Custom Game Engine

A custom game engine enables the use of new features, which in turn can help improve a game's review score. Selecting the right features for a good game combination is essential to reaching good score. This guide should help you plan your future game engines.

Custom game engine can be researched from the start of the game for 50 RP.

Custom Engines — Game Engine Creation Window

Feature overview[]

Some features are mutually exclusive. The tables below list the "group" for certain features. A game can only contain one feature from a given group. For example, refer to the Story/Quests table. You can choose Linear Story or Branching Story, but not both. However, you can add cutscenes to whichever story option you choose since it's a different group.

Therefore, when developing a new engine, you may wish to only select the best feature from each group.

Also 2D and 3D Graphics features have hidden stat - Tech level which is used to calculate amount of Tech and Design points of game and Technical expertise for game score. Tech level of the game is calculated as average of Tech levels of all 2D and 3D Graphics features in Custom Engine and Tech level of used Platform. So in order to get best Tech level of game you need to put only single Graphics feature that has highest Tech level.

Some Features are researchable after reaching certain Level of different Feature or Mission. New Level is reached by making new game. See more information about Level and Experiences at Experience page.

Some expensive features are not cost-effective. For example, Cooperative Play costs more than Skill Trees and Character Progression combined but gives less benefit.

DRM (Pirate Mode Only)[]

Name	Research cost	Benefit	Cost for incorporating in final engine	Cost for adding during game development	Researchable after
Copy Protection V1	15 RP 40K	-	30K	10K	Custom Game Engine
Copy Protection V2	40 RP 120K	-	50K	30K	Copy Protection V1 Level 3
Copy Protection V3	80 RP 240K	-	100K	60K	Copy Protection V2 Level 3
Copy Protection V4	100 RP 400K	-	140K	100K	Copy Protection V3 Level 3
Copy Protection V5	150 RP 600K	-	180K	150K	Copy Protection V4 Level 3
Copy Protection V6	250 RP 1.2M	-	350K	300K	Copy Protection V5 Level 3

Graphics[]

Name	Research cost	Benefit	Cost for incorporating in final engine	Cost for adding during game development	Researchable after
Text based		1	None	5K	Start with it
2D Graphics V1		2	None	10K	Start with it
2D Graphics V2		4	50K	Small:30K Medium:60K Large:90K AAA:180K	Already researched
2D Graphics V3	80 RP 240K	6	100K	Small:60K Medium:120K Large:180K AAA:360K	2D Graphics V2 Level 3
2D Graphics V4	100 RP 400K	8	140K	Small:100K Medium:200K Large:300K AAA:600K	2D Graphics V3 Level 3
2D Graphics V5	150 RP 600K	10	180K	Small:150K Medium:300K Large:450K AAA:900K	2D Graphics V4 Level 3
3D Graphics V1	15 RP 40K	2	30K	Small:10K Medium:20K Large:30K AAA:60K	2D Graphics V2 Level 3
3D Graphics V2	40 RP 120K	4	50K	Small:30K Medium:60K Large:90K AAA:180K	3D Graphics V1 Level 4
3D Graphics V3	80 RP 240K	6	100K	Small:60K Medium:120K Large:180K AAA:360K	3D Graphics V2 Level 3
3D Graphics V4	100 RP 400K	8	140K	Small:100K Medium:200K Large:300K AAA:600K	3D Graphics V3 Level 3
3D Graphics V5	150 RP 600K	10	180K	Small:150K Medium:300K Large:450K AAA:900K	3D Graphics V4 Level 3
3D Graphics V6	250 RP 1.2M	12	350K	Small: 300K Medium: 600K Large: 900K AAA: 1.8M	3D Graphics V5 Level 4 R&D Lab
3D Graphics V7	300 RP 1.6M	14	500K	Small: 400K Medium: 800K Large: 1.2M AAA: 2.4M	3D Graphics V6 Level 4 R&D Lab
Advanced Stereoscopic 3D	40 RP 120K	4	50K	Small:30K Medium:60K Large:90K AAA:180K	Graphics Level 7

All graphic features are mutually exclusive, except for Advanced Stereoscopic 3D.

