Every developer knows that game projects live and die by teamwork. You can have the sharpest coders in the world, but if they’re working in isolation, problems slip through, knowledge gets siloed, and the codebase becomes harder to maintain.
That’s where pair programming and code reviews come in. These practices aren’t about slowing people down or adding bureaucracy. They’re about building collaboration into the workflow, so that every feature is understood, every bug fix is double-checked, and no one person becomes the single point of failure.
In this article, we’ll explore how pair programming and code reviews work, why they matter, and how to use them effectively without letting them become time sinks.
Pair Programming: More Than One Way to Pair
Pair programming is one of the simplest yet most powerful collaboration practices in development. Two developers sit together (physically or virtually), tackling the same task at once. Done well, it can sharpen solutions, spread knowledge, and keep code quality high.
Driver–Navigator (with a twist)
The “Driver” writes the code, while the “Navigator” reviews in real time. But it’s not just typing vs. watching. Good pairs talk through the task or story first, figure out what parts of the system they need to touch, and then help each other connect the dots. One codes, the other reviews, and they swap often. This combo keeps both aligned and avoids tunnel vision.
Ping–Pong Pairing
One dev writes a failing test, the other makes it pass. Then they swap. Back and forth, like a rally. This works best if you already have a testing framework in place. Ping–Pong forces both partners to think in terms of testable outcomes, not just raw code.
Mob Programming
The whole team works on one problem together. While it exists, in practice it’s rarely efficient. One-time use? Sure, like when you’re introducing new coding standards or aligning on style. But for day-to-day work, mob programming burns through your most expensive resource: programmer hours.
From my own experience, pair programming only shines in the right culture. If leadership tracks “how many points each person delivered,” developers will see pair programming as wasted time. But when the team is rewarded for delivering together, not individually, the practice transforms into what it’s meant to be: a way to raise the bar for everyone while shipping the product as one team.
When Pairing Shines
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Onboarding juniors → faster skill transfer, fewer bad habits.
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Critical features → extra eyes reduce mistakes in mission-critical systems.
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Complex bugs → two brains surface edge cases faster.
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Knowledge sharing → avoids “silos” where only one dev understands part of the codebase.
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Pair programming and code reviews are just the beginning. Take our Technical Check Quiz to see where your pipeline shines, and where it might be holding you back.
Code Reviews: A Safety Net, Not a Battleground
A good code review is about clarity and confidence. It’s not about rewriting someone else’s work or re-arguing architecture decisions. Those discussions should have happened earlier, when the story was planned and scoped.
The Goal of a Review
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Make sure the code does what the task or story required.
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Confirm there are no obvious breaking points.
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Check that variable and function names make sense (readable without extra context).
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Ensure logic is easy to follow and maintain.
What Code Reviews Are Not
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A place to propose sweeping architectural changes (scope creep).
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A dumping ground for endless nitpicks about formatting (use linters instead).
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A power play where senior devs enforce personal preferences.
At their best, reviews are a structured conversation: “Does this code make sense? Is it maintainable? Does it solve the problem without introducing new ones?”
Why Culture and Mindset Matter
Pair programming and code reviews only succeed in the right culture. Done wrong, they turn into bottlenecks or ego clashes. Done right, they create a supportive environment where developers trust each other and raise the overall quality of the codebase.
Both practices remind us that game development is a team sport. They aren’t about perfection, they’re about collaboration, clarity, and building the game together.
Closing Thought
Pair programming and code reviews aren’t just boxes to check, they’re habits that build stronger teams and better games. Whether you’re solving bugs faster, training juniors, or just keeping code readable, the payoff compounds over time.
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FAQ: Pair Programming and Code Reviews
Isn’t pair programming a waste of two developers on one task?
Not at all. Pairing may look like double the cost, but in reality, it prevents bugs, spreads knowledge, and reduces rework. The time saved downstream (in debugging, onboarding, or maintaining code) usually outweighs the upfront cost.
When is pair programming most useful?
Pair programming shines when tackling complex problems, onboarding new developers, or implementing features that touch multiple systems. It’s less useful for repetitive tasks or simple fixes.
What’s the difference between pair programming and mob programming?
Pair programming involves two people working closely on a single task. Mob programming extends this to the whole team. While useful in rare situations (like aligning on new standards), mob programming is resource-intensive and rarely efficient for day-to-day work.
How should we run effective code reviews?
Keep code reviews focused on clarity and correctness. Check that variable and function names make sense, that logic is easy to follow, and that the task’s scope is complete. Avoid turning reviews into architecture debates, those should happen before coding begins.
What are the biggest anti-patterns to avoid?
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Nitpicking style over substance (let linters handle formatting).
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Re-architecting at review time (scope should already be defined).
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Point-scoring productivity (judging individuals by story points delivered instead of team outcomes).
Healthy reviews foster collaboration, not competition.
How do pair programming and code reviews fit into Agile or Scrum?
Both practices support Agile values of collaboration and continuous improvement. They reduce siloed knowledge and create shared ownership of the codebase, key to delivering as a team, not as isolated individuals.
