Beyond Backups: How Git Helps You Make Better Games

Save Your Game (Literally): The Core Value of Git

Git works like a typical save system in any video game. Each time you 'save' (or 'commit' in Git terms), you create a checkpoint for your entire project. Don't like the latest balance? Maybe broke something critical? No problem, just reload your last known good state.

Whether you use GitHub (my personal preference), GitLab, Bitbucket, or another service, the core principle is the same: keep a remote copy of your project history, safe from local disasters.

Getting Started: Your First Private Repository

Most platforms like GitHub offer free private repositories. Here's how to initialize Git in your project through just a few terminal commands:

cd where-ever-your-project-directory-is
git init
git add .
git commit -m "Initial commit: Setting up the project"

That's it. Do this regularly (ideally multiple times a day), and you're already safer. Connect it to a remote repository on GitHub for offsite backup.

Experiment Freely with Branching

If you're the kind of person that saves before deciding whether or not to destroy Megaton in Fallout 3, you already understand the value of branching with Git. Want to test a completely new mechanic, drastically change enemy behavior, or refactor a core system without risking your stable main project? Create a branch:

# Create a new branch to experiment named 'try-new-enemy-spawn-rate'
git checkout -b try-new-enemy-spawn-rate

# ... make your changes, test things out ...

# Happy with it? Merge back into the main branch
git checkout main
git merge try-new-enemy-spawn-rate

# Not happy? Just switch back and delete the branch
git checkout main
git branch -D try-new-enemy-spawn-rate

Each branch is a parallel universe for your code. Make radical changes, test things out, and if it works, merge it back into your main project. If it doesn't pan out, simply discard the branch. I use this constantly for my rhythm shooter prototype where adding new weapon types or tweaking enemy spawn logic becomes zero-risk exploration.

Working Together: Collaboration Made Easier

While I won't go deep into this in this post since it's highly team dependent and is covered to death by other resources, it's important to note that Git provides a foundation for managing multiple people working on the same codebase. It helps prevent stepping on each other's toes and provides mechanisms to review and integrate changes cleanly. Time you spend learning Git will help you be a better teammate if you find yourself working with others.

More Than Insurance: The Unexpected Benefits

Basic backup and fearless experimentation are valuable core features, but Git also offers more subtle, yet powerful, advantages once you get comfortable with it.

Self-Reflection Through Commits

Git commit messages act as a micro-journal for your projects. Ending a session with a commit like "feat: Implement basic samurai enemy parry logic" or "fix: Correct bullet collision detection" provides a moment of closure and reflection. Looking back at the commit history gives a clear log of what you've worked on and how the project evolved.

Debugging with Time Travel

Games are complex systems. Tweaking one thing can unexpectedly break something else. If you commit frequently, Git lets you see exactly what files changed between commits. You can even revert to older versions of the project to pinpoint precisely when a bug appeared instead of manually tracing it back over the last couple days of changes.

Project Management Through Issue Boards

Platforms like GitHub integrate project management tools directly with your repository. Create issues (tasks, bug reports, feature ideas), organize them on Kanban-style boards, and link them to specific code changes. It's a digital whiteboard for your TODO list that keeps everything organized and helps you track progress as your game grows.

Checkpointing Your Game Through Releases

Git 'releases' (or 'tags') let you formally mark significant points in your project's history. It's a way to celebrate progress and provides stable checkpoints you can always return to, distinct from the day-to-day commit history.

Please Start Using Version Control If You Aren't Already

Version control is fundamental to any slightly complex game project. It provides the essential safety net to protect your hard work, unlocks the creative freedom to experiment without fear, and offers powerful tools to streamline your workflow, debugging, and project management — all for free.

Take the few minutes to initialize Git in your project today. Commit often, explore branching, and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing your progress is safe and that you can always go back to a checkpoint.