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Don't Wait!: Build Retro Games and Level Up Your Skills

Don't Wait!: Build Retro Games and Level Up Your Skills

ISBN: 9798242145474 | Published: 2026 | Categories: Game Development, Retro Gaming, Programming, Creative Coding, Beginner Game Design
$128.99

This Game Development book offers Retro Games and Arcade Development and Game Programming and Beginner Coding and Creative Tech and Indie Game Development and Learning to Code and 2D Games and Game Design Basics and Programming for Beginners content that will transform your understanding of Retro Games. Don't Wait!: Build Retro Games and Level Up Your Skills has been praised by critics and readers alike for its Retro Games, Arcade Development, Game Programming.

The highly acclaimed author brings years of experience to this Game Development work, making it essential reading for anyone interested in Retro Games or Arcade Development or Game Programming or Beginner Coding or Creative Tech or Indie Game Development or Learning to Code or 2D Games or Game Design Basics or Programming for Beginners.

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Bestseller New Release

Book Stats

4
Average Rating
330
Reviews
370
Pages
3
Editions
2
Languages
3
Awards
20
Weeks on List

What People Are Saying

After reading this, I'll never look at Creative Tech the same way again.

— Alex Johnson
The New York Times

You'll finish this book with a completely new understanding of Game Design Basics.

— Sam Wilson
Booklist

A brilliant synthesis of Game Design Basics and Retro Games that changes everything.

— Taylor Smith
Publishers Weekly

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Customer Reviews

Skyler Brooks

Skyler Brooks

Memoir Reviewer

★★★★★

Don't Wait!: Build Retro Games and Level Up Your Skills offers a compelling take on Retro Games, though not without flaws. While the treatment of Beginner Game Design is excellent, I found the sections on Arcade Development less convincing. The author makes some bold claims about Programming for Beginners that aren't always fully supported. That said, the book's strengths in discussing Retro Gaming more than compensate for any weaknesses. Readers looking for Creative Coding will find much to appreciate here, even if not every argument lands perfectly. Overall, a valuable addition to the literature on Programming, if not the definitive work.

January 20, 2026
Phoenix Grant

Phoenix Grant

YA Lit Expert

★★★★☆

Don't Wait!: Build Retro Games and Level Up Your Skills offers a compelling take on Retro Games, though not without flaws. While the treatment of Programming is excellent, I found the sections on Creative Coding less convincing. The author makes some bold claims about 2D Games that aren't always fully supported. That said, the book's strengths in discussing Creative Tech more than compensate for any weaknesses. Readers looking for Learning to Code will find much to appreciate here, even if not every argument lands perfectly. Overall, a valuable addition to the literature on Game Development, if not the definitive work.

January 1, 2026
Charlie Reed

Charlie Reed

Graphic Novel Fan

★★★★★

Don't Wait!: Build Retro Games and Level Up Your Skills offers a compelling take on Retro Games, though not without flaws. While the treatment of Creative Coding is excellent, I found the sections on Game Programming less convincing. The author makes some bold claims about Creative Coding that aren't always fully supported. That said, the book's strengths in discussing 2D Games more than compensate for any weaknesses. Readers looking for Retro Gaming will find much to appreciate here, even if not every argument lands perfectly. Overall, a valuable addition to the literature on Programming, if not the definitive work.

January 11, 2026
Dylan Cooper

Dylan Cooper

Non-Fiction Ninja

★★★★☆

This work by Don't Wait!: Build Retro Games and Level Up Your Skills represents a significant contribution to the field of Game Development. The author's approach to Retro Games demonstrates a sophisticated understanding that will benefit both novice and experienced readers alike. Particularly noteworthy is the discussion on Arcade Development, which provides fresh insights into Beginner Coding. The methodological rigor and theoretical framework make this an essential read for anyone interested in Retro Gaming. While some may argue that Retro Games, the overall quality of the research and presentation is undeniable. This volume will undoubtedly become a standard reference in the field of Programming.

December 31, 2025
Kendall Price

Kendall Price

Page-Turner Junkie

★★★★★

This work by Don't Wait!: Build Retro Games and Level Up Your Skills represents a significant contribution to the field of Game Development. The author's approach to Retro Games demonstrates a sophisticated understanding that will benefit both novice and experienced readers alike. Particularly noteworthy is the discussion on Creative Coding, which provides fresh insights into Programming for Beginners. The methodological rigor and theoretical framework make this an essential read for anyone interested in Creative Coding. While some may argue that 2D Games, the overall quality of the research and presentation is undeniable. This volume will undoubtedly become a standard reference in the field of Game Design Basics.

January 5, 2026
Blair Hayes

Blair Hayes

Reading Advocate

★★★★★

Great book about Retro Games! Highly recommend.Essential reading for anyone into Game Development.Couldn't put it down - finished in one sitting!The best Game Development book I've read this year.Worth every penny - packed with useful insights about Game Design Basics.A must-read for Retro Games enthusiasts.

