OpenGDD

About

OpenGDD is an open format for game design documents. It helps a designer describe a game and guide the people building it. The project maintains the specification, an authoring tool, the validator, and documentation.

OpenGDD is a working draft. Its source is available in the public specification repository. The evolution page explains how changes are proposed and reviewed.

Understanding the standard

These pages explain the file definitions, the checks, and how the standard develops.

Schemas

Data-file definitions for people building or configuring tools.

Validator

How OpenGDD checks design files and how a finished game can be reviewed.

Evolution

How the format changes, how to contribute, and the criteria for version 1.0.

Read changes between versions or the current limitations.

Licences

© 2026 Starphase Lab. The specification text and documentation are licensed CC-BY 4.0. The schemas, validator code, and authoring tool source are licensed MIT.

Intellectual property

Contributions are accepted under the same licences above. You may say that a tool reads or writes OpenGDD packages, or that a package conforms to a stated version. Do not use the OpenGDD name to imply that a tool, package, or organization is certified or endorsed; no certification program exists.

Privacy

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