, $500K and $1 million respectively in new game engine technology.

Game Sales Achievements

Achievements including Gold, Platinum, Diamond, and Unobtainium are awarded for selling 500K, 1M, 10M, and 100M copies of a game without the help of a publisher respectively.

Professional and Legend

Reach level 5 and level 10 with a character respectively.

Diversity

Hire both male and female staff members in your company.

Famous

Hire someone famous. This usually happens later in the game through a random event.

Full House

Have the maximum number of employees.

Game Dev Tycoon

Simply complete the game.

Perfect Game

To unlock this achievement, release a game with a clean score of 10.

Versatile

For this achievement, you need to release a successful game in each of the five main genres.

Writer’s Block

This achievement can be ticked off by simply not naming your game for a minute.

Supporter

This one is relatively easy, just buy the game and play it.

Easter Egg Achievements

I’ll delve into this in the next segment!

Detective

Find at least one of the easter eggs in the game.

Statistical Anomaly

Reach level 2 in pirate mode.

Against All Odds

Complete the game in pirate mode.

Please be minded that many achievements in Easter Egg categories rely on having specific posters in the office or having reached certain points in the game progression. Be aware of these requirements to be able to unlock these unique achievements!

In the next segment, I’ll discuss the easter egg achievements that are based on game naming, genre combinations, and certain unique conditions that must be met. The easter egg achievements can be fun, interesting, and add an additional layer of depth to the game. Stay tuned!

Continuing from the previous segment, let’s delve into the specifically named Easter Egg achievements in Game Dev Tycoon. These achievements are particularly interesting as they often require unique conditions to be met, including creating games with specific names or combinations.

Easter Egg Achievements

Treasure Hunter

Create a game with the name “Pong.” Only works in the garage.

Bluehair Reporting for Space Duty

Create a game with the name “Wing Commander.” Only works at the second building before renovation.

Welcome to Mars

Create a game with the name “Doom.” Only works at the second office before renovation.

Welcome to your Hospital

Create a game with the name “Theme Hospital.” Only works at the second office after renovation.

Best Ride to Work Ever

Create a game with the name “Half-Life.” Only works at the second office after renovation.

The Sky is not the Limit

Create a game with the name “Star Citizen.” Works after unlocking the R&D Lab.

Welcome Chief

Create a game with the name “Halo.” Works after unlocking the R&D Lab.

Painting with nature

Create a game with the name “Okami”, “Ōkami” or “大神”. Works after unlocking the R&D Lab.

Inception

Create a Game Dev/Simulation game with the name “Game Dev Tycoon.”

Admirer

Call your company “Greenheart Games.”

Writer’s Block

Don’t name your game for a minute.

Fan

Name your company after an existing game’s company. A wide range of options are recognized by the game including renowned names like “Valve,” “Nintendo,” “Epic Games,” and more. The condition for triggering the easter egg tends to be having the specific studio’s poster in your background.

Turn it up to 11

Create a game so good that a reviewer gives it an 11/10 rating. This tends to require a perfect storm of conditions like stellar team performance, great genre-theme combination with a top-quality engine, and more.

Though many of these achievements seem a bit outlandish, they add a layer of replayability to the game. Players can spend countless hours trying to get that perfect mix of conditions to unlock each achievement; it becomes something of a metagame within Game Dev Tycoon.

Multi-Genre Game Dev Tycoon Guide

If you want to make a Multi-Genre Game, make sure to have 2 Best Combinations in it. For example, a Vampire + Action + RPG game would have a really high chance of having a great reception, and a Zombie + Action + Adventure could end up being mediocre.

For prospective game tycoons navigating the intricate maze of multi-genre game development, understanding the value of each game component in relation to your chosen genres and development phases is critical. Here, we’ll delve into the optimal strategies for two popular genre combinations, Action + Adventure and Action + RPG, across all three game development phases.

