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I have tried to make games in the past, but have been too ambitious and now have no clue what to do next and feel very burnt out.
I have tried:
- SDL2 with C/C++, but I didn't like how its DeltaTime worked or the amount of external libraries you had to install
- Raylib with C,C++,Rust,etc, but I didn't like how the projects were set up or compiled
- Creating my own console-based renderer, but that went nowhere
- SFML2/3 with C/C++, but I didn't like how hard it was to remember how to do things
- LibGDX, but I couldn't figure out how to set it up (I just didn't like Java as a whole)
- OpenGL, but I couldn't figure out anything
- Macroquad and Bevy, but I just didn't really like rust either
- HTML5 and JS, but I also couldn't figure out how to use canvases
- Roblox, but I preferred making 2D games
- Engines like Unity and Godot, but I just couldn't really figure them out.
- Recently Löve2D, but I couldn't set up a correct environment for it, and I wasn't a fan of lua
The reason I have felt burnt out is because of what I believe is called 'Shiny Object Syndrome', where I know too little about lots of different things and not enough about one. If someone could point me in the right direction that would be great. Thanks
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2\$\begingroup\$ I'm voting to close this as we don't give advice on what technology to use since it's too opinion based. That being said pick a language you like and find the biggest gamedev library for that language and just go with that, don't nit pick. If you are looking for a career in game development and not just as a hobby I would first start with C# with Unity (easy to learn) then into OpenTK (harder to learn but gives you low-level knowledge) then transition into C++ with Unreal Engine (good job opportunities) with some SDL2 on the side (low-level knowledge, C++ version). \$\endgroup\$Charanor– Charanor2025年08月29日 13:04:20 +00:00Commented Aug 29 at 13:04
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2\$\begingroup\$ There is "one weird trick" to avoid this analysis paralysis as a beginner: let go of the notion that the choices you make early on need to be "right". You don't need an ideal tech stack to learn to make games. The hard truth is that your first several projects will be bad anyway. What's important is just using something, anything, even if you dislike it, long enough to learn something from it. You might jump to another tech stack for your next attempt, and a lot of what you learned will carry over. When you can't figure something out, ask that here and we can help! \$\endgroup\$DMGregory– DMGregory ♦2025年08月29日 14:50:04 +00:00Commented Aug 29 at 14:50
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\$\begingroup\$ Pick one thing and stick with it. Don't give up the first time you get stuck. It's probably best to start with an engine with more features, such as Unity, Unreal, or Godot. Try taking classes. \$\endgroup\$Kevin– Kevin2025年08月29日 17:45:55 +00:00Commented Aug 29 at 17:45
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1\$\begingroup\$ "The reason I have felt burnt out is because of what I believe is called 'Shiny Object Syndrome', where I know too little about lots of different things and not enough about one" -- You got the cause of your issue exactly right. Please follow the advice from user "Kevin" above, which makes great sense. \$\endgroup\$Job_September_2020– Job_September_20202025年08月29日 20:31:46 +00:00Commented Aug 29 at 20:31
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