Welcome to our digital informative digest dedicated to game development and everything related to it. The following article will be useful for both developers and those who are just about to tie their future careers with game development and are just choosing the appropriate field of activity for themselves. We are going to talk about 2D and 3D games, the differences between 2d and 3d games, specifics of their development approach, and modern trends in the World games market. Let’s start with a brief look at the birth of video games in general and the history that stands behind the development of the first 2D and 3D games. Brief History of 2D and 3D Gaming It is probably hard for a modern gamer or game developer to imagine that once upon a time games were not created in game studios and did not require a huge team of developers. But the fact remains – the first video games appeared in the laboratories of scientists – simply for the sake of interest, during work on a dissertation or to demonstrate the capabilities of computing technology. For the next fifty years, the video games industry traveled a long and difficult path from the “cathode tube amusement device” that was created in 1947, inspired by radars, which didn’t have a processor and AI, to the virtual open worlds with realistic 3D graphics and hundreds of hours of gameplay. 2D Video Games History First-ever video games in the ’50s simulated real-world board games like table tennis. They had basic monochrome 2D graphics and were created on big mainframe computers. In 1958 Tennis for Two became the first 2D multiplayer game, and the first video game available to the public outside of the research institutes. The second half of the 60s was marked by several attempts to commercialize newborn entertainment. In 1968 Sega released an electro-mechanical shooting gallery gamePeriscope but the real breakthrough happened with the advent of Atari who producedthe first arcade 2D gameComputer Space in 1971 the Ponggame in 1972 which was a turning point in the history of the industry. Atari set global trends in 2D video games and many studios around the world have followed in their footsteps. During the next decade, many iconic 2D games were developed and released, like Pac-Man, Zork, Donkey Kong, Pole Position, Pitfall, Mario Bros., Dragon’s Lair, KingQuest, and Elite. The 80s were marked by numerous ups and downs in the video games industry, such as “the great crash” and the further spread of video game consoles which led to the dominance of Japanese developers on the World market. Unfortunately, the limitations of this paper do not allow us to cover this fascinating history of console 2D games evolution and growth in detail, but we will offer you a detailed story in our future articles. For now, let’s move on to the emergence of the first 3D video games and their role in the development of the industry. 3D Games History In November 1991, the USA developer Id Software created a video game that was called Catacomb 3-D. The game was released for the PC and became a real breakthrough and the first video game which was created with the help of 3D graphics. It used the software engine created by Chris Green in 1990. It allowed to imposition of various textures on each 3D object, turning identical models into visually different ones. Following Id Software In March 1992, Blue Sky Productions released its RPG, Ultima Underworlds: The Stygian Abyss, which also used textures. But the game that changed the industry and set the trend for the next decade was released a bit later and it was called Wolfenstein 3D. This First Person Shooter developed for computers by Id Software thanks to its 3D graphics, gave players new sensations and never-before gameplay immersion. After successful sales, Id Software did something previously considered unthinkable among game developers – they sold the engine Wolfenstein 3D, which was created for use by other companies. Previously, developers considered their technologies as key secrets to the success of their products. They created all the tools themselves, but the ability to buy ready-made 3D video game creation tools made the video game creation much easier. In their next project, DOOM, Id rewrote the engine code, which made it possible to create rooms of any height, curved walls, and various lighting effects such as light bulbs on the ceiling. Doom became a model for the development of numerous new first-person shooters, which, due to their 3D design, required the use of 3D graphics accelerators. They contained a separate graphics processing unit (GPU) designed to perform the calculations required to create 3D graphics. The massive interest in GPUs further accelerated the transition of video games to 3D. The first true 3D game engine was called XnGine and was released by Bethesda in 1995. It was used to create: Battlespire, Daggerfall, Redguard, NIRA: Intense Import Drag Racing, Terminator: Future Shock, Terminator: SkyNET, and X-Car. Initially, 3d video games were only available to personal computer owners. But in 1994 in Japan Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn were released and the gaming industry entered a new phase. It would seem that with the advent of 3D games, 2D games would be expected to lose popularity and succumb to the onslaught of 3D technologies. But it didn’t happen. One of the main reasons is that 2D and 3D games are different. The Main Difference Between 2D and 3D Games First, let’s define what 2D and 3D games exactly are. What is a 2D Video Game? 2D stands for “two-dimensional” in video games. In detail, these can be described as typical “flat” perspective games with “two-axis movement” in which you can move up, down, right, and left. They don’t have a three-dimensional geometry and use sprites, tiles, or vector art, to represent the game world and the characters. 