Do not research "Graphics" first. Ever.
A common pitfall is releasing the same genre-topic combination back-to-back. The in-game fans crave variety; releasing "Fantasy RPG 2" immediately after "Fantasy RPG 1" will almost always result in lower scores due to "sequel fatigue." Always rotate your genres or platforms to keep your studio’s output fresh.
As soon as you can afford it, buy licenses for new consoles (e.g., G64, Master V). Game Dev Tycoon 1.7.6 Guide
If your engine is too old, your game scores will drop drastically, regardless of the quality of the game.
During development, you will face three successive stages, each featuring three sliders. Increasing one slider automatically drains focus from the others. Use these exact percentage presets to maximize your Design and Tech output per genre: Action & Strategy (Tech-Centric) Stage 1: Engine (100%) | Gameplay (80%) | Story/Quests (0%) Stage 2: Dialogues (0%) | Level Design (80%) | AI (100%) Stage 3: World Design (30%) | Graphics (100%) | Sound (80%) Adventure (Design-Centric) Stage 1: Engine (0%) | Gameplay (80%) | Story/Quests (100%) Stage 2: Dialogues (100%) | Level Design (80%) | AI (0%) Stage 3: World Design (100%) | Graphics (80%) | Sound (30%) RPG (Design-Centric, Balanced Tech) Do not research "Graphics" first
Crucial. Do not just use the default engine. Create new engines with the latest tech (e.g., 3D Graphics V2, Better Sound, Online Features) to get higher scores.
| Office Level | Requirements | |---|---| | Garage (Start) | – | | First Office | 1 Million in earnings | | Office Upgrade | Year 11, Month 6, Week 2; 2 employees; 5 Million | | Next Office | Year 13, Month 9, Week 2; 4 employees; 16 Million | | R&D Lab | Design Specialist on staff | | Hardware Lab | Technology Specialist (after R&D Lab) | The in-game fans crave variety; releasing "Fantasy RPG
A successful game needs a strong synergy between Genre, Topic, Audience, and Gaming System. When selecting a platform, look for the “+++” or “++” indicators under the gaming system—these represent the best possible combinations. Strong beginner combinations include Action with Science Fiction, Adventure with Fantasy, and Simulation with Aliens. Take an extra moment at the end of development to let your team squash lingering bugs—fewer bugs mean higher review scores.