Action + Adventure

Adventure and action games meld together to create engaging experiences filled with exciting challenges and storytelling intrigue. But to bring such a game to life in Game Dev Tycoon, developers must know where to focus their efforts in each phase of game creation.

Phase 1: Engine, Gameplay, Story & Quests

When initiating the development of an Action + Adventure game, highest attention should be paid to the engine. This lays the groundwork for the fun-filled action sequences and immersive exploration that gamers expect from this genre combination. Less emphasis is required for gameplay and story & quests – important, but their intricacies don’t define the success of these games.

Phase 2: Dialogues, Level Design, and AI

Transitioning to the second phase, dialogues take a step back, while level design and, more crucially, AI step into the spotlight. Implementing intelligent AI systems will drive the dynamic action and adventure synergies by creating immersive, responsive in-game components.

Phase 3: World Design, Graphics, and Sound

In the final phase, world design and sound don’t hold as much weight. However, graphics stand out as the prime focus, serving to visually illustrate the high-octane action and adventurous exploration with riveting, polished detail.

Action + RPG

In the realm of action and RPG games, the player’s experience is driven by adrenaline-fuelled excitement and the complex growth of characters and abilities. Here’s how the development focus shifts across different stages in the creation of an Action + RPG game.

Phase 1: Engine, Gameplay, Story & Quests

The engine and gameplay play a pivotal role at the beginning of an Action + RPG game development project. The intricate nature of a Character’s progress, intertwined with real-time, heart-pounding action, all hinge on these two elements. Meanwhile, the story & quests can afford to be on the lesser side of the focus in this phase.

Phase 2: Dialogues, Level Design, and AI

In the next phase, the attention sways towards AI and less so on dialogues and level design. The often complex and responsive enemy interactions in action RPGs require a heavy investment in AI development.

Phase 3: World Design, Graphics, and Sound

Lastly, when crafting the wrap-up elements of an Action + RPG game, graphics get the limelight, while world design and sound step back. An action-filled RPG demands precise, high-quality visuals to support intricate combat and illuminate the diverse game world.

Becoming a game development tycoon involves many moving parts. The art lies in understanding where to shine the spotlight at every phase of development according to your game’s genre. By wisely allocating your resources during each stage, you can shape new and fascinating multi-genre gaming experiences that engage, excite, and entertain.

Expanding on the detailed exploration of the Action + Adventure and Action + RPG genre combinations, let’s move into the nuances of other multi-genre blends as laid down in the insightful chart you’ve provided:

Strategy + Simulation

For the perfect blend of strategic depth and simulated realism, this genre combination demands a very specific focus during each development phase.

Phase 1: Engine, Gameplay, Story & Quests

In the initial phase, the primary focus should be on the engine and gameplay. It’s crucial to invest time into creating a solid engine that can handle both the strategic and simulation elements, while offering engaging gameplay mechanics. Meanwhile, the story and quests can take a backseat.

Phase 2: Dialogues, Level Design, and AI

The mid-development phase sees AI taking precedence, with level design following closely behind. Detailed AI can significantly improve strategic gameplay, while well-crafted levels add immersion to the simulation facets of the game.

Phase 3: World Design, Graphics, and Sound

As we wrap the development, the world design becomes of utmost importance, significantly impacting the sense of a living, breathing, and dynamic simulation. High-quality sound can also greatly enhance the realism and immersion, while graphics can be somewhat deprioritized in this genre combination.

Strategy + Action

When strategy meets action in the crucible of game development, unique and immersion-breaking games can emerge. Here’s the development focus for each phase:

Phase 1: Engine, Gameplay, Story & Quests

Engine optimization and gameplay infuse fluidity and responsiveness into the high-intensity moments of your game. The strategic depth comes in with the integration of multi-faceted and deeply engaging gameplay mechanics. Story and quests play a relatively minor role in these games.

Phase 2: Dialogues, Level Design, and AI

Emphasis is placed on AI in phase 2. An advanced AI can lead to intelligent enemy interactions, improving both the strategic and action components of the game. Dialogues and level design do not require as much attention in this phase.

