Game Idea Generator: Random Video Game Ideas

Pick a genre and a setting, or let the generator surprise you, and get a one-sentence game pitch with a core mechanic, a goal and a twist. Lock the parts you like and reroll the rest until you can picture the first ten seconds of play.

Step 1 of 2: Genre

How to use it

  1. Choose a genre, or leave it on Surprise me, and press Next.
  2. Choose a setting, or leave it on Surprise me, and press Generate idea.
  3. Press the arrow next to any part to reroll just that part, or the lock to keep it.
  4. Press Shuffle idea to reroll every unlocked part at once.
  5. Press Copy idea to save the pitch, or Copy Ziva prompt to start a prototype.

Example game ideas

A puzzle game set in a haunted lighthouse. You flip gravity to escape before the timer runs out, but you can't jump.

A stealth game set in a museum after closing time. You possess objects to find out who stole the crown, but you can't see your own character.

A roguelike set in a leaking submarine. You swap places with enemies to stop the flood, but every death rearranges the map.

Turn a random idea into a game you can finish

Test the idea the cheapest way first: one level, placeholder shapes, a way to win and a way to lose. If the game is still fun without the twist, the twist is decoration. If it stops being fun, the twist is the game.

Once the prototype works, write it down in a one-page game design document so the idea stays small. The game design document generator turns the pitch into that page.

Frequently asked questions

How does the game idea generator work?
It picks one genre, setting, core mechanic, goal and twist from hand-written lists and joins them into a one-sentence pitch. Reroll any part on its own, or lock the parts you like and shuffle the rest.
Is the game idea generator free?
Yes. It runs in your browser with no account and no AI calls, so you can shuffle as many ideas as you want.
How many game ideas can it make?
Over 20 million combinations. Most are odd on purpose: a strange pairing of mechanic and twist is often where a small, memorable game starts.
Can I use it for a game jam?
Yes. Lock the part that best matches the jam theme and shuffle the others until the idea fits the time you have.

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