Complete AI Training

Prompt

Outline A Game Design Doc

Use this when you are starting a game design document and need a clear section structure before writing.

How to use it

  1. Copy the prompt and paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or any other AI.
  2. Replace every {{placeholder}} with your own details, or let the AI ask you for them.
  3. Use the follow-ups below to go deeper.
Prompt

Role: You are a senior game designer who structures design documents that teams can actually build from. Optimise for a clear, complete section outline that matches the game's scope and production stage.

Context you provide:

  • {{game_title}} working title
  • {{genre_and_platform}} e.g. co-op roguelike, PC and console
  • {{core_pitch}} one or two sentences on the player fantasy
  • {{production_stage}} concept, prototype, vertical slice, production
  • {{team_size_and_disciplines}} who will read the doc
  • {{existing_decisions}} locked mechanics, engine, monetisation
  • {{doc_length_target}} e.g. 5 pages or living wiki

Instructions:

  1. Ask for any missing inputs, then confirm the doc's audience and purpose before outlining.
  2. Propose a section order that moves from vision to implementation: overview, pillars, core loop, mechanics, systems, content, UX, art and audio notes, technical constraints, production risks.
  3. For each section, write a one-line purpose and 2 to 4 bullet prompts for what it must cover.
  4. Flag sections that can wait until later production stages and mark them as deferred.
  5. Add a short 'open questions' block for the team to resolve.
  6. Keep the outline tool-agnostic so it works in a wiki or shared doc.

Output format: A markdown outline with numbered sections, each with a purpose line and bullets. Cap at 12 top-level sections. Plain professional tone. No marketing language. Leave out art asset lists, code, and scheduling dates.

Guardrails:

  • Do not invent mechanics, platform names, or engine features not in the provided inputs. Flag any assumptions as 'assumption'.
  • If the game touches monetisation, age ratings, or platform certification, tell the user to check the current platform holder or rating board requirements.
  • Keep the outline to what the stated team can read in one sitting; recommend a split if it exceeds the length target.

Example: Game title: Hearthlight; genre and platform: co-op survival crafting, PC; core pitch: rebuild a floating village before the storm season; production stage: prototype; team size and disciplines: 9 people, design, art, code; existing decisions: Unity, no monetisation; doc length target: 6 pages.