What level of detail should a game design document have before prototyping?

[Kyle19]

I’m trying to get my head around the concept of a **game design document** for my first small project, but I keep getting stuck on how detailed it should actually be before I start prototyping. I have a solid one-page outline for the core loop and mechanics, but I see some people writing these massive, multi-chapter specs and others saying to just start building.

[Thomas99]

I started with a one page outline and realized you don’t need a giant GDD before prototyping. I kept a small living doc with the core loop, the player goals, rough win/lose conditions, and a few UI sketches. It guided the build but never locked me in.

[Daniel_L]

I tried writing a massive spec and kept staring at it; nothing got built. I finally cut to a single mechanic and built a tiny vertical slice over a weekend.

[Savannah_S]

Is the real issue the document or the fear of committing to something? I wonder if what needs prototyping is the risk, not the spec.

[JoshuaPT]

I did quick field tests with sticky notes and a timer, focusing on feedback loops and the core feel. I tracked how long it took to implement each piece and the bounce in early testers.