Game Design
Ongoing coverage on Game Design.
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Pokémon Pokopia: How to Access Developer Islands with All Items
This guide explains how to access Developer Islands in Pokémon Pokopia, which offer all in-game items for inspiration and building. Players need a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, Environment Level 3, Mysterious Goggles, and a cloud island code to access these islands. Items can be copied from Developer Islands and printed at Pokémon Centers.
Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen's recaps, new Pokedex and lower difficulty were all designed to bring in more girls and elderly players, director of the remakes says in resurfaced interview
Junichi Masuda, director of the Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen remakes, revealed in a 2004 interview that design changes were made to attract a wider audience, including girls and elderly players. These changes included lowering the overall difficulty and redesigning the Pokédex to be more like a notebook.
Baldur's Gate 3 Astarion actor says to trust in Craig Mazin's HBO sequel: "I really hope people give them space to make the show that they want to make"
Neil Newbon, the voice actor for Astarion in Baldur's Gate 3, has expressed his support for HBO's upcoming live-action TV sequel. He believes showrunner Craig Mazin is a talented writer and hopes the creative team is given the space to develop their vision for the adaptation.
Wisdom of Nym: Evaluating the big additions of Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail thus far
This analysis evaluates the new content additions in Final Fantasy XIV's Dawntrail expansion, examining features like the 24-person Cloud of Darkness fight, Pilgrim's Traverse Deep Dungeon, The Merchant's Tale Variant Dungeon, and the Occult Crescent field area. While Pilgrim's Traverse and The Merchant's Tale are praised for their innovation and execution, the Cloud of Darkness fight and Occult Crescent are noted for having design flaws or limited engagement potential.
Arc Raiders' Flashpoint update finally streamlines crafting—oh, and you can also supercharge Scrappy using…
The Flashpoint update for Arc Raiders introduces significant improvements, including a streamlined crafting system and a new 'feeding boost' mechanic for the pet rooster Scrappy. The update also adds new enemies like the Vaporizer, new weapons such as the Dolabra and Canto, and new map conditions and player projects.
Xbox adding Copilot AI to consoles is "horrible in so many different ways," says former Valve dev who worked…
Former Valve developer Chet Faliszek has criticized Microsoft's upcoming Copilot AI assistant for Xbox consoles, calling it "horrible in so many different ways" and unnecessary. He argues that the AI removes the social aspect and community-driven problem-solving that makes games engaging.
Wolf Pack - Howling Spirits Review | TheXboxHub
Wolf Pack - Howling Spirits, developed by EpiXR Games, is a deeply flawed game with numerous issues including a typo on the title screen, an unusable camera, and poor level design. The game's narrative and music are also criticized, with suggestions that parts of the content may have been generated by AI. The reviewer concludes that the game is not ready for release and is the worst reviewed game of 2026.
Saros Will Have Save Slots And A Suspend Option
The upcoming PlayStation 5 title Saros will feature save slots and a suspend option, making it more player-friendly than Returnal, according to creative director Gregory Louden. Associate design director Mitja Roskaric highlighted the importance of multiple save slots for players with busy lives. The game aims to maintain its challenge while offering these accessibility features.
Grime II Review - The Righteous Cravings
Grime II offers an exceptional combat experience with layered mechanics like Grasp and Force management, alongside striking art direction and challenging bosses. While the moment-to-moment gameplay is engaging, the narrative and exploration systems are less satisfying, feeling disjointed and underwhelming. Despite these shortcomings, the game is a strong follow-up that refines the original's identity.
CRIMSON FREEDOM: Major update brings new movement, pathfinding and QOL improvements
An update for the story-driven RTS game CRIMSON FREEDOM is now available, focusing on significant improvements to unit movement, pathfinding, and overall quality of life. The changes aim to make the game feel more responsive and intuitive, addressing player feedback from its Steam demo and Discord community.