2D games usually have relatively simple gameplay mechanics, as they don’t have a lot of movement opportunities both for the game character and the camera. In addition, the 2D game controls are usually comparatively simple. This can be explained by the fact that since your character lacks full three-dimensional movement options, he or she has fewer options for movement and interaction with various in-game objects. Therefore, controlling your character or camera in any 2D game makes it much easier than in even the most primitive 3D dimension. As an example, in a typical 2D platformer game, tilting the joystick to the right or left moves your character’s camera to the direction they are currently facing. The camera used in the 2D games is also quite simplistic. It usually faces the gameplay from the side perspective and doesn’t have the potential of a 3D game camera view. Nowadays some 2D games often use an effect called “parallax” that moves the background out of the foreground at different rates creating the depth effect. If we summarize the above in one word, it’s “simplicity.” The explanation for this simplification is obvious. Early video games were incredibly primitive, and when it came to the choice of visual design for projects, 3D was not yet an option. Even though video game consoles and computers became more and more sophisticated over time, 2D graphics dominated the industry until the mid-1990s. What is a 3D Video Game? Unlike 2D games, 3D video games make use of three-dimensional geometry. The environment characters and objects in 3D games are made by rendering textures on their surface to make them look solid. In other words, 3D modeling in terms of computer graphics is the process of developing a mathematical representation of any three-dimensional surface of an object using specialized software. The modeling product is called a 3D model. The camera in 3D video games is no longer static. While creating a 3D gamedevelopers render every scene using perspective, so objects appear larger on screen as they get closer to the camera. With the advent of accelerated 3D graphics, video games were able to move far beyond the classic sprite-based 2D graphics technology to deliver much more realistic visuals than their predecessors. While some early projects used perspective projection to present a 3D view from a fixed (and therefore somewhat less hardware-intensive) perspective with limited movement, nowadays the possibilities of 3D video game graphics are almost borderless and are limited only by funds, team size, and technical facilities used for the product development. Summarizing all the above, the main difference between 2D and 3D games is that the image for a 2D game is formed in two dimensions and has only two variables – latitude and altitude. In turn, 3D art has an additional key dimension – depth. With its help, the image becomes three-dimensional. 3D graphics allows the players to estimate the size of an object, and the distance to it, thanks to the fact that human vision perceives perspective. In 2D video games, however, the player needs to use imagination to estimate which in-game object is closer or farther away, at what angle, and from what perspective. Both 3D and 2D games have their pros and cons. Let’s take a quick look at some of them. 2D & 3D Games Pros & Cons 3D video games are far more visually impressive, they offer a better immersion in the gameplay and also provide the developer with many additional features to implement in their product. At the same time, 3D game creation is much more labor-intensive, it requires much more attention to 3D engine physics and game object behavior, as well as considerably more device capacity for proper tools crucial for 3D game creation and post-processing. Large studios that usually create 3D video games require additional efforts to coordinate actions between departments, choose a game engine (Unity or Unreal for example), and many other issues that could make the process of creating a full-fledged 3D game quite difficult for a novice developer. On the other hand, 2D video games allow developers to focus on details such as immersive and rich storylines and game lore with addictive gameplay without spending much effort on working with 3D physics and models. Many 2D indie games for consoles, PCs, and mobile devices are created by small teams of developers in a fairly short time, and they are gaining popularity due to their atmosphere and unique details and design. Opting for 2D allows one to implement a small creative project with significantly less effort and resources. But no matter your choice between 2D or 3D, game development will still require a certain amount of effort and skills. Let’s take a look at what exactly the making of both 2D and 3D games includes. The Difference Between 2D and 3D Games Development & Design The main differences between 2D and 3D video game development are determined by the fact that the process of creating a 3D game includes more development stages and, accordingly, requires a wider range of involved specialists. We will not delve into a detailed description of the game product development cycle and only point out the main issues that must be considered during the creation of a 