Phase 3: World Design, Graphics, and Sound

In the final stretch, attention should be given to graphics and sound, creating a visually impressive and acoustically engaging gaming world where strategy and action collide.

Every multi-genre combination brings with it a unique set of demands and challenges, and honing the ability to delve into these and focus your efforts accordingly is a key strategy to achieving success in Game Dev Tycoon. Through understanding the diverse aspects of game development and how they interplay with each genre, developers can fine-tune their approach to each new project, resulting in games that win both critical acclaim and commercial success.

Casual + Adventure

Combining the light-hearted fun of casual games with the rich narratives of adventure genres, this blend aims to attract a wide array of gamers. Developers must weigh these elements properly across each phase to produce a captivating game:

Phase 1: Engine, Gameplay, Story & Quests

In the first phase, the story & quests component takes the lead as it sets the pace for an adventurous journey, while the engine and gameplay follow closely, ensuring a smooth and engaging player interface typical of casual games.

Phase 2: Dialogues, Level Design, and AI

For the second phase, dialogues and level design are of similar importance, creating immersive levels with engaging NPC interactions. AI can afford to be deprioritized, as it plays a lesser role in these genre combinations.

Phase 3: World Design, Graphics, and Sound

Finally, world design makes for the greatest impact in uniting the elements of both casual and adventure games. This alongside graphics, which visually portray the adventure, and sound, that adds to the charm of the casual gaming world.

Casual + RPG

Casual RPGs offer a relaxing gaming environment while also providing the depth and progress that RPG fans cherish. Here’s how you should focus during each development phase:

Phase 1: Engine, Gameplay, Story & Quests

Early focus should be placed on gameplay, ensuring the game remains exciting and accessible for the casual gaming audience. The engine, too, should be robust, balancing the intricate systems of RPG and simplicity of casual games. The story & quests section can be somewhat subdued, as they tend not to impact the appeal of a casual RPG.

Phase 2: Dialogues, Level Design, and AI

Moving into the second round, level design and AI are the areas to focus on. A well-crafted world and smart AI systems can significantly enhance the immersive role-playing experience suited for a casual atmosphere.

Phase 3: World Design, Graphics, and Sound

Tail-end development for a Casual RPG demands a high focus on world design to ensure a robust atmosphere and environment is created. Graphics and sound can play supportive roles, providing visual and auditory fidelity to the game world.

The key to successfully creating multi-genre games in Game Dev Tycoon lies in understanding these subtle shifts in priority. A balanced and appropriate resource allocation at each development stage can create games that retain the elements their target audience loves while breaking the mould to offer something refreshingly new to the gaming community.

 

Platform + Genre + Age Rating Game Dev Tycoon Guide

So basically, Platforms have an audience, and that audience is further divided into having different types of interests in Genres and different Ages, so if you target these properly, your sales will increase by a lot.

