Game Design
Ongoing coverage on Game Design.
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Subnautica 2 Outlines Changes Coming to the Game in Response to No Killing Fish Debate
Subnautica 2 developer Unknown Worlds Entertainment has addressed community concerns regarding the 'no killing fish' debate. While apologizing for recent staff comments, the studio confirmed that actual weapons will not be added to the game, emphasizing their focus on non-violent gameplay.
Rune Dice Review | TheXboxHub
Rune Dice is a charming roguelike deck-builder that offers an innovative dice-rolling gameplay loop with unique mechanics and visual appeal. While the core gameplay is compelling, the article notes that the traversal and stage design can become repetitive over time, detracting from the overall experience despite the game's charming presentation and strategic depth.
Star Wars KOTOR: When the Loyalty Missions ARE the Real Mission
This article discusses the importance of loyalty missions in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, drawing parallels to Christian ministry and the value of personal quests. It emphasizes that seemingly small actions can have significant eternal impact, likening them to Jesus's ministry of seeking and saving the lost.
Charming point-and-click adventures remind us of a more wholesome time in gaming – Whirlight: No Time to Trip has us longing for the good old days
Whirlight: No Time to Trip is a charming new point-and-click adventure game from Italian developer imaginarylab that evokes a nostalgic, wholesome era of gaming. Despite some modern concessions that hold the player's hand, it offers classic puzzle-solving and a visually appealing blend of hand-drawn characters and pre-rendered backgrounds. The game follows an inventor whose experiment disrupts time, featuring oddball characters and over 100 locations to explore across different eras.
All Hail Devo: How Mixtape's Soundtrack Made It May's Surprise Hit
Developer Johnny Galvatron discusses how his personal music tastes heavily influenced the soundtrack of his game, Mixtape. The game features a curated selection of 1990s alternative rock and synth-pop, with Devo's 'That's Good' serving as a key inspiration. Galvatron acknowledges the soundtrack's focus on his preferences, noting the absence of hip-hop and R&B, and expresses that creating the game has deepened his appreciation for the music.
All Hail Devo: How Mixtape's Soundtrack Made It May's Surprise Hit
Developer Johnny Galvatron discusses how his personal music tastes heavily influenced the soundtrack of his game, Mixtape. The game features a curated selection of 1990s alternative rock and synth-pop, with Devo's 'That's Good' serving as a key inspiration. Galvatron acknowledges the soundtrack's focus on his preferences, noting the absence of hip-hop and R&B, and expresses that creating the game has deepened his appreciation for the music.
World of Warcraft veteran Johnny Cash returns to Blizzard, and old blood is what the MMO needs
Developer Johnny Cash, known for his work on systems like Pet Battles and Garrisons in World of Warcraft, has returned to Blizzard Entertainment. His return as a Principal Designer II is seen by some as a potential shift back towards the game's more conflict-driven narrative roots, which have been a point of discussion among the player base.
CD Projekt says it won’t repeat Cyberpunk 2077’s biggest mistakes
CD Projekt RED discussed lessons learned from Cyberpunk 2077's troubled launch, emphasizing a new development philosophy focused on improved planning, pre-production, and realistic expectations for future titles like The Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2. The studio is investing more time in foundational development stages before full-scale production.
Subnautica 2 Improvements On The Way, But No, You Can't Fight The Fish
Developer Unknown Worlds is planning improvements for Subnautica 2 based on player feedback, focusing on making predator encounters less frustrating and more engaging without introducing combat. The studio also apologized for past communication issues and emphasized its collaborative approach to early access. This comes amidst a legal dispute between Unknown Worlds and its publisher Krafton regarding bonuses.
Subnautica 2 Improvements On The Way, But No, You Can't Fight The Fish
Developer Unknown Worlds has outlined upcoming improvements for Subnautica 2, focusing on making predator encounters less frustrating and more engaging without introducing combat. The studio also apologized for past communication issues with the community regarding its early access approach. This news comes amidst a legal dispute between Unknown Worlds and its parent company, Krafton, over leadership changes and bonuses.