3D game. Since making a 3D video game is a complex process, it requires a vast amount of time and funds. Data organization, design tools, rendering – all this is much more complicated than in a 2D game. While creating a 3D environment, one should move step by step carefully, especially regarding a physics engine. One mistake can lead to various bugs and glitches that can make your character get stuck in textures or even disappear without a trace. To avoid such issues, while working in a 3D environment, developers must constantly and precisely coordinate actions to match all scenes, animations, lighting, and physics. In turn, to create a 2D video game, developers only need to fill a flat palette with a background and draw sprites. It sounds like a mere trifle, but the journey to the desired result for a 2D artist requires a lot of time and certain skills. Everything from geometry and environment to lighting, and angle has to be imagined and gradually conveyed in a single drawing. In addition, certain 2D games nowadays use 3D geometry for environments and characters but still restrict the gameplay to two dimensions. The camera in such video games offers a side view, and the character moves only in two dimensions, but the game itself still exploits 3D models and camera perspectives. In such isometric titles, the 3D effect serves not functional purposes but rather stylistic ones. Another popular 2D video game design style is called parallax. Artists use 2D graphics and sprites, but from the perspective of the camera to get the scrolling parallax effect. As a result, the gameplay looks like a “cardboard theater” scene where all art is flattened but located at different distances from the camera. To sum up, the main difference between 2D and 3D video game development is the amount of specialists involved in the process. And, consequently, the time expenses, organizational and funding costs. Speaking of funding. 2D vs 3D Games: Cost Of Developing The development expenses in 2D and 3D game creation differ significantly. 2D video game development is generally much cheaper compared to 3D. Mainly that is because 2D games require simple assets, such as sprites or pixel art, which are quicker and more cost-effective to create. In contrast, 3D games demand a wide team of different specialists each of which is responsible for its fields such as 3D modeling, texturing, and animation. Which is both time-consuming and resource-intensive. The need to purchase various specialized software and hire several narrow-focused specialists further contributes to considerably higher development budgets for 3D video game creation. Let’s take a quick look at the approximate prices for the outsourced 2D and 3D game development. 2D game art costs can vary from $1,000 for a simple 2D game to $10,000 for a more complex one. 3D game art outsourcing prices may change from $5,000 for simple 3D games to $50,000 for the complex. This approximate cost of game art outsourcing can greatly vary and depends on many factors such as the video game’s desired art style, complexity, number of different assets (characters models animations, environments, props, UI, etc.), technical specifications (including the chosen game engine), time, etc. 3D and 2D Modern Game Trends So, what will it be? 2D or 3D? Let’s step back from the details and the costs of video game development and take a look at the current trends in the gaming industry. In the late 90s and early 2000s, 2D games were considered almost extinct. Major video game titles moved over to 3D. 3D video games dominated both on consoles and personal computers and it seemed like the 2D era was over. But soon, 2D games made a massive comeback. The main reasons for the resurgence and further prosperity of 2D games are as follows. The rise of mobile gaming.Mobile devices made video games convenient and common for everyone. Casual and hyper-casual mobile 2D games are easy and quick to download, competitive, fun, and perfect for catching up on a spare minute. Their mechanics and rules are simplified to reach a vast audience. 2D mobile game developers took the best from the game design history and made it easy and accessible for all demographics worldwide. Indie games market development.A large number of the most successful 2D titles in the video games market is a credit to the small indie game studios. Due to the lower level of complexity, it takes a smaller amount of time and money to create 2D games. Instead, developers can focus on experimenting with different storylines and art styles, creating unique and exciting products. Nostalgia and artistic freedom of 2D video games2D video games often evoke a sense of nostalgia, appealing to adult gamers’ memories of classic titles. They also offer greater artistic freedom for the developers, allowing them to create unique game design art and aesthetics. Due to the large market size and the diversity of audiences, 2D video games have firmly occupied their niche and will always be on top of global game trends. Increasing budgets for major 3D game titles made by AAA studios and growing technical progress do not harm 2D games, but on the contrary, encourage developers to look for innovative ideas and approaches to their implementation. We will conclude this article by saying that it’s essential to align the choice between 2D vs 3D games with pursued goals and target audiences. Both 2D & 3D offer tons of unique opportunities, and the decision should reflect your experience and the resources available for the creation of your product.
