Game templates are everywhere. You can download an entire project with menus, gameplay, characters, and user interface (UI) in a matter of clicks, ready for customization and publication. Sounds like a dream, right?
At first glance, game templates seem like a cheap and quick way to launch a game. At Melior Games, however, we are aware that what appears to be a simple solution frequently becomes a costly trap.
Here’s why we recommend building even the simplest MVP from scratch — and why it saves you time, money, and effort in the end.
🎁 The Appeal of Game Templates
There’s no denying the initial benefits of using templates:
- Lower initial costs
- Faster setup
- Plug-and-play features
Templates could appear to be perfect for experiments or prototyping. However, the more you delve, the more issues you’ll run into.
⚠️ Hidden Costs of Templates
🔒 Limited Flexibility
The majority of templates are designed to perform a single task in a specific manner. You’ll run across a roadblock as soon as you try to make changes:
- Add new features
- Change the core gameplay loop
- Change the UI behavior
Tweaking someone else’s code can take longer than writing your own.
🧱 Poor Scalability
Templates aren’t made to expand. They frequently lack the framework required for:
- Expansions for multiplayer
- Updates in real time
- Complex systems such as customization, monetization, or progression
Painful rework is typically the outcome of attempting to scale on top of a strict template.
🧩 Design limitations
Want to create a unique visual identity? Good luck. Changing several templates without destroying their intricately linked graphics and user experience can be difficult.
💡 Our approach: Smart design from the ground up
At Melior Games, even when we create an MVP, we build it from scratch. Why?
Because every game has the potential to grow, we design our codebase, art, and systems with that in mind. A well-structured MVP is easy to:
- Expand with new features
- Reskin or redesign
- Optimize and update
What seems like “more expensive” development at first quickly becomes cheaper than constantly patching and reworking a broken foundation.
✅ When templates can still work
To be fair, templates can be useful for:
- Learning and experimentation
- Game stalls and rapid prototyping
- One-off internal tools or test environments
However, we strongly advise starting from scratch for anything that is intended to be developed or put to market.
🛠️ Let’s build it right — from day one
At Melior Games, we assist our customers in avoiding the mistakes that impede their future progress. We will give your game a clear, flexible framework that will guide long-term development, starting with an MVP.
👉 Contact us today and let’s build something powerful from scratch — no shortcuts.
