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Phase Gate Check

Checks whether a game project is ready to move to its next development phase, with a formal verdict.

Source Download skill
Repository
Donchitos/Claude-Code-Game-Studios
Stars
32,965
Licence
MIT
Files
14 files

What it does

This skill lets an AI agent act as a formal readiness reviewer for a game project. When you ask whether the project can move to the next phase (for example from Pre-Production to Production), the agent looks for required documents, tests and other artifacts defined for that transition, then returns a verdict such as PASS, CONCERNS, NOT ASSESSED or FAIL with blockers listed. If the gate passes, it can update the project's stage in project.yaml and production/stage.txt.

Great for

  • Solo or small game teams using the Claude Code Game Studios template who want a structured checkpoint before advancing phases
  • Producers or leads who want a consistent, documented go/no-go review instead of an informal discussion
  • Developers who want to see which artifacts are still missing before a milestone

Skip it if

  • Projects that are not game projects or do not use this studio template's folder structure and config files, since the checklists assume those files exist
  • Situations where you only want to know which stage you are in; the skill's own description says the diagnostic tool /project-stage-detect is better for that
  • Anyone expecting an automatic approval: the skill is designed as a deliberate human checkpoint and asks for confirmation before running

Try asking

  • “Can we move to production?”
  • “/gate-check pre-production”
  • “/gate-check release --review lean”
  • “Run the gate check for Production to Polish and list the blockers”
Step-by-step guide: how to use Phase Gate CheckInstall, first run, examples, tips and FAQs

Install in 3 steps

  1. 1

    Download the skill

    The ZIP contains the 14 original files, the MIT licence and an attribution note.

    gate-check.zip
  2. 2

    Add it to your agent

    Claude Code (all projects)

    mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && unzip gate-check.zip -d ~/.claude/skills/

    Claude Code / Agent SDK (this project only)

    mkdir -p .claude/skills && unzip gate-check.zip -d .claude/skills/

    Claude apps (web/desktop): Settings → Capabilities → Skills → Upload skill, and choose the ZIP.

  3. 3

    Ask for the task

    No special command needed — the agent reads the skill's description and loads it when your request matches. Try one of the prompts above.

Get better results

  • Run it with an explicit phase argument so the agent does not have to guess the current stage
  • Address the listed blockers first; a CONCERNS verdict means you must explicitly accept the risks before the stage is changed
  • Check that project.yaml and the docs referenced by the gate files are up to date, since the verdict depends on what files exist

What's inside

  • CONTRACT.md
  • references/2b-workflow-tier.md
  • references/3-run-gate-check.md
  • references/4-assessment.md
  • references/5-verdict.md
  • references/6-update-stage.md
  • references/7-next-steps.md
  • references/gate-polish.md
  • references/gate-pre-production.md
  • references/gate-production.md
  • references/gate-release.md
  • references/gate-systems-design.md
  • references/gate-technical-setup.md
  • SKILL.md

Redistributed unmodified from Donchitos/Claude-Code-Game-Studios under the MIT licence. The assessment was drafted with AI from the skill's files on 2026-10-29. Skills can instruct your agent to run code — read SKILL.md and any scripts before installing.