In an ambitious 30-day experiment, the author, a seasoned game journalist and narrative designer, embarks on a journey to create a game using Godot, an open-source game engine that has gained traction due to its efficiency and accessibility. The project, titled 'The Last Lamplighter', is a clicker game with a narrative twist, where the player must keep a wounded soldier's heart beating by clicking. The author's goal is to explore whether Godot, with its small size and open-source nature, can compete with the complex and powerful engines used by AAA studios. The experiment reveals the challenges of game development, from the initial tutorial abyss to the intricate mathematics of clicker games and the need for a centralized controller. Despite the messiness and small mistakes, the author finds that Godot makes the process more approachable, lowering the barrier to entry for solo developers. The final product, a 20-minute game, is a testament to the author's growth as a developer and the engine's potential to empower independent creators.