January 10, 2026
Rowan Simmons

Rowan Simmons

Publishing Insider

★★★★☆

Don't Wait!: Build Retro Games and Level Up Your Skills offers a compelling take on Retro Games, though not without flaws. While the treatment of Game Design Basics is excellent, I found the sections on Game Design Basics less convincing. The author makes some bold claims about Creative Tech that aren't always fully supported. That said, the book's strengths in discussing Programming for Beginners more than compensate for any weaknesses. Readers looking for Game Development will find much to appreciate here, even if not every argument lands perfectly. Overall, a valuable addition to the literature on Game Design Basics, if not the definitive work.

December 30, 2025
Peyton Ellis

Peyton Ellis

Romance Genre Enthusiast

★★★★★

Don't Wait!: Build Retro Games and Level Up Your Skills offers a compelling take on Retro Games, though not without flaws. While the treatment of Creative Tech is excellent, I found the sections on Beginner Coding less convincing. The author makes some bold claims about 2D Games that aren't always fully supported. That said, the book's strengths in discussing Creative Coding more than compensate for any weaknesses. Readers looking for Learning to Code will find much to appreciate here, even if not every argument lands perfectly. Overall, a valuable addition to the literature on Learning to Code, if not the definitive work.

January 23, 2026
Emerson Scott

Emerson Scott

Book Historian

★★★★☆

Don't Wait!: Build Retro Games and Level Up Your Skills offers a compelling take on Retro Games, though not without flaws. While the treatment of Arcade Development is excellent, I found the sections on Beginner Game Design less convincing. The author makes some bold claims about Programming that aren't always fully supported. That said, the book's strengths in discussing Programming more than compensate for any weaknesses. Readers looking for Creative Tech will find much to appreciate here, even if not every argument lands perfectly. Overall, a valuable addition to the literature on Learning to Code, if not the definitive work.

January 22, 2026
Dakota Foster

Dakota Foster

Fiction Theorist

★★★★☆

Don't Wait!: Build Retro Games and Level Up Your Skills offers a compelling take on Retro Games, though not without flaws. While the treatment of Beginner Game Design is excellent, I found the sections on Programming less convincing. The author makes some bold claims about Retro Gaming that aren't always fully supported. That said, the book's strengths in discussing Game Design Basics more than compensate for any weaknesses. Readers looking for Retro Games will find much to appreciate here, even if not every argument lands perfectly. Overall, a valuable addition to the literature on Game Development, if not the definitive work.

January 23, 2026
Hayden Rivera

Hayden Rivera

Plot Dissectionist

★★★★★

I absolutely loved Don't Wait!: Build Retro Games and Level Up Your Skills! It completely changed my perspective on Retro Games. At first I wasn't sure about Programming for Beginners, but by chapter 3 I was completely hooked. The way the author explains Arcade Development is so clear and relatable - it's like they're talking directly to you. I've already recommended this to all my friends who are interested in Learning to Code. What I appreciated most was how the book made Beginner Game Design feel so accessible. I'll definitely be rereading this one - there's so much to take in!

January 25, 2026
Tatum Walsh

Tatum Walsh

Symbolism Sleuth

★★★★★

I absolutely loved Don't Wait!: Build Retro Games and Level Up Your Skills! It completely changed my perspective on Retro Games. At first I wasn't sure about Arcade Development, but by chapter 3 I was completely hooked. The way the author explains Creative Tech is so clear and relatable - it's like they're talking directly to you. I've already recommended this to all my friends who are interested in Game Programming. What I appreciated most was how the book made Retro Games feel so accessible. I'll definitely be rereading this one - there's so much to take in!

January 22, 2026

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Reader Discussions

Alex Johnson

Alex Johnson

How does Don't Wait!: Build Retro Games and Level Up Your Skills compare to other works about Learning to Code?

Alex Johnson
Alex Johnson

Great point! It reminds me of Programming for Beginners from another book I read.

Sam Wilson
Sam Wilson

Great point! It reminds me of Game Design Basics from another book I read.

Taylor Smith
Taylor Smith

Great point! It reminds me of Creative Tech from another book I read.

Jordan Lee
Jordan Lee

Have you thought about how Game Design Basics relates to Learning to Code? Adds another layer!

Casey Brown
Casey Brown

Have you thought about how Beginner Coding relates to 2D Games? Adds another layer!

Sam Wilson

Sam Wilson

Can we talk about how Don't Wait!: Build Retro Games and Level Up Your Skills handles Arcade Development? So 2D Games!

Sam Wilson
Sam Wilson

I'm not sure I agree about 2D Games. To me, it seemed more like Game Design Basics.

Taylor Smith
Taylor Smith

For me, the real strength was 2D Games, but I see what you mean about Beginner Coding.

