Game Design
Ongoing coverage on Game Design.
Latest coverage
The Brit who created the best and worst Pokémon is now overseeing all of them
Graphic designer James Turner, formerly of Game Freak, has been appointed as the new Creative Director of Art and Design for The Pokémon Company. Turner, who previously worked on titles like Pokémon Black & White and Pokémon Sword & Shield, will now oversee the art direction for future Pokémon projects. He also founded his own studio, All Possible Futures, which released the game The Plucky Squire in 2024.
Games Inbox: Will the new The Witcher 3 DLC be worth getting?
Readers discuss upcoming DLC for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and the potential for a new trilogy, alongside concerns about CD Projekt's multiple ongoing projects. Other topics include Hideo Kojima's game design choices, the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection, and a boycott against Sony's digital-only game policies for the PlayStation 5, with discussions on Grand Theft Auto 6 leaks and the possibility of a Hot Coffee-style minigame.
Paradox's next grand strategy game is taking cues from Fallout and Mad Max
Paradox Development Studio has officially revealed Afterworld, a new grand strategy game set in post-apocalyptic North America. Drawing inspiration from Fallout and Mad Max, the game features immortal leaders, tribal survival mechanics, and an exploration-driven tech tree. Dan Lind, formerly of Hearts of Iron 4, is leading development on this new non-historical setting.
Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 Interview – Scary Xenomorphs, Game Balance, Class Progression, And More
Developers from Cold Iron Studios discuss Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2, detailing improvements to class distinction, combat mechanics with new damage types, and more aggressive Xenomorph AI. They also cover progression systems, balancing for four-player co-op, and performance targets for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2.
Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 – 10 New Details You May Not Know
Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2, launching August 25th for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC, introduces new classes, extensive cosmetic customization with no microtransactions, and deeper class modifiers. The game features smarter Xenomorphs and Synths, a robust Combat Rating system for character progression, detailed lifetime statistics, and enhanced accessibility options compared to its predecessor.
Sekiro's combat is a "remarkable refinement" of the Souls games, says dev of new action RPG "honored" by comparisons to FromSoftware
Developer Lunariumstudio discusses how Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice's combat system was a significant inspiration for their new action RPG, Lunarium. The director expresses honor at the comparisons and elaborates on their approach to difficulty and player progression, acknowledging feedback that the game's curve may not be ideal.
The new head of Pokemon designs made one of 2024's prettiest games
The Pokemon Company International has appointed James Turner, a veteran of the series and co-leader of indie studio All Possible Futures, as the new creative director of Pokemon art and design. Turner previously worked on numerous Pokemon titles, including Pokemon Black and White, and served as art director for Pokemon Sword and Shield. His recent work on The Plucky Squire has been praised for its unique art style.
James Turner now with The Pokemon Company after leaving Game Freak and co-directing The Plucky Squire
James Turner has joined The Pokemon Company as Creative Director of Pokemon Art and Design. Turner previously co-directed The Plucky Squire and was instrumental in designing numerous Pokemon, starting with Pokemon Black and White. He also led the art team for Pokemon Sword and Shield.
Podd-dags! Vi snackar SULFUR
This podcast episode discusses the modern old-school shooter SULFUR. Hosts Dev Karnal Fridén and André Stray, along with expert Atilaa, explore the game's appeal, particularly its roguelike elements where players descend into caves to fight enemies. They also touch upon the game's mechanics involving shotguns, oils, and sandwiches.
[Embargoed August 24 // 5.30pm BST/6.30pm CEST] Mutter and Blue Prince among winners at Gamescom Dev Awards 2026
The winners of the Gamescom Dev Awards 2026 have been announced, with Mutter winning Vocal Excellence and Blue Prince taking home the Game Design Excellence Award. Cards & Cannons was named Most Promising Game, and Amir Satvat of Tencent Games received the Ambassador Award for his industry support.
Mortal Shell 2 Players Really Hate Those Bear Traps, And So Do I
Players of Mortal Shell 2 are expressing significant frustration with the game's bear traps, which are frequently encountered in various areas and during combat. Despite the game's challenging enemies and bosses, the bear traps are highlighted as a particularly aggravating element by the community and the author. Mortal Shell 2 is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, with a recent update addressing boss difficulty and in-game economy.