Sound[]

Name	Group	Research cost	Benefit	Cost for incorporating in final engine	Cost for adding during game development	Researchable after
Basic sound	Sound		1	None	5K	Start with it
Mono sound	Sound	15 RP 40K	2	30K	Small:10K Medium:20K Large:30K AAA:60K	Sound Level 2
Stereo sound	Sound	40RP 120K	4	50K	Small:30K Medium:60K Large:90K AAA:180K	Sound Level 4
Soundtrack	Soundtrack	40RP 120K	4	50K	Small:30K Medium:60K Large:90K AAA:180K	Sound Level 5
Surround sound	Sound	80RP 240K	6	100K	Small:60K Medium:120K Large:180K AAA:360K	Sound Level 6
Orchestral soundtrack	Soundtrack	100 RP 400K	8	140K	Small:100K Medium:200K Large:300K AAA:600K	Sound Level 7

Soundtrack is not currently available in the mobile version of the game (orchestral soundtrack is in the mobile version though)

Story/Quests[]

Name	Group	Research cost	Benefit	Cost for incorporating in final engine	Cost for adding during game development	Researchable after
Linear story	Story		2	30K	Small:10K Medium:20K Large:30K AAA:60K	Already researched
Simple cutscenes	Cut Scenes	15 RP 40K	2	30K	Small:10K Medium:20K Large:30K AAA:60K	Story Level 3
Branching story	Story	40 RP 120K	4	50K	Small:30K Medium:60K Large:90K AAA:180K	Story Level 4
Advanced cutscenes	Cut Scenes	40 RP 120K	4	50K	Small:30K Medium:60K Large:90K AAA:180K	Story Level 5
Full motion video		80 RP 240K	6	100K	Small:60K Medium:120K Large:180K AAA:360K	Story Level 6
Interactive story	Story	80 RP 240K	6	100K	Small:60K Medium:120K Large:180K AAA:360K	Story Level 7
Moral choices		80 RP 240K	6	100K	Small:60K Medium:120K Large:180K AAA:360K	Story Level 7
Immersive story telling	Story	100 RP 400K	8	140K	Small:100K Medium:200K Large:300K AAA:600K	Story Level 8
Reactive Quests		150 RP 600K	10	180K	Small:150K Medium:300K Large:450K AAA:900K	Story Level 9

Engine[]

Name	Group	Research cost	Benefit	Cost for incorporating in final engine	Cost for adding during game development	Researchable after
Save game			1	10K	Small:5K Medium:10K Large:15K AAA:30K	Already researched
Multiplayer	Multiplayer	15 RP 40K	2	30K	Small:10K Medium:20K Large:30K AAA:60K	Engine Level 4
Video Playback		40 RP 120K	4	50K	Small:30K Medium:60K Large:90K AAA:180K	Engine Level 5
Basic Physics		40 RP 120K	4	50K	Small:30K Medium:60K Large:90K AAA:180K	Engine Level 6
Mod support		15 RP 40K	2	30K	Small:10K Medium:20K Large:30K AAA:60K	Engine Level 6
Online play	Multiplayer	80 RP 240K	6	100K	Small:60K Medium:120K Large:180K AAA:360K	Engine Level 7
Advanced Physics		100 RP 400K	8	140K	Small:100K Medium:200K Large:300K AAA:600K	Engine Level 9
Save to cloud		15 RP 40K	2	30K	Small:10K Medium:20K Large:30K AAA:60K	Engine Level 6 , Year = 14
MMO Support		150 RP 600K	10	180K	Small:150K Medium:300K Large:450K AAA:900K	Researched MMO, Internet Opportunities in R&D Lab
Software Development Kit		100 RP	without benefit	100K		Researched License Game Engines in R&D Lab
Multi-Platform Optimization		100 RP	Decreases Cost Of Multi-Platform Games	2M		Multi-Platform, Made at least 2(?) Multi-Platform games

Gameplay[]

Name	Research cost	Benefit	Cost for incorporating in final engine	Cost for adding during game development	Researchable after
Game tutorials	15 RP 40K	2	30K	Small:10K Medium:20K Large:30K AAA:60K	Gameplay Level 2
Better user experience	15 RP 40K	2	30K	Small:10K Medium:20K Large:30K AAA:60K	Gameplay Level 3
Achievements	15 RP 40K	2	30K	Small:10K Medium:20K Large:30K AAA:60K	Gameplay Level 6 , Year = 14
Character progression	40 RP 120K	4	50K	Small:30K Medium:60K Large:90K AAA:180K	GameplayLevel 4
Skill trees	80 RP 240K	6	100K	Small:60K Medium:120K Large:180K AAA:360K	Gameplay Level 7
Cooperative Play	100 RP 400K	8	140K	Small:100K Medium:200K Large:300K AAA:600K	GameplayLevel 8
Virtual Reality Headset	150 RP 600K	10	180K	Small:150K Medium:300K Large:450K AAA:900K	After VR Headset releases

