Game Design
Ongoing coverage on Game Design.
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Shape Of Dreams Review | TheXboxHub
Shape of Dreams is a compelling action roguelite that blends dream and reality, now available on Xbox after its PC release. The game features randomized runs with permanent upgrades, distinct travelers with unique combat styles, and deep customization options. Its gorgeous cel-shaded visuals and slick four-player crossplay co-op make it a standout title, especially on Game Pass.
Uncharted 2's brilliance isn't just about guns and trains, it's about people
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is highlighted not just for its action, but for its exceptional character development and storytelling, particularly through Nathan Drake, Tenzin, Chloe, and Elena. The game's technical achievements on the PlayStation 3 are praised, but its true brilliance lies in its human elements and emotional investment, setting a benchmark for narrative-driven experiences.
Final Fantasy 7 director says Revelation's Platinum trophy will be "easier to get"
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director Naoki Hamaguchi stated that the game's Platinum trophy will be significantly easier to obtain compared to Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. He acknowledged that the design of Rebirth's trophy, which required completing all content, led to low achievement rates and expressed some regret over the fan reaction.
World of Warcraft Forever's new race is Blizzard's commitment to "not play it safe" with the reborn MMORPG
Blizzard Entertainment is taking risks with World of Warcraft Forever's new Skyborne race, aiming to avoid playing it safe with the reborn MMORPG. Senior designers Josh Greenfield and Tim Jones discussed the divided player reception to the new race, the decision to create original content rather than relying on 'Classic Plus' ideas, and adjustments being made to gear progression and UI.
Resident Evil (2026) - Film Review | TheXboxHub
Zach Cregger's new Resident Evil film adaptation delivers strong modern horror with excellent cinematography, lighting, and sound design. The film focuses on protagonist Bryan's personal struggles, giving the horror real stakes, and blends humor with terrifying scenes. While not a 1:1 replica of game stories, it captures the pacing and mechanics of the Resident Evil series, setting a foundation for a promising franchise.
Silent Hill: Townfall Review – Welcome to St. Amelia
Silent Hill: Townfall is a terrifying success, offering a fresh take on the franchise with its Scottish setting and first-person perspective. Developed by Screen Burn and published by Annapurna Interactive, the game excels in its psychological horror, challenging puzzles, and tense stealth gameplay, though it is hampered by significant performance issues on PlayStation 5.
The Blood of Dawnwalker’s Timer Originally More Restricted: “It Was Harder to Beat the Game”
The Blood of Dawnwalker's timer was originally more restrictive, but was rebalanced before release due to player feedback. Game director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz stated the timer serves the narrative and was not intended to be an oppressive challenge. The game has sold one million copies and will receive new difficulty options and a New Game Plus mode.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation Director Says the Trilogy is “Designed Very Much” For Newcomers
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director Naoki Hamaguchi discussed the trilogy's design, stating it's intended for both new and existing players. While knowledge of the original Final Fantasy 7 enhances the experience by highlighting plot changes, Hamaguchi believes newcomers can still enjoy the Remake series, potentially even preferring it due to modern graphics. The upcoming Final Fantasy 7 Revelation is set to launch on April 8th, 2027.
TALON TOWERS is a Fumito Ueda-coded parkour platformer about hopping around massive structures while avoiding falling to your foggy doom
TALON TOWERS is a new parkour platformer developed by Jan Malitschek, drawing inspiration from Fumito Ueda's game design. The game features extensive movement mechanics like running, climbing, and wallrunning across massive, dilapidated structures suspended over a foggy abyss. It is available to wishlist on Steam.
All Gorr the God Butcher Changes to Marvel Rivals Meta
Gorr the God Butcher has been released as a playable character in Marvel Rivals' Season 10, but his effectiveness in the current meta is questionable. While designed as a Duelist, his survivability and damage output are insufficient for solo play, especially in high-elo matches. The article suggests that Gorr the God Butcher is not an optimal pick for the current meta but could be viable in a full dive composition.