Welcome to our digital informative digest dedicated to game development and everything related to it. The following article will be useful for both developers and those who are just about to tie their future careers with game development and are just choosing the appropriate field of activity for themselves. We are going to talk about 2D and 3D games, the differences between 2d and 3d games, specifics of their development approach, and modern trends in the World games market. Let’s start with a brief look at the birth of video games in general and the history that stands behind the development of the first 2D and 3D games. Brief History of 2D and 3D Gaming It is probably hard for a modern gamer or game developer to imagine that once upon a time games were not created in game studios and did not require a huge team of developers. But the fact remains – the first video games appeared in the laboratories of scientists – simply for the sake of interest, during work on a dissertation or to demonstrate the capabilities of computing technology. For the next fifty years, the video games industry traveled a long and difficult path from the “cathode tube amusement device” that was created in 1947, inspired by radars, which didn’t have a processor and AI, to the virtual open worlds with realistic 3D graphics and hundreds of hours of gameplay. 2D Video Games History First-ever video games in the ’50s simulated real-world board games like table tennis. They had basic monochrome 2D graphics and were created on big mainframe computers. In 1958 Tennis for Two became the first 2D multiplayer game, and the first video game available to the public outside of the research institutes. The second half of the 60s was marked by several attempts to commercialize newborn entertainment. In 1968 Sega released an electro-mechanical shooting gallery gamePeriscope but the real breakthrough happened with the advent of Atari who producedthe first arcade 2D gameComputer Space in 1971 the Ponggame in 1972 which was a turning point in the history of the industry. Atari set global trends in 2D video games and many studios around the world have followed in their footsteps. During the next decade, many iconic 2D games were developed and released, like Pac-Man, Zork, Donkey Kong, Pole Position, Pitfall, Mario Bros., Dragon’s Lair, KingQuest, and Elite. The 80s were marked by numerous ups and downs in the video games industry, such as “the great crash” and the further spread of video game consoles which led to the dominance of Japanese developers on the World market. Unfortunately, the limitations of this paper do not allow us to cover this fascinating history of console 2D games evolution and growth in detail, but we will offer you a detailed story in our future articles. For now, let’s move on to the emergence of the first 3D video games and their role in the development of the industry. 3D Games History In November 1991, the USA developer Id Software created a video game that was called Catacomb 3-D. The game was released for the PC and became a real breakthrough and the first video game which was created with the help of 3D graphics. It used the software engine created by Chris Green in 1990. It allowed to imposition of various textures on each 3D object, turning identical models into visually different ones. Following Id Software In March 1992, Blue Sky Productions released its RPG, Ultima Underworlds: The Stygian Abyss, which also used textures. But the game that changed the industry and set the trend for the next decade was released a bit later and it was called Wolfenstein 3D. This First Person Shooter developed for computers by Id Software thanks to its 3D graphics, gave players new sensations and never-before gameplay immersion. After successful sales, Id Software did something previously considered unthinkable among game developers – they sold the engine Wolfenstein 3D, which was created for use by other companies. Previously, developers considered their technologies as key secrets to the success of their products. They created all the tools themselves, but the ability to buy ready-made 3D video game creation tools made the video game creation much easier. In their next project, DOOM, Id rewrote the engine code, which made it possible to create rooms of any height, curved walls, and various lighting effects such as light bulbs on the ceiling. Doom became a model for the development of numerous new first-person shooters, which, due to their 3D design, required the use of 3D graphics accelerators. They contained a separate graphics processing unit (GPU) designed to perform the calculations required to create 3D graphics. The massive interest in GPUs further accelerated the transition of video games to 3D. The first true 3D game engine was called XnGine and was released by Bethesda in 1995. It was used to create: Battlespire, Daggerfall, Redguard, NIRA: Intense Import Drag Racing, Terminator: Future Shock, Terminator: SkyNET, and X-Car. Initially, 3d video games were only available to personal computer owners. But in 1994 in Japan Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn were released and the gaming industry entered a new phase. It would seem that with the advent of 3D games, 2D games would be expected to lose popularity and succumb to the onslaught of 3D technologies. But it didn’t happen. One of the main reasons is that 2D and 3D games are different. The Main Difference Between 2D and 3D Games First, let’s define what 2D and 3D games exactly are. What is a 2D Video Game? 2D stands for “two-dimensional” in video games. In detail, these can be described as typical “flat” perspective games with “two-axis movement” in which you can move up, down, right, and left. They don’t have a three-dimensional geometry and use sprites, tiles, or vector art, to represent the game world and the characters. 