Rogue Reigns wants to reinvent the roguelike deckbuilder, and don’t we just need that right now
Rogue Reigns, a dark fantasy roguelike deckbuilder from Brazilian indie developer Venn Studios, is set to launch in September 2026 for PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices. The game distinguishes itself with a three-character party system, where each hero has their own deck and abilities, requiring strategic resource management to avoid character neglect. Venn Studios is leveraging their own 'Wildcard' engine for a unique visual blend of hand-drawn characters and procedurally generated 3D environments.
Is Diablo IV Worth Playing in 2026? — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
Diablo IV is considered worth playing in 2026, especially with its expansions, due to significant improvements in endgame content and build variety. The game now offers a complete narrative with the Lord of Hatred expansion and features numerous endgame activities like The Pit, Helltides, and Nightmare Dungeons, alongside new progression systems such as Talismans and the Horadric Cube.
Recension – Yoshi and the Mysterious Book
Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is a charming platformer with a beautiful, handcrafted art style reminiscent of Studio Ghibli. While the core platforming mechanics are polished and precise, the game's numerous ideas and book-manipulation mechanics often interrupt the flow, making it feel more like a collection of chapters than a cohesive adventure. Despite its low difficulty and fragmented pacing, the game succeeds in being curious, charming, and creative.
Cairn revolutionizes bragging rights, lets you print a shirt showing your playthrough ascent from an in-game menu
The climbing game Cairn has introduced a new feature allowing players to print a t-shirt showcasing their completed in-game ascent. This feature is available in the 'Extra' section of the game menu after a player has successfully reached the summit of Mount Kami. Cairn, developed by The Game Bakers, was released in February and has sold 500,000 copies, with free DLC planned for summer.
Subnautica 2’s First Early Access Hotfix Promises Changes to Terms of Service
Developer Unknown Worlds has released the first hotfix for Subnautica 2's Early Access, addressing issues like AMD graphics card crashes and the Ping feature. The studio also acknowledged player criticism regarding the End User License Agreement (EULA) and promised changes to the Terms of Service and a new FAQ in the near future. The hotfix also enabled analytics tracking after EULA acceptance, which can be disabled in settings.
The Witcher 3 Lead Quest Designer Writes About Bloody Baron Quest and Killing A Beloved Character
Paweł Sasko, lead quest designer at CD Projekt RED, shared insights into the development of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, including early office environments and the challenges of designing iconic quests like the Bloody Baron's story arc. He detailed the difficult decision to kill the character Vesemir during the Battle of Kaer Morhen and the extensive nine-month process of writing the main storyline. Sasko also celebrated the game's 11th anniversary and its significant sales success.
Returnal Director Founds New Studio, First Project Will be “Unapologetically Gameplay First”
Harry Krueger, the director of Returnal, has founded a new studio called Cosmic Division in Finland. The studio's first project will be a single-player, gameplay-first new intellectual property for PC and consoles, aiming for strong emotional resonance. Krueger previously worked on games like Resogun and Nex Machina at Housemarque, and his latest project there, Saros, received a 9 out of 10 review.
The long awaited Civilization 7 Test of Time update is here, bringing a huge suite of changes with it
Firaxis Games has released the highly anticipated Test of Time update for Civilization 7. This major update introduces the ability for players to guide any civilization outside of its historical Apex Age, a feature long requested by the community. The update also revamps Legacy Paths into Triumphs and overhauls the Victory conditions with new scoring systems.
So You're Retiring From PvP. Here's What to Play Instead (2026)
This article discusses the phenomenon of adult gamers retiring from Player vs Player (PvP) gaming due to life commitments and the widening skill gap. It aims to help readers understand the reasons behind this trend, alleviate guilt, and make informed decisions about alternative games to play.
Tactics RPG Diorama Break confirms Nintendo Switch release
Studio Massimo Gauthier has confirmed that the tactics RPG Diorama Break will be released on Nintendo Switch, following a successful Kickstarter campaign that raised approximately $70,000. The game features turn-based battles, dialogue choices that influence the narrative, and gameplay inspired by fighting game mechanics.