Dialogue[]

Name	Group	Research cost	Benefit	Cost for incorporating in final engine	Cost for adding during game development	Researchable after
Better dialogue		10 RP 20K	1	10K	Small:5K Medium:10K Large:15K AAA:30K	Dialogue Level 3
Dialogue tree		40 RP 120K	4	50K	Small:30K Medium:60K Large:90K AAA:180K	Dialogue Level 4
Voice over	Voice acting	80 RP 240K	6	100K	Small:60K Medium:120K Large:180K AAA:360K	Dialogue Level 6
Simple body language	Body language	80 RP 240K	6	100K	Small:60K Medium:120K Large:180K AAA:360K	Dialogue Level 6
Advanced body language	Body language	100 RP 400K	8	140K	Small:100K Medium:200K Large:300K AAA:600K	Dialogue Level 7
Celebrity voice acting	Voice acting	80 RP 240K	6	100K	Small:60K Medium:120K Large:180K AAA:360K	Dialogue Level 8
Realistic body language	Body language	150 RP 600K	10	180K	Small:150K Medium:300K Large:450K AAA:900K	Dialogue Level 9

Level Design[]

Name	Research cost	Benefit	Cost for incorporating in final engine	Cost for adding during game development	Researchable after
Level editor	10 RP 20K	1	10K	Small:5K Medium:10K Large:15K AAA:30K	Level Design Level 3
Easter eggs	15 RP 40K	2	30K	Small:10K Medium:20K Large:30K AAA:60K	Level Design Level 5
Mini games	40 RP 120K	4	50K	Small:30K Medium:60K Large:90K AAA:180K	Level Design Level 6
Dynamic Environment	80 RP 240K	6	100K	Small:60K Medium:120K Large:180K AAA:360K	Level Design Level 7
No loading screens	100 RP 400K	8	140K	Small:100K Medium:200K Large:300K AAA:600K	Level Design Level 8

World Design[]

Name	Research cost	Benefit	Cost for incorporating in final engine	Cost for adding during game development	Researchable after
Open world	15 RP 40K	2	30K	Small:10K Medium:20K Large:30K AAA:60K	World Design Level 3
Day & night cycle	15 RP 40K	2	30K	Small:10K Medium:20K Large:30K AAA:60K	World Design Level 4
Rich backstory*	15 RP 40K	2	30K	Small:10K Medium:20K Large:30K AAA:60K	World Design Level 5
Virtual economy	40 RP 120K	4	50K	Small:30K Medium:60K Large:90K AAA:180K	World Design Level 6
Realistic weather	80 RP 240K	6	100K	Small:60K Medium:120K Large:180K AAA:360K	World Design Level 7
Dynamic World	100 RP 400K	8	140K	Small:100K Medium:200K Large:300K AAA:600K	World Design Level 8

* Rich backstory can be included in a game directly after researching. It does not have to be included into the game engine first.

Artificial Intelligence[]

Name	Research cost	Benefit	Cost for incorporating in final engine	Cost for adding during game development	Researchable after
Better A.I.	40 RP 120K	4	50K	Small:30K Medium:60K Large:90K AAA:180K	A.I. Level 4
A.I. Companions	40 RP 120K	4	50K	Small:30K Medium:60K Large:90K AAA:180K	A.I. Level 5
Self-learning A.I.	150 RP 600K	10	180K	Small:150K Medium:300K Large:450K AAA:900K	A.I. Level 9

It is perfectly viable to add features that normally would not make sense for the platform you aim for (such as 3D graphics for devices that aren't 3D capable). With this in mind, you should aim to put in as many features as you can.

There is a limit on how many benefit-points actually contribute to game quality. When you see a %-display on an area it means you have included more benefit in this area than necessary. The only downside when including more benefit than necessary is the money spent on unnecessary features.

The maximum amount of points depends on the game size and on the allocated time for the area. A table can be found on the Success Guide.

Trivia[]

In the early versions of Game Dev Tycoon you had to research peripheral support, such as Mouse and Steering Wheel, and add these to your engine in order to make games that supported peripherals. This is no longer the case as all peripherals (except for VR) are now considered supported automatically when you develop for a platform that supports these peripherals.