2D games usually have relatively simple gameplay mechanics, as they don’t have a lot of movement opportunities both for the game character and the camera. In addition, the 2D game controls are usually comparatively simple. This can be explained by the fact that since your character lacks full three-dimensional movement options, he or she has fewer options for movement and interaction with various in-game objects. Therefore, controlling your character or camera in any 2D game makes it much easier than in even the most primitive 3D dimension. As an example, in a typical 2D platformer game, tilting the joystick to the right or left moves your character’s camera to the direction they are currently facing. The camera used in the 2D games is also quite simplistic. It usually faces the gameplay from the side perspective and doesn’t have the potential of a 3D game camera view. Nowadays some 2D games often use an effect called “parallax” that moves the background out of the foreground at different rates creating the depth effect. If we summarize the above in one word, it’s “simplicity.” The explanation for this simplification is obvious. Early video games were incredibly primitive, and when it came to the choice of visual design for projects, 3D was not yet an option. Even though video game consoles and computers became more and more sophisticated over time, 2D graphics dominated the industry until the mid-1990s. What is a 3D Video Game? Unlike 2D games, 3D video games make use of three-dimensional geometry. The environment characters and objects in 3D games are made by rendering textures on their surface to make them look solid. In other words, 3D modeling in terms of computer graphics is the process of developing a mathematical representation of any three-dimensional surface of an object using specialized software. The modeling product is called a 3D model. The camera in 3D video games is no longer static. While creating a 3D gamedevelopers render every scene using perspective, so objects appear larger on screen as they get closer to the camera. With the advent of accelerated 3D graphics, video games were able to move far beyond the classic sprite-based 2D graphics technology to deliver much more realistic visuals than their predecessors. While some early projects used perspective projection to present a 3D view from a fixed (and therefore somewhat less hardware-intensive) perspective with limited movement, nowadays the possibilities of 3D video game graphics are almost borderless and are limited only by funds, team size, and technical facilities used for the product development. Summarizing all the above, the main difference between 2D and 3D games is that the image for a 2D game is formed in two dimensions and has only two variables – latitude and altitude. In turn, 3D art has an additional key dimension – depth. With its help, the image becomes three-dimensional. 3D graphics allows the players to estimate the size of an object, and the distance to it, thanks to the fact that human vision perceives perspective. In 2D video games, however, the player needs to use imagination to estimate which in-game object is closer or farther away, at what angle, and from what perspective. Both 3D and 2D games have their pros and cons. Let’s take a quick look at some of them. 2D & 3D Games Pros & Cons 3D video games are far more visually impressive, they offer a better immersion in the gameplay and also provide the developer with many additional features to implement in their product. At the same time, 3D game creation is much more labor-intensive, it requires much more attention to 3D engine physics and game object behavior, as well as considerably more device capacity for proper tools crucial for 3D game creation and post-processing. Large studios that usually create 3D video games require additional efforts to coordinate actions between departments, choose a game engine (Unity or Unreal for example), and many other issues that could make the process of creating a full-fledged 3D game quite difficult for a novice developer. On the other hand, 2D video games allow developers to focus on details such as immersive and rich storylines and game lore with addictive gameplay without spending much effort on working with 3D physics and models. Many 2D indie games for consoles, PCs, and mobile devices are created by small teams of developers in a fairly short time, and they are gaining popularity due to their atmosphere and unique details and design. Opting for 2D allows one to implement a small creative project with significantly less effort and resources. But no matter your choice between 2D or 3D, game development will still require a certain amount of effort and skills. Let’s take a look at what exactly the making of both 2D and 3D games includes. The Difference Between 2D and 3D Games Development & Design The main differences between 2D and 3D video game development are determined by the fact that the process of creating a 3D game includes more development stages and, accordingly, requires a wider range of involved specialists. We will not delve into a detailed description of the game product development cycle and only point out the main issues that must be considered during the creation of a 3D game. Since making a 3D video game is a complex process, it requires a vast amount of time and funds. Data organization, design tools, rendering – all this is much more complicated than in a 2D game. While creating a 3D environment, one should move step by step carefully, especially regarding a physics engine. One mistake can lead to various bugs and glitches that can make your character get stuck in textures or even disappear without a trace. To avoid such issues, while working in a 3D environment, developers must constantly and precisely coordinate actions to match all scenes, animations, lighting, and physics. In