Wisdom of Nym: Magical concepts that Final Fantasy XIV could potentially use for new jobs
This opinion piece explores potential new job concepts for Final Fantasy XIV, moving beyond strict interpretations of existing roles. It discusses ideas like Geomancers, Necromancers, Druids, Psionics, Illusionists, and Metamagic as sources for future job designs, emphasizing conceptual magic systems over specific weaponry.
"We ended up kind of cornered there": Mortal Shell 2 devs say they didn't intend to "lock everybody out" by disabling achievements for Slayer Seal "easy mode" users
Mortal Shell 2 developers Cold Symmetry have addressed player complaints regarding the disabling of Steam achievements for those using the Slayer Seal 'easy mode'. They explained that the intention was to offer a separate set of achievements for this mode, but technical limitations with the disc version prevented this. The team may introduce new accessibility tools or achievements in future post-launch content.
FromSoftware's Hidetaka Miyazaki says The Duskblood's Zork is the perfect example of his design philosophy, and a man of culture: "They are a species with intelligence and philosophy"
FromSoftware director Hidetaka Miyazaki discussed his design philosophy for The Duskbloods, emphasizing a broad approach to character creation beyond traditional vampire or monster archetypes. He highlighted Zork, a character from the network test, as a prime example of this philosophy, showcasing intelligence, philosophy, and culture.
Miyazaki: "Man måste inte vara bra på PvP för att vinna i The Duskbloods"
Hidetaka Miyazaki stated that players do not need to be skilled at PvP to succeed in FromSoftware's upcoming game, The Duskbloods. He explained that players can utilize AI companions, referred to as 'Kin,' and focus on developing their characters to support these companions, allowing for a more passive playstyle. Miyazaki assured that story progression and character improvement are still achievable even without winning PvP matches.
5 reasons why you should play Baldur's Gate 3, especially if you've never played D&D before
This guide argues that Baldur's Gate 3 is an excellent entry point for new players, even those unfamiliar with Dungeons & Dragons. It highlights the game's beginner-friendly D&D 5th Edition mechanics, approachable non-combat options, compelling characters, high replayability, and extensive modding support as reasons to play.
The Elder Scrolls 6 will keep Skyrim's famous cheese physics – now Bethesda needs to give me a reason to care
The Elder Scrolls 6 will continue to use Bethesda's Creation Engine, the same engine that powered Skyrim and its famous physics for objects like cheese. The author argues that while the engine allows for complex object persistence, Bethesda has not fully leveraged its physics capabilities in vanilla gameplay. They suggest that future Bethesda titles should utilize the engine's potential for more interactive puzzles and gameplay mechanics.
Pokemon Winds and Waves might not have turn-based battles as Game Freak veteran hints the combat system "could…
Game Freak director Kazumasa Iwao has hinted that future mainline Pokemon games, such as Pokemon Winds and Waves, might gradually move away from traditional turn-based battles. While Pokemon Champions will preserve the current combat system for competitive play, Game Freak is exploring new battle formats for the main series. This experimentation is driven by a desire to innovate while respecting the series' long-standing battle mechanics.
Respawn Monday #13: Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Long Weekend — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
The author has spent over 20 hours in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, praising its immersive mechanics like managing hunger and cleanliness, and the reactive NPCs. The game's writing and voice acting contribute to a compelling experience, with quests offering surprising depth beyond simple objectives. The game's approach to fast travel and grounded mechanics are highlighted as evolutions for open-world RPGs, with a comparison drawn to Bethesda's design.
Bodycam’s astonishing overhaul could – well should – change PC shooters forever
Reissad Studio's upcoming Bodycam update, Locked & Loaded, introduces a revolutionary first-person animation system focusing on realistic body and weapon handling under stress. This overhaul aims to change PC shooters by making character actions, like reloads, dynamic and imperfect, moving beyond static animations. The update, launching September 2, 2026, also features extensive weapon customization and new tactical gadgets.
