Foundations of Game Engine Development

Not sure if this is the right fit?

Consider The Art of Game Design by Jesse Schell. Recommended by 3 sources.

“Jesse Schell reframes game design around listening—paying attention to players, teammates, and contexts—rather than code or engine mechanics. The book supplies practical, craft-minded advice, short heuristics, and many real-world examples aimed at improving how you generate and test play ideas. Its strongest contribution is shifting how teams observe and interpret player behavior during prototyping. Annoyances: repeated examples and broad, attitude-focused guidance that won't satisfy readers seeking step-by-step production pipelines or deep technical instruction. Best read selectively around active design work.”