Super Meat Boy 3D Review - A Renewed Vigor
Super Meat Boy 3D successfully translates the series' signature precision platforming into a new dimension, delivering slick controls and inventive level design. While it doesn't quite reach the brutal highs of the original, its accessible difficulty curve and satisfying movement make it an engaging evolution that captures the core spirit of the franchise. The PC version offers nearly pristine performance, though boss battles are noted as underwhelming.
Crimson Desert: Why Critics Were Divided, The Review Scores, and How Patches Are Changing the Game |
Crimson Desert launched in March 2026 to mixed reviews, with critics praising its visuals and combat but criticizing its narrative and controls. Developer Pearl Abyss has been actively releasing patches to address these issues, improving quality-of-life features and game balance. Player sentiment on platforms like Steam has improved following these updates, indicating a potential for the game to grow into a more positively received experience.
"0.63 is the perfect default delay": Bungie, Respawn and Firaxis game developers talk NPC barks, grenade timing and other questions of craft
Game developers from studios like Firaxis, Bungie, and Respawn shared practical advice on various aspects of game development, including NPC dialogue, UI animation timing, and combat design principles. The discussion, initiated on Bluesky, highlighted the importance of small details in creating satisfying player experiences.
Hidden Gems of Game Design Volume 46
This article highlights several overlooked games, including Freeride, a choice-driven narrative game exploring themes of redemption and regret. Blazing Beaks is praised as a challenging roguelike with a unique artifact system, available on Nintendo Switch. Caravan SandWitch is a story-based puzzler on PC and PlayStation 5 that tackles colonialism, while Clean Up Earth offers a cathartic environmental cleanup experience with co-op and real-world donation features. Finally, Battle for Troy is presented as a real-time strategy take on the Trojan War era.
Indie studio co-founder believes 'nobody cares about' huge open worlds anymore instead devs should pick just one thing and do it 'exceptionally well'
Indie studio co-founder Nick Lives believes players are growing tired of massive open-world games, preferring shorter, self-contained experiences that are exceptionally well-crafted. He argues that game length should not dictate price, and that developers should focus on making every moment count. Yura Zhdanovich of Sad Cat Studios agrees, stating that simply having a large open world is no longer enticing and developers must excel in specific areas to capture player attention.
Call of Duty Director Shuts Down 'Skill-Based Damage' Claims as Sony Patents System for Maintaining 'Even Playing Field Between Cross-Platform Players'
The design director for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 has denied allegations of skill-based damage in the game. This comes as Sony patents a system designed to maintain an even playing field for players across different platforms.
10 Year Retrospective
This article reflects on ten years of writing for Gnome Stew, detailing the author's initial struggles with article length and feedback, and their subsequent growth in breaking down complex topics into series. The author also discusses the evolution of the TTRPG landscape, noting the rise of indie publishers and encouraging readers to explore games beyond Dungeons & Dragons.
ARC Raiders' design director tells us about the "strong appetite" for PvE
ARC Raiders' design director Virgil Watkins discussed the game's focus on Player vs. Environment (PvE) gameplay in an interview with Pocket Tactics. Embark Studios is preparing for the upcoming Flashpoint update, which will likely expand on the PvE elements.
Warframe Reveals Voruna Prime and Soulframe Updates During PAX East Devstream
Digital Extremes revealed Voruna Prime for Warframe, launching April 8, featuring a unique quadrupedal playstyle and new gear. The developer also shared updates for Soulframe's ongoing Preludes alpha, including new Duelo Pact content, a Wolf Mount, and system refinements. The Devstream confirmed ongoing parallel development for both titles.
Games Inbox: Is there really going to be a Zelda: Ocarina Of Time remake?
Readers discuss the possibility of a remake for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, with some expressing excitement and others skepticism about Nintendo's approach. Other topics include potential Star Fox game ideas, PlayStation 5 price increases, and the design of narrative-driven games like Life Is Strange.
