What I Learned from Cloning Classic Games

One of the best ways to learn game development — especially early on — is by cloning games that already exist. You’re free from worrying about the “what” and can focus entirely on the “how” and “why”.

For me, recreating classics like Asteroids and Tetris wasn’t just a nostalgic exercise, it was a deliberate way to improve my skills in system design, game feel, and technical implementation while reminding myself why these simple games have stood the test of time.

Project 1: Asteroids — Controlled Chaos

My Asteroids clone was the first of these experiments. Built in Unity using C++, my aim was to capture the fluidity and unpredictability of the original arcade experience.

What surprised me most was how much feel mattered. The mechanics could be technically correct, but if the ship didn’t handle just right — if the acceleration, friction, or drift felt off — the whole experience fell flat. It was an early lesson in how important it is to tune numbers until the game feels right, not just until it works.

Project 2: Tetris — Systems in Simplicity

After Asteroids, I tackled a Tetris clone. This project was all about structure and logic — creating and rotating Tetrominoes on a tile-based board, handling collisions and row clearing, and maintaining the feel of a fast, reactive puzzle loop.

Here, I learned the value of building reliable, reusable systems. Every action in Tetris is clear and predictable, and yet the game constantly challenges the player. That balance between simplicity and depth is something I now try to carry into all my work.

Results & Takeaways

These clones weren’t just “follow a tutorial” exercises — they were turning points. They taught me:

• When to simplify a mechanic to improve flow

• How to tune a game for feel rather than just technical accuracy

• Why small details (like input response time) can make or break a design

Most importantly, they gave me the confidence to design and prototype original systems of my own. And like the classics they’re based on, these projects are never really finished — just waiting for the next twist.