  • PC +(Action = Good, Adventure = Best, RPG = Good, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Best, Casual = Terrible) + (Y Rating = Decent, E Rating = Good, M Rating = Best)
  • G64 + (Action = Good, Adventure = Best, RPG = Good, Simulation = Good, Strategy = Best, Casual = Bad) + (Y Rating = Decent, E Rating = Good, M Rating = Best)
  • TES + (Action = Decent, Adventure = Bad, RPG = Decent, Simulation = Decent, Strategy = Bad, Casual = Best) + (Y Rating = Best, E Rating = Good, M Rating = Terrible)
  • Master V + (Action = Good, Adventure = Bad, RPG = Decent, Simulation = Decent, Strategy = Bad, Casual = Best) + (Y Rating = Good, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Bad)
  • Gameling + (Action = Decent, Adventure = Bad, RPG = Good, Simulation = Good, Strategy = Terrible, Casual = Best) + (Y Rating = Best, E Rating = Good, M Rating = Terrible)
  • Vena Gear + (Action = Good, Adventure = Decent, RPG = Decent, Simulation = Good, Strategy = Terrible, Casual = Best) + (Y Rating = Good, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Decent)
  • Vena Oasis + (Action = Best, Adventure = Decent, RPG = Decent, Simulation = Good, Strategy = Terrible, Casual = Bad) + (Y Rating = Decent, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Good)
  • Super TES + (Action = Good, Adventure = Good, RPG = Good, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Bad, Casual = Good) + (Y Rating = Best, E Rating = Good, M Rating = Terrible)
  • PlaySystem + (Action = Best, Adventure = Decent, RPG = Best, Simulation = Decent, Strategy = Bad, Casual = Terrible) + (Y Rating = Decent, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Good)
  • TES 64 + (Action = Good, Adventure = Decent, RPG = Bad, Simulation = Decent, Strategy = Bad, Casual = Good) + (Y Rating = Best, E Rating = Good, M Rating = Good)
  • Dreamvast + (Action = Best, Adventure = Bad, RPG = Decent, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Bad, Casual = Bad) + (Y Rating = Bad, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Best)
  • PlaySystem 2 + (Action = Best, Adventure = Decent, RPG = Best, Simulation = Good, Strategy = Bad, Casual = Good) + (Y Rating = Good, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Decent)
  • mBox + (Action = Best, Adventure = Decent, RPG = Good, Simulation = Good, Strategy = Bad, Casual = Bad) + (Y Rating = Decent, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Good)
  • Game Sphere + (Action = Decent, Adventure = Decent, RPG = Bad, Simulation = Decent, Strategy = Bad, Casual = Best) + (Y Rating = Good, E Rating = Good, M Rating = Decent)
  • GS + (Action = Decent, Adventure = Decent, RPG = Best, Simulation = Decent, Strategy = Decent, Casual = Best) + (Y Rating = Best, E Rating = Good, M Rating = Decent)
  • PPS + (Action = Best, Adventure = Bad, RPG = Best, Simulation = Decent, Strategy = Decent, Casual = Decent) + (Y Rating = Decent, E Rating = Good, M Rating = Best)
  • mBox 360 + (Action = Best, Adventure = Good, RPG = Best, Simulation = Good, Strategy = Bad, Casual = Good) + (Y Rating = Decent, E Rating = Good, M Rating = Best)
  • Nuu + (Action = Decent, Adventure = Terrible, RPG = Bad, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Bad, Casual = Best) + (Y Rating = Best, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Bad)
  • PlaySystem 3 + (Action = Best, Adventure = Decent, RPG = Decent, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Bad, Casual = Decent) + (Y Rating = Decent, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Good)
  • grPhone + (Action = Decent, Adventure = Decent, RPG = Bad, Simulation = Good, Strategy = Bad, Casual = Best) + (Y Rating = Good, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Terrible)
  • grPad + (Action = Decent, Adventure = Good, RPG = Bad, Simulation = Good, Strategy = Good, Casual = Best) + (Y Rating = Good, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Terrible)
  • mPad + (Action = Bad, Adventure = Good, RPG = Decent, Simulation = Good, Strategy = Bad, Casual = Good) + (Y Rating = Bad, E Rating = Good, M Rating = Decent)
  • Wuu + (Action = Good, Adventure = Bad, RPG = Decent, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Bad, Casual = Best) + (Y Rating = Good, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Bad)
  • OYA + (Action = Good, Adventure = Bad, RPG = Decent, Simulation = Good, Strategy = Decent, Casual = Best) + (Y Rating = Decent, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Good)
  • mBox One + (Action = Best, Adventure = Decent, RPG = Good, Simulation = Good, Strategy = Bad, Casual = Good) + (Y Rating = Bad, E Rating = Good, M Rating = Decent)
  • PlaySystem 4 + (Action = Best, Adventure = Decent, RPG = Best, Simulation = Good, Strategy = Bad, Casual = Good) + (Y Rating = Decent, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Good)
  • Swap + (Action = Good, Adventure = Good, RPG = Best, Simulation = Decent, Strategy = Bad, Casual = Best) + (Y Rating = Good, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Decent)
  • mBox Next + (Action = Good, Adventure = Good, RPG = Good, Simulation = Decent, Strategy = Bad, Casual = Best) + (Y Rating = Good, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Decent)
  • PlaySystem 5 + (Action = Best, Adventure = Bad, RPG = Good, Simulation = Best, Strategy = Bad, Casual = Good) + (Y Rating = Decent, E Rating = Best, M Rating = Good)

