Top-Down RPG Development

I want to turn the working title “Gaming boy” into a fully playable, top-down role-playing game. The vision sits somewhere between classic 16-bit adventures and modern indie RPGs: open exploration, real-time combat, light puzzle elements, and a character-driven story that unfolds through dialogue and side quests.

Scope
You will take the concept from paper to a PC-ready build (optional mobile or console ports can follow later). I’m comfortable with Unity, Godot, or any other engine that handles 2D top-down titles well; choose whichever lets you iterate fastest while keeping the codebase clean and extensible.

Core systems I need:
• Player movement, collision, and camera suited to a top-down viewpoint
• Real-time combat loop (basic melee plus one ranged/magic ability to start)
• Dialogue system with branching choices, quest tracking, and NPC states
• Inventory, equipment, and simple stat progression
• Save / load across multiple slots
• One showcase level that demonstrates exploration, combat, and a short quest

Art & Audio
Pixel-art or stylized 2D that matches a lighthearted yet adventurous tone. If you are not an artist, placeholder assets are fine provided your workflow allows for later swaps. Chiptune-inspired music and SFX placeholders will also suffice for the first milestone.

Deliverables & Acceptance
• Playable demo (.exe or WebGL build) that hits the systems listed above
• Source project in a Git repo with clear commit history and inline comments
• Design doc outlining mechanics, controls, and asset lists
• Brief post-mortem noting next steps and optimizations

I aim for weekly check-ins with fresh builds; feel free to suggest a milestone schedule that keeps momentum high without overloading you. If you love crafting RPG experiences from the top-down perspective, let’s bring “Gaming boy” to life.