Game Design
Ongoing coverage on Game Design.
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"Go try that s*** in Red Dead Redemption 2": Nobody makes games like Bethesda, says studio veteran Pete Hines, so "put some respect" on Todd Howard and the Creation Engine team
Former Bethesda veteran Pete Hines argues that the studio's flexible sandbox design and proprietary Creation Engine offer a level of freedom unmatched by other developers. He contrasts Bethesda's approach with games like Red Dead Redemption 2, highlighting how Bethesda embraces complexity and potential jank to deliver unique player experiences. Hines emphasizes the Creation Engine and Creation Kit as crucial tools that enable this freedom and foster a strong modding community.
Street Fighter 6 director talks working on Zelda: Minish Cap, says Shigeru Miyamoto is “a North Star guiding all game creators”
Street Fighter 6 director Takayuki Nakayama reflected on his experience working on The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap and the influence of Shigeru Miyamoto. Nakayama stated that Miyamoto serves as a guiding figure for all game creators and that the advice he received during the development of the Game Boy Advance title significantly shaped his approach to game development.
Pokémon Champions Review So Far
Pokémon Champions is currently in need of significant evolution to reach its full potential. The review suggests the game requires further development to become a top-tier title.
👑 Monarchs at Play - 4X in just one hour - Playtesting starts 🏛️
Indie studio MixedMoonGames announced that the playtest for their new 4X strategy game, Monarchs at Play, will begin on April 24th, 2026. The game is designed for short, one-hour sessions and players can sign up for the playtest via Steam. Monarchs at Play is scheduled for release at the end of 2026.
Ex-Overwatch Director Says Tracer's Butt Was Never "Nerfed"
Former Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan stated that Tracer's butt was never 'nerfed' in the game, despite a controversy over a victory pose shortly after the original Overwatch's debut. Kaplan also discussed his departure from Activision Blizzard and shared his views on players criticizing games they haven't played.
The Pines could be the Alan Wake-type game we’ve been waiting for
The Pines is an upcoming psychological horror RPG developed by Studio Abattoir, drawing comparisons to Alan Wake 2 for its atmospheric setting and narrative focus. The game features RPG elements like dialogue choices and consequences, set in a mysterious town where the protagonist unravels supernatural secrets. Despite some concerns about gameplay mechanics, the ambitious scope and high-quality graphics, utilizing Unreal Engine 5, have generated significant interest.
Official PlayStation Podcast Episode 538: Marshes and Mollusks
The Official PlayStation Podcast Episode 538 features an interview with Darren Bridges, Lead Designer at Sucker Punch, discussing Ghost of Yōtei Legends. The episode also covers upcoming game releases like Hades II and Pragmata, and updates for Cyberpunk 2077 and Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve.
Esoteric Ebb's creator reckons most players only saw half the game, and that's fine by him: 'You've got to miss stuff in order to feel like the world is bigger'
Esoteric Ebb creator Christoffer Bodegård believes most players only experience about half of the game's content, which he sees as a positive design choice that enhances the feeling of a larger world. He revealed numerous hidden items, locations, and even a character class that players can miss, emphasizing that the game is designed for players to discover content organically rather than through forced completion. Bodegård stated that while 100% completion is possible in a single playthrough, a typical run should only cover 40-60% of the game's offerings, creating an 'illusionary wall of agency' that makes the game feel more expansive.
Kojima: Gamers Need More Culture, That’s Why Low Roar Is in Death Stranding
Hideo Kojima believes gamers need more cultural exposure, which is why he chose the band Low Roar for Death Stranding. He sees entertainment, including games, as a role for introducing players to new art and ideas. While some critics prefer games to be pure entertainment, Kojima argues that games can and should be a medium for cultural enrichment and deeper meaning.
Monster Hunter and Pragmata creators praise The Legend of Zelda as the series turns 40: "A source of inspiration in…
Creators of Monster Hunter and Pragmata have praised The Legend of Zelda series as it celebrates its 40th anniversary. Kaname Fujioka of Monster Hunter expressed gratitude for the series' consistent quality and wonder, while Yonghee Cho of Pragmata highlighted Zelda as a significant source of inspiration for game developers.
