What Makes a High-Performing Game Development Team? 3 Essential Traits to Seek in Your Team

Seven Samurai - Akira Kurosawa - 1954

Hello everyone,

I realized that I’ve been rather quiet here on LinkedIn, I’ve decided it’s time to share some insights I’ve gathered at Game Changr. Our experience with studios, publishers, and investors has given us a unique perspective on game development and effective team collaboration.

One question that consistently comes up from clients during our workshops is this: Can we guarantee the success of a game?

The short answer: No. (Thanks, Raphaël, for the groundbreaking wisdom!)

But the longer, more nuanced answer is this: While there are no guarantees, I’ve observed several key traits in high-performing teams that significantly increase their chances of success. Here are the three that stand out:

1. The Importance of Team Players

High-performing teams embrace the T-shaped professional model. In simple terms, a T-shaped professional is someone with deep expertise in a specific area (the vertical part of the “T”) who can also collaborate effectively across other disciplines (the horizontal part of the “T”).

In game development, this means that a highly skilled developer not only excels in their technical role but also contributes meaningfully to areas like game design, storytelling, and even marketing. This versatility fosters synergy within the team, allowing challenges to be tackled from multiple perspectives, leading to more innovative solutions. Such teams are agile, adaptable, and better equipped to navigate complex development journeys.

In contrast, I-shaped individuals are highly specialized in their field but often struggle to empathize with other team members or understand their unique challenges. This leads to siloed thinking, slower decision-making, and missed opportunities for innovation.

“In a world of increasing complexity, the best teams are made up of people who can see beyond their own expertise and contribute to solving problems from multiple angles.” - Tim Brown, CEO of IDEO

2. Clarity of the Creative Vision

One of the most crucial elements of a successful team is the ability to maintain a clear and unified vision throughout the development process. Every successful game has a creative vision that acts as a compass, guiding the team from concept to completion. High-performing teams are crystal clear on why they’re building their game and what makes it unique.

This clarity isn’t something that happens in a single meeting. It requires ongoing effort — through team workshops, regular vision alignment, and revisiting objectives as the project evolves. When everyone is aligned with the game’s core vision, it ensures that the player experience remains front and center.

In my experience, when a project lacks this clarity, it often leads to delays or, worse, a lackluster final product. Successful teams are those who make alignment a continuous priority, not a one-time activity.

“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people to gather wood or assign tasks; instead, teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.” - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, writer, poet, journalist and aviator

3. Value of Player Feedback

Successful game development requires a deep understanding of the player. High-performing teams actively seek player feedback throughout the entire development process — from the initial concept phase, not just when the game is close to launch. This feedback can come through informal conversations, structured playtesting, or more in-depth research.

It’s not enough to simply ask if the game is enjoyable; it’s about digging deeper to understand what motivates players, what keeps them engaged, and what drives their emotional connection to the game. This insight allows teams to create games that not only meet but exceed expectations.

By stepping into the shoes of their players, high-performing teams are able to design experiences that resonate on a much deeper level.

“The audience tells you what they want. If you just listen, they’ll show you. - Steven Spielberg, Filmmaker

Conclusion

There may not be a perfect formula for game development success, but there are patterns that high-performing teams consistently follow. The teams that excel are the ones that embrace T-shaped collaboration, have a clear and shared creative vision, and show a genuine commitment to player feedback.

At Game Changr, we’ve witnessed firsthand how these principles can transform both individual game projects and entire portfolios. If you’re a studio, a publisher, or an investor seeking to elevate your games or portfolio, feel free to reach out and continue the conversation.