Is it important for the idea to be unique?

General
1

Hi, so recently i realized my game idea isn’t as unique as i though, and comparing it to other games, both AAA and indie, i feel it’s just worse version of them

so i wanted to ask, should i care about this? or should i trust that execution will make the game unique? what should i do?

2

Ensure they dont shadow your idea and you build something with better features, if you dont it will likely not be bought very much.

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3

It’s not mandatory for the idea to be unique at all, but unique game mechanics,art etc can make it better.

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4

i mean, i have very niche idea of a puzzle game, tho i fear it might be similar to some other games, tho maybe that’s just on idea level?

5

Just make it.There are already other games with the same idea doesn’t mean they own it.You can make the graphics better, sound better and many more!

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6

so just trust the execution will be better?

7

What do you expect as result (beyond making the game)?

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8

probably making community, maybe earn some money from selling game, gain knowledge, but most importantly - make something fun for others

9

I am sure there will be some players even if there are better games, if you can live with a small community you should definitively give it a try!

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10

so i’ll try then, thx for help

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11

I would say it’s more important to not be derivative than it is to be unique (i.e. the difference between being a typical FPS, as opposed to being “like” Call of Duty)

I think how you present your project is important, if you present your game as being “like Call of Duty” it will be judged more based on how it compares and how derivative it seems than if you just make a game that’s mechanically like Call of Duty and doesn’t say it is, as long as it’s not a very clear ripoff

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12

By being original you set the game apart, and offer something that other games don’t. Conversely, if your game is just a watered-down derivative of other games, your game will never be more succesful than they.

That said, it’s a marketing question too - developing novel ideas is time-consuming and risky, compared to just using tried-and-true mechanics. That’s why most large games just sprinkle in a bit of originality, and differentiate themselves with things like story and presentation (which are cheap and safe).

So, you don’t have to be original to be succesful - most new games rely heavily on pre-established genres. But on the other hand, originality can turn a small, simple game (say, Minecraft) into a world-wide hit.

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13

Ideas are never unique. You can rest assured that 99.9% of the time you share that idea with multiple persons, probably unknowingly.

Ideas are a dime a dozen, and pretty worthless.

As others have said, what matters is your execution of said idea, and the rest of the factors influencing success of a shipped game : quality, fun, marketing and community.

Cheers ! Keep on executing then ideas !

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