Game designers and indie developers
Brainstorming a new game idea during pre-production
Use cases
About
The Game mind map template from Xmind is a comprehensive 188-node framework used by game designers, students, and indie developers to structure game concepts across six core domains: Genre, Design, Concept, Creative and expressive play, Game World, and Character Development. It covers 8 primary genres including Action, RPG, and Strategy, with specific examples like 'Spiderman, Mario Bros, Assassin Creed' for Action and 'Final Fantasy, Persona' for RPG. The Design branch details basic elements such as Aesthetics, Mechanics, Technology, and Story, while the Concept section guides choosing genre based on market, designer, art, or technology drivers. Creative and expressive play explores self-defining avatars, constrained vs. freeform play, and game modification through level editors and bots. This Game cheat sheet also addresses game world dimensions (Physical, Temporal, Environmental) and character development goals for memorability, making it a complete game design template for pre-production planning.
Terms and ConditionsWhen to use this template
Game design students and project leads
Structuring a game design document for a team pitch
Game researchers and educators
Analyzing existing games to understand genre conventions
How to use this template
Step 1
Open and Review the Framework
Download the .xmind file and open it to explore the six core domains including Genre, Design, and Game World.
Step 2
Customize Nodes and Game Concepts
Select any node to edit the text or rearrange the branches using drag-and-drop to align with your specific game design.
Step 3
Refine Details and Export Results
Add new child nodes for specific mechanics or characters and export your final map as a PDF or image to share with your team.
Frequently asked questions
The template includes 188 nodes across 6 main branches: Genre, Design, Concept, Creative and expressive play, Game World, and Character Development, with detailed subcategories and examples.
Open the .xmind file in Xmind, then explore each branch to brainstorm genre, define mechanics, outline story, and plan character development. Customize nodes to fit your specific game project.
Yes, the template is fully editable in Xmind desktop or web. You can add, remove, or rearrange nodes, and export as PDF or image for printing.
Use the Nature and Visual appearances nodes to define your character's mental vs. physical traits, reality vs. fantasy, and complexity, then plan audio design with SFX, music, and voice.
Absolutely. The Concept branch includes 'Type of game machine' with Mobile as an option, and the Genre section covers popular mobile genres like Puzzle and Strategy.
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