The Custom Consoles fit in this as well but it depends on the types of games you release for example it will be the best for RPG Games if all you have released in the past were mostly RPG Games and it’s the same case with Rating so I would suggest you to keep Genres balanced through your playthrough if you wanna end up creating a Console in the game

How To Create A Console in Game Dev Tycoon – Game Dev Tycoon Guide

To Create a Custom Console in Game Dev Tycoon you will have to unlock Hardware Lab and R&D Lab which means that you have to be in the 4th Upgraded Office with a lot of money to unlock these if you have a lot of money then simply Train anyone to be a Technolgy Specialist and research Custom Hardware in the R&D Lab in order to create a Console.

Creating a Console Requires a lot of money, and I would suggest you put all the latest features you unlock via research in it and have the maximum Quality Assurance because it will help you in the long term consoles won’t break easily, and you will have fewer customer complaints so you can just put less money into the Hardware Lab when the console has released.

Another thing you should know before creating a console is that if you create a game specifically for your console, only it slightly boosts the Console Sales as well, so you will have to make your games exclusive to capitalise completely in this department.

Game Dev Tycoon Guide – Sliders

These are the sliders for One Genre games. I’m going to explain more about Multi-Genre Sliders later.

Action Game Sliders

Game Dev Tycoon 2021 Guide Action Game Sliders 1

Game Dev Tycoon 2021 Guide Action Game Sliders 2Game Dev Tycoon 2021 Guide Action Game Sliders

Make sure to unselect all of the stuff in the parts where we got zero focus. For example, do not select any World Design features in an Action Game same goes for other genres where there’s zero focus on particular stuff.

Adventure Game Sliders – Game Dev Tycoon Guide

Adventure Game Sliders

Adventure Game Sliders 2

RPG Game Sliders – Game Dev Tycoon Guide

RPG Game Sliders 1

RPG Game Sliders 2

RPG Game Sliders 3

Simulation Game Sliders – Game Dev Tycoon Guide

Simulation Game Sliders 1

Simulation Game Sliders 2

Simulation Game Sliders 3

Strategy Game Sliders – Game Dev Tycoon Guide

Strategy Game Sliders 1

Strategy Game Sliders 2

Strategy Game Sliders 3

Casual Game Sliders – Game Dev Tycoon Guide

Casual Game Sliders 1

Casual Game Sliders 2

Casual Game Sliders 3

This is how results will usually look like if you follow my tips

Results Game Dev Tycoon 2021 Guide

Multi-Genre Sliders – Game Dev Tycoon Guide

So creating all of Multi-Genre would take a lot of time. For that reason, I will just be writing about it.
Basically, the first chosen Genre is the most important in Multi-Genre, and it will give you the ability to cram more features in so you can try to make it a bit more balanced.

 

If you find anything wrong with this Game Dev Tycoon Guide, please let us know in the comments below. I am gonna keep updating this guide as I find more things about the algorithm in this game and if you have any tips for this Game Dev Tycoon Guide, please leave that in the comments below as well.

If you have not bought Game Dev Tycoon yet, please consider buying it since it is one of the best Tycoon games of all time, and I really want a sequel for this

Links to buy Game Dev Tycoon

Android

iOS

Steam

Nintendo Switch

Thanks for reading this Game Dev Tycoon Guide. I will try my best to keep updating this Game Dev Tycoon Guide, and please check out more Guides by Gaming Route by clicking here.

About the author

Ankit Gaba

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