Game Design
Ongoing coverage on Game Design.
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The Game Archaeologist: World of Warcraft is unfairly portrayed as the villain of MMO history
This article challenges the common narrative that World of Warcraft is the villain responsible for homogenizing the MMORPG genre. Instead, it argues that bad game design and a lack of approachability in pre-WoW MMOs were the primary factors that led to their decline, with World of Warcraft simply offering a more polished and user-friendly experience.
Building a D&D game post-BG3: Why Warlock wants you to "feel like you're cheating"
Invoke's upcoming Dungeons & Dragons RPG, Warlock, aims to capture the creative spirit of tabletop play, drawing inspiration from Baldur's Gate 3's success in translating lore and player agency. Vice President Dominic Guay emphasizes the game's focus on flexible spell usage and player creativity, allowing for "cheating-like" interactions to solve problems, rather than solely relying on narrative choices.
BRAZILIAN DRUG DEALER BEFORE 4 Review – You’ve met me at a very Brazilian time in my life
BRAZILIAN DRUG DEALER BEFORE 4: DEMONS FROM THE PORTAL TO HELL I OPENED ARE STILL IN THE FAVELA AND NOW I HAVE TO SAVE MAMADAS FROM RONALDO is a standalone expansion that offers a unique "boomer shooter" experience with a distinctly Brazilian flavor. The game features a chaotic story, a variety of silly enemies and weapons, and a fluid, fast-paced movement system inspired by Sonic and Ultrakill. Despite some repetitive combat and underutilized movement mechanics, its retro aesthetic, energetic soundtrack, and undeniable charm make it a standout title.
Exclusive: 'Jason seems quite deadpan and monotone' — Former GTA dev says he wants to see more personality from the GTA 6 protagonist, since Rockstar 'usually gives us characters who are funny and have their own flair'
Former Rockstar Games developer Mike York expressed concerns about Grand Theft Auto 6 protagonist Jason's 'deadpan and monotone' personality, comparing him unfavorably to characters like Grand Theft Auto 4's Niko Bellic. He hopes Jason will exhibit more flair and personality, suggesting that co-protagonist Lucia's livelier demeanor will help balance the characters.
Recension – Orbitals bär sitt anime-hjärta från 90-talet till en succé för två
Orbitals is a highly successful co-op adventure game for the Nintendo Switch 2, developed by the Swedish studio Shapefarm and published by Kepler Interactive. It masterfully captures the 80s and 90s anime aesthetic with vibrant colors and pop-culture references, offering a delightful experience for fans of classic Japanese animation. While its core tools could offer more variation and its playtime is on the shorter side, the game is a polished and charming triumph, particularly for its visual and audio design.
The Blood of Dawnwalker – Why Exploring the Same World Twice Never Gets Old
The Blood of Dawnwalker offers a unique approach to open-world exploration by presenting two distinct versions of its world: one for human Coen and another for vampire Coen. This duality transforms how players interact with the environment, allowing for vertical traversal and different social interactions depending on the time of day and Coen's form, making revisiting areas feel like discovering them for the first time.
Fable’s Combat Offers A “Really Broad, Deep, Rich Suite of Options,” But Remains Approachable
Playground Games aims to make Fable's combat approachable yet deep, drawing inspiration from the original while modernizing it for today's players. Associate game director Will Kennedy highlighted the "broad, deep, rich suite of options" available, emphasizing smooth "style-weaving combat." While some aspects may need polish before the February 23rd, 2027 release on Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, the team is proud of the satisfying and faithful design.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword – Why You’ll Keep Coming Back for One More Fight
Onimusha: Way of the Sword's combat system is praised for its depth and emphasis on player expression, turning swordplay into a fluid dance of attack and defense. The game encourages mastery through challenging enemies and rewarding skillful play, making the protagonist Miyamoto Musashi's journey feel personal and engaging.
Marvel’s Wolverine reviews land at a surprisingly low 77 on OpenCritic
Marvel's Wolverine has received mixed reviews, with an average score of 77 on OpenCritic, making it Insomniac Games' lowest-rated title to date. While critics have praised the game's story and combat mechanics, they found it to be underwhelming in comparison to the studio's previous successes.
Recension – Marvel’s Wolverine - Arg, hårig och alldeles underbar
Insomniac Games' Marvel's Wolverine is a brutal, visually stunning, and highly entertaining action-adventure game for the PlayStation 5. The combat system is a standout, blending Arkham's control with Spider-Man's fluidity and adding a weighty, aggressive feel. While the narrative and motorcycle segments are weaker points, the game excels at making players feel like the iconic mutant, with impressive technical polish and even realistic beard physics.