Minecraft Is Getting Its First New Dimension In Over 15 Years
Mojang announced during Minecraft Live that a new dimension called 'The Sift' will be added to Minecraft in 2027. Originally developed for Minecraft Dungeons 2, The Sift is designed to be a more peaceful and vibrant environment compared to the Nether and The End. Creative director Mans Olson explained the team's focus on making it a distinct and livable space.
Minecraft Dungeons II: The Sift, New Mechanics, Better Exploration, and More | Official XBOX Podcast
In an interview on the Official Xbox Podcast, Mojang's Design Director Laura De Llorens discusses Minecraft Dungeons II, set to release on September 29th for Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Cloud. The sequel introduces new mechanics like jumping and a connected world, expands on customization with separated armor pieces and talismans, and features a new dimension called The Sift. De Llorens highlights the team's focus on honoring the original Minecraft Dungeons and vanilla Minecraft while introducing fresh elements for both new and returning players.
Minecraft Dungeons 2 will give the ARPG a proper endgame, but its Director knows "there's always a desire for more"
Minecraft Dungeons 2 aims to improve upon its predecessor by introducing a more robust endgame and deeper buildcrafting options. Creative Director Måns Olson and Design Director Laura de Llorens discuss the expansion of core mechanics and the challenge of meeting player expectations for continuous content.
Dan Hay vill göra StarCraft till Deadwood i rymden
Blizzard Entertainment's Dan Hay and AnaLee Haertling discuss the upcoming StarCraft game, which shifts from real-time strategy to an open-world action RPG inspired by Deadwood. Hay expresses his long-held dream of working on the franchise and emphasizes the team's passion and careful approach to developing the new direction, aiming to create a deep narrative experience set 70 years after previous titles.
LOTRO Legendarium: Looking back at Riders of Rohan
This analysis looks back at the 2012 expansion 'Riders of Rohan' for Lord of the Rings Online, highlighting its strong promotional efforts and thematic connection to the films. While it introduced popular elements like war-steeds and expanded the game world, the feature proved divisive due to its handling and technical issues, particularly with server lag.
Dressmaker is a serious seamstress sim with a lot of love stitched into the finer details
Dressmaker is a cozy and hardcore seamstress simulation game that respects the technical skill of sewing while remaining accessible to newcomers. The game features a detailed multi-step measurement system, accurate pattern placement, and fabric calculus, alongside helpful shortcuts to avoid tedious tasks. It offers both a story mode for learning and custom tailoring options for players to design and sell their own creations.
Ball vs Ball codes (September 2026)
This guide provides a list of active codes for the Roblox game Ball vs Ball, which can be redeemed for in-game currency and items. The article also explains how to redeem codes within the game and where to find future updates.
Marvel's Wolverine finally lets you turn off overbearing Scent Trails for side content, but "story-critical senses will still appear in the world"
Insomniac Games has released an update for Marvel's Wolverine that allows players to disable certain overbearing gameplay elements like Scent Trails for collectibles and audio cues for Material Crates. However, 'story-critical senses' will remain enabled. The update also addresses bugs and includes sales figures showing the game sold 1.9 million copies in three days, surpassing Death Stranding 2's lifetime PlayStation 5 revenue.
Former Starfield designer says Bethesda's sci-fi RPG probably won't get a sequel, because the original wasn't 'anywhere near successful enough'
Former Starfield designer Kurt Kuhlmann expressed doubt about a sequel, stating the game was not successful enough for Bethesda to pursue a second installment. He believes lessons learned from Starfield could have improved a sequel, particularly regarding its outpost building mechanic, but suggests the studio will likely prioritize The Elder Scrolls and Fallout.
What we've been playing - "I curl up on my sofa and breed my army of battle cats"
Several writers share their recent gaming experiences. Bertie encountered game-breaking bugs in Dawnwalker but found satisfaction in fixing them, while Kelsey is enjoying Mewgenics on the Nintendo Switch, especially with its touchscreen support. Mat discusses the strengths and weaknesses of Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, Marie finds joy in the chaotic fun of Untitled Goose Game, and Connor is captivated by the World of Warcraft beta.