turn, to create a 2D video game, developers only need to fill a flat palette with a background and draw sprites. It sounds like a mere trifle, but the journey to the desired result for a 2D artist requires a lot of time and certain skills. Everything from geometry and environment to lighting, and angle has to be imagined and gradually conveyed in a single drawing. In addition, certain 2D games nowadays use 3D geometry for environments and characters but still restrict the gameplay to two dimensions. The camera in such video games offers a side view, and the character moves only in two dimensions, but the game itself still exploits 3D models and camera perspectives. In such isometric titles, the 3D effect serves not functional purposes but rather stylistic ones. Another popular 2D video game design style is called parallax. Artists use 2D graphics and sprites, but from the perspective of the camera to get the scrolling parallax effect. As a result, the gameplay looks like a “cardboard theater” scene where all art is flattened but located at different distances from the camera. To sum up, the main difference between 2D and 3D video game development is the amount of specialists involved in the process. And, consequently, the time expenses, organizational and funding costs. Speaking of funding. 2D vs 3D Games: Cost Of Developing The development expenses in 2D and 3D game creation differ significantly. 2D video game development is generally much cheaper compared to 3D. Mainly that is because 2D games require simple assets, such as sprites or pixel art, which are quicker and more cost-effective to create. In contrast, 3D games demand a wide team of different specialists each of which is responsible for its fields such as 3D modeling, texturing, and animation. Which is both time-consuming and resource-intensive. The need to purchase various specialized software and hire several narrow-focused specialists further contributes to considerably higher development budgets for 3D video game creation. Let’s take a quick look at the approximate prices for the outsourced 2D and 3D game development. 2D game art costs can vary from $1,000 for a simple 2D game to $10,000 for a more complex one. 3D game art outsourcing prices may change from $5,000 for simple 3D games to $50,000 for the complex. This approximate cost of game art outsourcing can greatly vary and depends on many factors such as the video game’s desired art style, complexity, number of different assets (characters models animations, environments, props, UI, etc.), technical specifications (including the chosen game engine), time, etc. 3D and 2D Modern Game Trends So, what will it be? 2D or 3D? Let’s step back from the details and the costs of video game development and take a look at the current trends in the gaming industry. In the late 90s and early 2000s, 2D games were considered almost extinct. Major video game titles moved over to 3D. 3D video games dominated both on consoles and personal computers and it seemed like the 2D era was over. But soon, 2D games made a massive comeback. The main reasons for the resurgence and further prosperity of 2D games are as follows. The rise of mobile gaming.Mobile devices made video games convenient and common for everyone. Casual and hyper-casual mobile 2D games are easy and quick to download, competitive, fun, and perfect for catching up on a spare minute. Their mechanics and rules are simplified to reach a vast audience. 2D mobile game developers took the best from the game design history and made it easy and accessible for all demographics worldwide. Indie games market development.A large number of the most successful 2D titles in the video games market is a credit to the small indie game studios. Due to the lower level of complexity, it takes a smaller amount of time and money to create 2D games. Instead, developers can focus on experimenting with different storylines and art styles, creating unique and exciting products. Nostalgia and artistic freedom of 2D video games2D video games often evoke a sense of nostalgia, appealing to adult gamers’ memories of classic titles. They also offer greater artistic freedom for the developers, allowing them to create unique game design art and aesthetics. Due to the large market size and the diversity of audiences, 2D video games have firmly occupied their niche and will always be on top of global game trends. Increasing budgets for major 3D game titles made by AAA studios and growing technical progress do not harm 2D games, but on the contrary, encourage developers to look for innovative ideas and approaches to their implementation. We will conclude this article by saying that it’s essential to align the choice between 2D vs 3D games with pursued goals and target audiences. Both 2D & 3D offer tons of unique opportunities, and the decision should reflect your experience and the resources available for the creation of your product.
Not to delve into the details, to make a 2D game you need to follow the next general steps: Find the perfect 2D game engine for your project. Choose your 2D game genre. Choose your 2D art style. Make or choose your 2D game assets. Bring it all together and start experimenting.
Creating even a simple 3D game by one person can be a challenging task. It’s achievable with the right tools, skills, resources, and dedication. The difficulty will depend on your experience with game development, programming and design skills, and the complexity of the game you want to create.
The best-selling video game of all time is the 2D timeless classic known as Tetris. There were sold about 520 million copies of Tetris on various platforms at the moment.
Duke Nukem 3D was not a true 3D game. It had a 2D map. There were elevators, but they led to a different part of the map. You could never be at the same coordinates but on a higher or lower plane.