NBA 2K27 review: Ball till you fall
NBA 2K27 offers solid basketball gameplay and introduces intriguing features like MyCareer Eras and a co-ed City. However, the experience is significantly hampered by pervasive microtransactions and a sense of déjà vu, making progression feel like a grind or a pay-to-win scenario.
Stylised XCOM-like tactics game Ex Sanguis straps Othercide's obsession with timelines to a leaner roguelike campaign
Ex Sanguis, a new tactics RPG with roguelike elements, is now available in early access. The game builds upon the time-manipulation mechanics of Othercide, featuring a leaner campaign structure and a focus on strategic turn-based combat. While the core gameplay loop of managing abilities and disrupting enemy turns is present, the article notes some mixed feelings about the new campaign format and the overall improvement over its predecessor.
Vague Patch Notes: In defense of not knowing what you like in MMORPGs
This analysis argues for the importance of exploring games outside of one's established preferences, particularly within the vast landscape of MMORPGs. The author suggests that while knowing what you like is valuable for understanding game design, a tendency to stick to familiar genres can lead to complacency and missed opportunities for discovery. The piece advocates for an open-minded approach, even when faced with vague patch notes or games that don't immediately appeal, highlighting personal experiences with games like Final Fantasy XIV and Nightmare Reaper as examples of unexpected enjoyment.
Fable's combat is "faithful to the classic franchise," Playground Games lead says, but still modern: "We're making a game for gaming today"
Playground Games' associate game director Will Kennedy discussed the combat design for the upcoming Fable game, aiming to balance faithfulness to the classic franchise with modern gameplay sensibilities. The combat system will feature style-weaving mechanics, allowing for smooth transitions between moves and a deep suite of customizable spell options, designed to be both approachable and rich in depth for today's players.
Marvel’s Wolverine Review - Brutal, Beautiful, But Uneven — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
Marvel's Wolverine is a visually stunning and brutal action-adventure game from Insomniac Games, but it suffers from uneven gameplay and a story that doesn't quite reach the heights of their previous titles. While the portrayal of Wolverine's ferocity and strong character performances are highlights, repetitive combat and a lack of meaningful stakes prevent it from being a complete success.
Marvel’s Wolverine Review – Claws and effect
Marvel's Wolverine is a dark and brutal cinematic action-adventure that excels with its gratifying combat and heartfelt story about trauma. Insomniac Games delivers strong performances and impressive production values on the PlayStation 5, though some 'gamey' elements feel shoehorned in and it doesn't significantly innovate on the superhero genre. The game offers a compelling narrative with intense action balanced by character moments.
Geoff Keighley and Mark Cerny create a fellowship program to fund and help young game designers
Geoff Keighley and Mark Cerny have launched the Nova Games Foundation, a grant program designed to fund and mentor aspiring game designers. The foundation will provide initial funding of $100,000 to 20 selected recipients from university programs, with potential for up to $500,000 more for promising projects. The program offers mentorship and publisher introductions with no strings attached, allowing creators to retain ownership of their work.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse proves Dead Cells' developers were the right fit for a revival in this blessing for the Belmonts
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, developed by Evil Empire, shows promise as a revival of the classic series, blending Metroidvania exploration with fast-paced action inspired by Dead Cells. The game introduces a new protagonist, Rose, daughter of Trevor Belmont and Sypha Belnades, who wields the iconic Vampire Killer whip. The preview highlights the game's beautiful art style, engaging level design, and fluid combat mechanics, suggesting a confident return to form for the Castlevania franchise.
If you thought Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth was bloated, you're not going to like Revelation - but I'd much rather have too much to do than too little
This article discusses the open-world design of Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, drawing comparisons to Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and other open-world titles like The Witcher 3. While acknowledging the potential for bloat and excessive tutorials, the author expresses enthusiasm for director Naoki Hamaguchi's ambitious vision and the game's expanded mechanics.
Final Fantasy VII Revelation Hands-on Preview – Worth developing Mako poisoning for
Final Fantasy VII Revelation, the final chapter of the remake trilogy, promises to be an epic conclusion, picking up after the events of Rebirth with the party facing the Weapons and the looming threat of war with Wutai. This preview highlights Yuffie's expanded role, the introduction of Cid and Vincent, and new exploration tools, though it notes concerns about the return of Chadley's side-content padding. Visually, Revelation appears to be a significant step up from Rebirth, with stunning environments and detailed character models.
