I know what you mean. I just released my first game, and it took me more than a year and the project was very messy. I think I learned that it's good to invest some time in organizing your code because, especially for larger projects, messy code can become a huge obstacle later on (I had to fight with the code for my game for hours sometimes and it was frustrating) Also maybe it's good to spend a few days thinking through your idea, write down a summary of your game, draw some sketches of your idea (even if they're crappy MS paint drawings, you get a bit of visual reference to look at when you start making the game, it doesn't need to be well-drawn) and get a solid basis for what it is you're going to make before you start actually building the game. I think the main mistake I made was knowing what type of game I wanted to make, but not thinking about a theme or art style until after the fact. These are a few things I didn't do with my first game that I kind of wish I had done and have done with my current project (which has gone much smoother) I think it's solid advice, so I wanted to share. Good luck of course!