Game Design
Ongoing coverage on Game Design.
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Mina the Hollower has a secret ending, but good luck seeing it
Yacht Club Games' Mina the Hollower features a secret ending with an extremely convoluted unlock requirement. Players must avoid a long list of actions, including harming characters or restoring the Hollower Guild, while also completing specific tasks like rescuing children and helping beggars. This 'blameless' path leads to a hidden conclusion, though it significantly increases the game's difficulty and makes many side quests inaccessible.
Beetle Adventure Racing review
Beetle Adventure Racing is lauded as one of the best racing games ever made, particularly for its exquisite track design featuring numerous discoverable shortcuts. The game's modern sensibility, robust physics, and satisfying progression system where players unlock faster cars contribute to its enduring appeal. Despite a limited car variety, the game's thrilling races and memorable environments on the Nintendo 64 make it a standout classic.
How Croakwood captures the challenge of a townbuilder like Anno but avoids the stress and pressure
Croakwood, a new townbuilder from Parkitect developer Texel Raptor, aims to capture the engaging economy management of games like Anno without the associated stress and conflict. The game focuses on frog villagers and allows players to customize homes based on individual preferences, providing a purpose for economic growth beyond warfare or collapse. The developers emphasize a relaxed pace and player-driven goals, differentiating it from more pressure-filled simulation titles.
The Sunday Papers
This article rounds up several gaming-related news items and discussions. It covers how Pokémon Go data might be used for military drone training, developers discussing the creation of discovery in games, concerns about generative AI's impact on the tech industry, and an oral history of the game Spore. Additionally, it touches on gamification and data collection in relation to word puzzles and a review of C. Thi Nguyen's book 'The Score'.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation’s Max Level is 99; Optional WEAPONs Have “Dedicated Narrative Components”
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation will feature a level cap of 99, an increase from previous titles in the trilogy. Director Naoki Hamaguchi confirmed that optional WEAPONs will have dedicated narrative components, and the game will launch in Spring 2027 for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2.
God of War Laufey Director Says Fusion of “Old and New” Combat Systems is Possible Because of Faye
Santa Monica Studio director Ariel Lawrence discussed the potential for God of War Laufey to fuse the classic pick-up-and-play combat of the original trilogy with the more grounded, visceral style of God of War (2018) and Ragnarok. The new protagonist, Faye, is seen as the ideal character to embody this blend of old and new combat systems. The game is allegedly launching in the first half of 2027 exclusively for PlayStation 5.
Penguin Colony's demo shows life as a flightless bird is lonely, scary, awkward, and cosmically intriguing
Penguin Colony, from the developers of Umurangi Generation, offers a unique take on penguin life, blending awkward movement mechanics with cosmic horror and critiques of fascist ideology. The game's demo, available on Steam, showcases the ability to switch between different penguins and features narration by Lenval Brown, setting a disquieting tone for its planned 2026 release.
Shack Chat: What was your favorite reveal from Nintendo Direct June 2026?
The Shacknews team discusses their favorite reveals from the Nintendo Direct June 2026 presentation, covering titles like Kingdom Hearts 4, Xenoblade: Genesis, and a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Several staff members expressed excitement for the Ocarina of Time remake, while others highlighted unique announcements like DayZ on Switch 2 and the HD-2D Final Fantasy Resonance.
Whether you believe it or not, Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director Naoki Hamaguchi says the end's been planned from the start
Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy director Naoki Hamaguchi stated that the ending for the series has been planned from the early stages of development. He also discussed the team's approach to player feedback, emphasizing that they do not aim to please the 'median average' to maintain the product's unique character. Hamaguchi confirmed that Final Fantasy 7 Remake: Rebirth will feature a similar number of minigames as its predecessor.
I wish Bungie would stop designing excellent multiplayer shooters and go back to making fantasy strategy games where you…
This article expresses a desire for Bungie to return to developing strategy games like the Myth series, rather than focusing solely on excellent multiplayer shooters such as their new game Marathon. The author highlights the unique tactical squad management and physics-based combat of Myth, lamenting that the games are not readily available digitally or easily playable on modern systems, unlike Bungie's current output.
