GameDev MCP Server

Give your AI permanent game development knowledge. No more context loss mid-project.

An MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that provides 120+ curated game dev docs, structured session workflows, and engine-specific implementation guidance. Works with Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, and any MCP-compatible tool.

Quick Start

npm install -g gamedev-mcp-server

Or use directly with npx — no install needed.

Claude Code / Cursor / Windsurf

Add to your MCP config (.mcp.json, .cursor/mcp.json, or ~/.windsurf/mcp.json):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "gamedev": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "gamedev-mcp-server"],
      "env": {
        "GAMEDEV_MODULES": "monogame-arch"
      }
    }
  }
}

Claude Desktop

Add to claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "gamedev": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "gamedev-mcp-server"],
      "env": {
        "GAMEDEV_MODULES": "monogame-arch"
      }
    }
  }
}

Features

• 120+ Docs — Curated game dev knowledge: design, patterns, algorithms, implementation guides
• Doc Search — TF-IDF search across all docs (concepts, guides, references)
• Session Co-Pilot — Structured workflows: Plan, Decide, Feature, Debug, Scope
• Genre Lookup — Instant genre → required systems mapping with starter checklists
• Modular Architecture — Core engine-agnostic knowledge + engine-specific modules
• Zero External Deps — All search and logic built-in, no database required

Available Modules

| Module | Description | |--------|-------------| | core | Engine-agnostic game dev knowledge — design, patterns, algorithms, project management | | monogame-arch | MonoGame + Arch ECS implementation guides, architecture, library references |

Future modules: godot, unity, bevy, etc.

MCP Tools

| Tool | Free | Pro | Description | |------|------|-----|-------------| | list_docs | ✅ | ✅ | Browse available docs by category and module | | search_docs | Core only | All modules | Search across docs with optional category/module filters | | get_doc | Core only | All modules | Fetch a specific doc by ID (e.g. G52, camera-theory) | | session | — | ✅ | Dev session co-pilot (start, plan, decide, feature, debug, scope) | | genre_lookup | Limited | Full | Genre → systems mapping (platformer, roguelike, metroidvania, etc.) | | license_info | ✅ | ✅ | Show current tier, unlocked features, and upgrade URL |

Free vs Pro

The server works out of the box with a generous free tier — all core (engine-agnostic) docs, search, and genre lookups are free. Pro unlocks engine-specific modules (MonoGame, Godot, etc.), the session co-pilot, and full genre details.

Get a Pro license at gamedev-mcp.lemonsqueezy.com.

Configuration

Environment Variables

| Variable | Default | Description | |----------|---------|-------------| | GAMEDEV_MODULES | monogame-arch | Comma-separated list of active engine modules | | GAMEDEV_MCP_LICENSE | — | Pro license key (from gamedev-mcp.lemonsqueezy.com) | | GAMEDEV_MCP_DEV | — | Set to true to skip license validation (local dev only) |

License Key Setup

Option 1: Set the GAMEDEV_MCP_LICENSE env var in your MCP config:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "gamedev": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["gamedev-mcp-server"],
      "env": {
        "GAMEDEV_MODULES": "monogame-arch",
        "GAMEDEV_MCP_LICENSE": "your-license-key"
      }
    }
  }
}

Option 2: Create a config file at ~/.gamedev-mcp/license.json:

{
  "key": "your-license-key"
}

The server validates the key against LemonSqueezy on startup and caches the result for 24 hours. If offline, a cached validation within 7 days is accepted. Without a valid key, the server runs in free tier (it never crashes).

See PRICING.md for a full tier comparison.

Module Selection

Set GAMEDEV_MODULES to control which engine-specific docs are loaded:

# MonoGame + Arch ECS only (default)
GAMEDEV_MODULES=monogame-arch

# Core only (no engine-specific docs)
GAMEDEV_MODULES=

# Multiple modules (future)
GAMEDEV_MODULES=monogame-arch,godot

Development

# Install dependencies
npm install

# Build
npm run build

# Run
node dist/index.js

# Watch mode
npm run dev

Doc Structure

docs/
├── core/                    # Engine-agnostic
│   ├── game-design/         # Design fundamentals, genres, game feel
│   ├── project-management/  # Sprints, scope, playbooks
│   ├── programming/         # Patterns, principles, data structures
│   ├── ai-workflow/         # AI code generation rules
│   ├── concepts/            # Universal theory (camera, physics, pathfinding, etc.)
│   └── session/             # Session co-pilot prompts
└── monogame-arch/           # MonoGame + Arch ECS
    ├── reference/           # Library stack, capabilities, project structure
    ├── architecture/        # Architecture overview, migration notes
    └── guides/              # G1-G63 implementation guides

MCP Resources

The server also exposes docs as MCP resources:

• gamedev://docs/core/{id} — Core docs
• gamedev://docs/monogame-arch/{id} — MonoGame docs
• gamedev://prompts/session — Session co-pilot prompt
• gamedev://prompts/code-rules — AI code generation rules
• gamedev://prompts/monogame-arch — MonoGame-specific rules

Landing Page

View the project landing page at sbenson2.github.io/gamedev-mcp-server — or run it locally from the site/ directory.

License

MIT