Game Dev Tycoon 1.8.6 Guide
XII. Psychological and Narrative Aspects — Crafting a Studio Identity
Many aspiring tycoons fail due to easily avoidable mistakes. Be sure to steer clear of these common missteps:
: Spend your first Research Points (RP) on New Topics and the Custom Game Engine .
: Train specialized staff. Designate one employee as your Tech Specialist and another as your Design Specialist.
To consistently score in Game Dev Tycoon version 1.8.6, you must prioritize surpassing your previous game's Tech and Design points while maintaining a balanced development strategy. The core loop involves matching the right Topic with the correct Genre, optimizing your development sliders for that specific Genre, and continuously training your staff between projects. Essential Strategy Checklist game dev tycoon 1.8.6 guide
Crafting a 9+ scoring game is an art, but it follows clear rules.
Many guides tell you to create a new engine every two games. The "Engine Debt" mechanic is active.
Medium games require you to assign specific staff members to different development phases.
The Ultimate Game Dev Tycoon 1.8.6 Guide: Master the Studio Simulation : Train specialized staff
Create your own console to stop paying royalty fees to other companies.
Once you move into your first proper office, you'll need to build a team.
: Self-publishing Medium games early on will bankrupt you due to high marketing costs. Take publisher contracts that offer 10%+ royalty rates until you reach 100,000 fans .
Matching the right topic with the right genre is the foundation of a high-scoring game. Here are some of the most reliable "Great" combinations for version 1.8.6: Top-Tier Topics (+++) Aliens, Cyberpunk, Dungeon, Fantasy, Sci-Fi Adventure Comedy, Detective, Fantasy, Mystery, Spy, Time Travel RPG Dungeon, Fantasy, Medieval, Sci-Fi, Vampire Simulation Business, City, Game Dev, Life, Management, Sports Strategy Colony, Dungeon, Fantasy, Government, Sci-Fi, War Casual Dance, Fashion, Music, Sports, Virtual Pet Optimizing Your Development Sliders The core loop involves matching the right Topic
As soon as you move into your first office, it's tempting to hire a full team immediately, but this can lead to bankruptcy just as quickly. Instead, start by hiring a single employee to support you. You should then train them to become a specialist, either fully in Design or fully in Tech, to maximize their output. For long-term success, aim for a final team composition of two pure Design specialists, two pure Tech specialists, and two balanced employees, which will cover all your bases perfectly.
I can provide specific milestone targets or staff training schedules based on your current setup. Share public link
Your progress is tied directly to a timeline of research and unlocks.
: Match the genre to the right development focus (e.g., Action needs high Engine/Graphics; RPGs need high Story/Quests).
Sports (Great), Airplane (Great), Hospital (Great), Game Dev (Great).