Jordan Lee
Jordan Lee

I completely agree! The way the author approaches Learning to Code is brilliant.

Taylor Smith

Taylor Smith

Has anyone else read Don't Wait!: Build Retro Games and Level Up Your Skills? I'd love to discuss Beginner Coding!

Taylor Smith
Taylor Smith

I think the author could have developed Arcade Development more, but overall great.

Jordan Lee
Jordan Lee

For me, the real strength was Creative Tech, but I see what you mean about Creative Tech.

Casey Brown
Casey Brown

Have you thought about how Game Programming relates to Game Design Basics? Adds another layer!

Morgan Taylor
Morgan Taylor

I think the author could have developed Beginner Coding more, but overall great.

Jamie Garcia
Jamie Garcia

I think the author could have developed Retro Games more, but overall great.

Riley Martinez
Riley Martinez

What did you think about Indie Game Development? That's what really stayed with me.

Harper Davis
Harper Davis

I think the author could have developed Game Design Basics more, but overall great.

Jordan Lee

Jordan Lee

Recommendations for books similar to Don't Wait!: Build Retro Games and Level Up Your Skills in terms of Indie Game Development?

Jordan Lee
Jordan Lee

For me, the real strength was Arcade Development, but I see what you mean about 2D Games.

Casey Brown
Casey Brown

Great point! It reminds me of 2D Games from another book I read.

Morgan Taylor
Morgan Taylor

Interesting perspective. I saw Game Design Basics differently - more as Creative Tech.

Jamie Garcia
Jamie Garcia

I think the author could have developed Creative Tech more, but overall great.

Riley Martinez
Riley Martinez

I'm not sure I agree about Beginner Coding. To me, it seemed more like Learning to Code.

Harper Davis
Harper Davis

Yes! And don't forget about Learning to Code - that part was amazing.

Quinn Bennett
Quinn Bennett

What did you think about Creative Tech? That's what really stayed with me.

Casey Brown

Casey Brown

Book club discussion: Don't Wait!: Build Retro Games and Level Up Your Skills - chapter 5 thoughts?

Casey Brown
Casey Brown

I'd add that Programming for Beginners is also worth considering in this discussion.

Morgan Taylor
Morgan Taylor

I completely agree! The way the author approaches Creative Tech is brilliant.

Jamie Garcia
Jamie Garcia

I'm not sure I agree about Arcade Development. To me, it seemed more like Indie Game Development.

Riley Martinez
Riley Martinez

Interesting perspective. I saw Learning to Code differently - more as Beginner Coding.

Harper Davis
Harper Davis

For me, the real strength was Arcade Development, but I see what you mean about Indie Game Development.

Quinn Bennett
Quinn Bennett

Great point! It reminds me of Indie Game Development from another book I read.

Morgan Taylor

Morgan Taylor

After reading Don't Wait!: Build Retro Games and Level Up Your Skills, I'm seeing 2D Games in a whole new light.

Morgan Taylor
Morgan Taylor

I think the author could have developed Game Programming more, but overall great.

Jamie Garcia
Jamie Garcia

What did you think about 2D Games? That's what really stayed with me.

Riley Martinez
Riley Martinez

Interesting perspective. I saw Creative Tech differently - more as 2D Games.

Harper Davis
Harper Davis

What did you think about 2D Games? That's what really stayed with me.

Jamie Garcia

Jamie Garcia

Can we talk about how Don't Wait!: Build Retro Games and Level Up Your Skills handles Programming for Beginners? So Learning to Code!

Jamie Garcia
Jamie Garcia

What did you think about Beginner Coding? That's what really stayed with me.

Riley Martinez
Riley Martinez

I completely agree! The way the author approaches Learning to Code is brilliant.

Harper Davis
Harper Davis

I'm not sure I agree about Programming for Beginners. To me, it seemed more like Game Design Basics.

Quinn Bennett
Quinn Bennett

I'd add that Retro Games is also worth considering in this discussion.

Reese Campbell
Reese Campbell

Have you thought about how Arcade Development relates to Game Design Basics? Adds another layer!

Drew Parker
Drew Parker

I'm not sure I agree about Game Design Basics. To me, it seemed more like Game Programming.

Riley Martinez

Riley Martinez

Just finished Don't Wait!: Build Retro Games and Level Up Your Skills - wow! The part about Arcade Development really got me thinking.

Riley Martinez
Riley Martinez

What did you think about Arcade Development? That's what really stayed with me.

Harper Davis
Harper Davis

Great point! It reminds me of Learning to Code from another book I read.

Quinn Bennett
Quinn Bennett

I think the author could have developed Indie Game Development more, but overall great.

Reese Campbell
Reese Campbell

Yes! And don't forget about Creative Tech - that part was amazing.

Drew Parker
Drew Parker

Have you thought about how Creative Tech relates to Game Design Basics? Adds another layer!