7 must-read books for game developers

It’s easy to get into a rut when you’re working on a game project. While the technical aspect of game development is the foundation, other pursuits like art, business, marketing, and more can all add a lot to your project, and to you as an individual. Here are some books I strongly recommend to make you a bit more well-balanced.

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

While everyone is familiar with Sun-tzu’s classic Art of War, this short read by author Steven Pressfield is fantastic. Geared toward writers and artists, it applies equally well to any profession or calling, and the daily obstacles that you must surmount. The key insight is that you never overcome the “resistance,” and in the few short hours it will take you to get through this book, you’ll be convinced and prepared for the battle at hand.

Save the Cat! by Blake Snyder

Scriptwriters have been talking about this one for the better part of a decade, and the late Blake Snyder does a masterful job in breaking down the scriptwriting process, and for understanding movies with his famous “beat sheet.” At the very least, you’ll walk away with a better understanding of film, and perhaps have some ideas for structuring the story of your game if it needs one. Before you point out the vast difference between games and movies, give this a read and see if it doesn’t open your eyes to a few things.

Icarus Deception by Seth Godin

Seth Godin is one of my favorite authors. His writing is simple, straightforward, and packed with big ideas. He is a marketer and entrepreneur by trade, and really does a great job in his other books of explaining how to approach marketing. If you are grossed out by the idea of marketing, I highly recommend Purple Cow or All Marketers are Storytellers. Icarus Deception is his 2013 work and deals with the idea that staying in our comfort zone and expecting to be company employees for the duration of our lives is an outdated and dangerous notion. This is particularly applicable to those of us in the games industry.

Personal MBA by Josh Kaufman

This book promises to provide you with the toolkit and mental models that you would otherwise have to rack up tons of debt for in business school. It touches on all aspects of business, and is definitely a great starting point for thinking about the business side of anything, including games. If you’re thinking about trading months of your life or making games your main source of income, I strongly recommend reading this book to make sure your plan seems viable. Kaufman’s other book, The First 20 Hours is also an interesting read for anyone learning new things—like programming.

Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook by Gary Vaynerchuk