It's bittersweet that the best time to play Destiny 2 in years coincides with its end, but I'm happy for the new players who get to experience its most liberating iteration yet
The final update for Destiny 2, despite marking the end of the game, is seen as a positive and liberating experience, especially for new players. This update introduces numerous requested quality-of-life improvements, loot refreshes, and activity revamps, making it the best iteration of the game to date. While the narrative conclusion may be underwhelming, the extensive patch notes highlight significant additions that revitalize the game's core elements.
God of War Laufey's Faye allowed Sony Santa Monica to merge the series' old and new eras: "Can I have…
God of War Laufey director Ariel Lawrence explains how the new protagonist Faye allows for a blend of the series' classic aerial combat and the newer, more grounded fighting style. This fusion aims to bridge the gap between the original trilogy and the recent Norse saga entries, offering both agility and visceral close-quarters combat.
Rune Dice Review – A Great Idea Crushed by Bad RNG
Rune Dice, developed by Smart Raven Studio, offers a dice-merging mechanic with appealing sprite work but is ultimately hampered by excessive reliance on RNG, short playtime, and a lack of balance. The game's core loop of merging dice to defeat enemies becomes a frustrating grind due to unpredictable outcomes and insufficient difficulty tuning, making it difficult to progress even with higher-level characters.
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis brings back separate difficulty options from Shadow of the Tomb Raider, which is perfect…
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis will feature customizable difficulty options similar to Shadow of the Tomb Raider, allowing players to adjust combat, traversal, and puzzle challenges individually. Game director Raul Siqueira stated that the team at Crystal Dynamics aims to let players tailor the experience to their preferences, acknowledging that players may excel at different aspects of the game.
What are we all playing this weekend?
Several members of the publication share their weekend gaming plans, with titles like Burn With Me, Clair Obscur: Expeditions 33, Red Dead Redemption, and Jet Lancer being mentioned. Some are taking a break from gaming to focus on other activities or prepare for upcoming events like Next Fest.
Path of Exile 2 director says Temple farming ruined his Christmas and "destroyed" him, and he loves "obliterating" it: "I don't care if it's a mid-season nerf"
Path of Exile 2 co-game director Mark Roberts expressed his strong negative feelings about the Vaal Temple farming exploit, stating it ruined his Christmas and left him traumatized. He is gleeful about recent nerfs to the exploit, even if they are mid-season, and has lost sympathy for players who continue to use it. Despite his strong stance, he clarified he doesn't want to make the game bad but acknowledges the lasting impact of the exploit.
Final Fantasy VII Revelation director was worried gamers may be satisfied just watching streams, says branching content needed in genre
Final Fantasy VII Remake director Naoki Hamaguchi expressed concern that game streaming might satisfy players without them purchasing the game, particularly for JRPGs. He believes branching content is necessary in the genre to encourage engagement beyond passive viewing.
'I think that combination of interior and exterior will create these moments that really live long after the player puts down the controller' — Alien: Isolation 2 is designed to 'really stay' with players and be 'unforgettable', says Creative Assembly
Creative Assembly aims for Alien: Isolation 2 to be an unforgettable experience, building on the first game's horror. Creative Director Al Hope stated the sequel will feature both claustrophobic interiors and vulnerable exteriors, allowing the alien to adapt its hunting tactics in new ways. The game is planned for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC, though a release date has not yet been announced.
The Daily Grind: What’s the ideal server size for an MMORPG?
This article discusses the ideal server size for MMORPGs, questioning whether larger servers are always better. It uses examples like Project Gorgon, Star Wars Galaxies, and Guild Wars 2 to explore how server population affects player experience, economy, and game mechanics.
Design Mockument: What would a hypothetical Warframe 2 look like?
This article speculates on what a hypothetical Warframe 2 could look like, envisioning it as a full MMORPG with a revised Warframe system, deeper character creation, and open-world exploration. It explores potential gameplay mechanics, narrative directions, and enemy factions, while acknowledging the low probability of such a sequel.