Hytale devs hire Minecraft modders behind incredible Create mod, teasing that it "opens the door to automation and…
Hypixel Studios, the developer of Hytale, has hired the creators of the popular Minecraft mod 'Create' to join their core game design team. The modders will focus on improving Hytale's foundational mechanics, potentially leading to automation features inspired by their work in Minecraft. While the 'Create' mod for Minecraft will continue to be supported, its developers will now dedicate significant time to Hytale's development.
Samson - Launch Day Game Update
The review for Samson highlights its atmospheric city and day-management system as strengths, but criticizes the repetitive combat, strange enemy behavior, and difficulty finding vehicles. The game suffers from numerous technical issues and is considered to have been released too early, with a recommendation to wait for patches.
The Best Casual Games for Short Breaks During the Day - Walkthrough, Tips, Review
This guide highlights 12 mobile games specifically designed for short play sessions, such as commutes or lunch breaks. These titles feature quick loading times, clear goals achievable in 5-15 minute windows, and low-friction gameplay that allows players to easily pick up and put down without losing progress or feeling overwhelmed. The selection includes a variety of genres from puzzle and merge games to racing and endless runners, catering to different player preferences for relaxation or light competition.
Pokemon Champions Review - The Battle Frontier
Pokemon Champions aims to bring competitive Pokemon battling to a wider audience with a free-to-play model and streamlined mechanics. While the game offers improved transparency for complex mechanics and faster battles compared to mainline titles, its onboarding and recruitment systems fall short, creating an uneven experience for newcomers. Players with existing Pokemon Home collections have a significant advantage, potentially leaving new players at a disadvantage without external resources or significant dedication.
Review: Raccoin: Coin Pusher Roguelike Relies Heavily on RNG
Raccoin: Coin Pusher Roguelike is a coin pusher game with roguelike elements, but its heavy reliance on RNG makes it feel more like a novelty than a serious challenge. While fun and capable of providing a dopamine fix, the game's outcome is heavily influenced by chance, leading to an uneven experience. The article suggests potential improvements like making special coins reusable to enhance strategic depth.
CloverPit’s Surprise DLC Drop Scores Big with 3.5K Likes in Hours
Indie developer PanikArcade surprised players with the immediate launch of the 'Unholy Fusion' DLC for CloverPit, featuring new mechanics and an ending. The surprise drop strategy garnered significant positive attention, with over 3,500 likes on social media within hours. The DLC introduces fusion mechanics and is accompanied by a free online leaderboards update for the base game.
Review: Pokémon Champions (Switch) – The Most Accessible & Flawed Competitive Pokémon Has Ever Been
Pokémon Champions, a free-to-play competitive battling game for Nintendo Switch, simplifies training and team building but suffers from convoluted monetization and disappointing performance. While it makes competitive Pokémon more accessible by streamlining IVs, EVs, and move sets, its free-to-play model includes restrictive storage limits and costly recurring subscriptions for essential features. The game's technical issues, including poor frame rates on Switch, further detract from the experience, making it a flawed yet potentially evolving entry in the Pokémon franchise.
Former Bethesda artist says 'every single developer' has already brought up 95% of the complaints that made it to launch, but as Todd Howard told him, 'we can't do everything'
A former Bethesda artist revealed that developers are aware of most player complaints before game launches, with Todd Howard acknowledging limitations in addressing all issues. While games like Fallout 76 have seen significant improvements post-launch, the artist expressed skepticism about a similar revival for Starfield, especially given Howard's comments on its future development.
Crimson Desert is fixing its biggest long-term problem, and that's just the start of a packed new roadmap
Pearl Abyss has released a roadmap for Crimson Desert detailing upcoming improvements and new features planned for April, May, and June. Key updates include addressing enemy scarcity in the late game, introducing difficulty settings, adding new combat content, and implementing significant quality-of-life improvements such as specialized storage and expanded customization options for controls and equipment visibility.
The Identity Struggle of Tekken 8 and Its Effect on the Genre
Tekken 8's aggressive Heat system and shift away from defensive mechanics are causing concern among longtime fans, potentially altering the identity of the 3D fighting game genre. The series' evolution in gameplay and character design is being debated, with fears that it may be losing touch with its grounded roots in pursuit of broader appeal.
