Game Design
Ongoing coverage on Game Design.
Latest coverage
The Division: Resurgence Review – Mobilised agents
The Division: Resurgence offers a mobile adaptation of the tactical looter shooter experience, featuring cover-based combat and looting in a snowy New York City. While the core gameplay and controls are adapted well for touchscreens and gamepads, the narrative progression is hampered by level gating and repetitive mission objectives, and technical compromises are evident in the graphics and performance on older mobile devices.
Marathon Review – Not for the Faint of Heart — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
Bungie's Marathon is a challenging extraction shooter that offers satisfying gunplay and impressive map design, but features a steep learning curve for new players. Despite its high-risk, high-reward gameplay loop and striking art style, the game is best suited for those already familiar with the genre, offering a polished experience that demands significant player investment.
Overwatch Fans Question Cassidy’s ‘Uncomfortable’ Aiming Stance
Overwatch players are discussing Cassidy's aiming stance, with many finding it uncomfortable and stiff, not fitting his seasoned gunslinger persona. This conversation highlights the importance of character animation in player connection and game world believability, with the community hoping for potential refinements from Blizzard Entertainment.
MMO Week in Review: Queen Devona
This week's MMO news roundup covers updates for Guild Wars Reforged, layoffs at MechWarrior studio Piranha Games, and a potential acquisition of Epic Games by Disney. The article also touches on political discussions surrounding game shutdowns in Europe and new early access dates for Heroes of Might and Magic Olden Era.
Elden Ring Movie Set With A Familiar Statue Spotted – Rumor
Footage from the Elden Ring movie adaptation set has surfaced on TikTok, showing a Church of Marika statue and a trap. The film, produced by A24 with Alex Garland directing and writing, is reportedly being shot in England. Director Alex Garland also shared his thoughts on Malenia being the hardest boss fight in Elden Ring.
Mini-Games And Whether They Add Or Detract From Console Games
Mini-games in console titles can offer a welcome change of pace or extra challenges, but their effectiveness depends on implementation. Titles like Grand Theft Auto V integrate them seamlessly, while sports games use them for skill training. When well-executed and purposeful, mini-games enhance player autonomy and exploration without disrupting the core experience.
Overwatch Fan Creates Stunning Echo Ballerina Skin, Hopes for Blizzard Job
A fan artist has created a highly detailed ballerina skin concept for the Overwatch character Echo, sharing it on Reddit and expressing a desire to be hired by Blizzard Entertainment. The concept highlights the community's passion for the character and the potential for more unique cosmetic options in Overwatch 2.
Ariana and the Elder Codex Review | NoobFeed
The review for Ariana and the Elder Codex highlights its effective use of sound to establish mood and identity. The game is praised for understanding its own value and not attempting to compensate with excessive content or shocking narrative elements.
Pokemon Champions price revealed
Pokemon Champions focuses exclusively on its battle mechanics, which are described as good but lacking a significant hook. The article provides a hands-on preview of the game.
Arc Raiders crafting just got much faster: "Your time matters, we don't want you spending it clicking through menus"
Embark Studios is streamlining the crafting system in Arc Raiders based on player feedback, aiming to reduce time spent navigating menus. A new 'Acquire Resources' button will allow players to directly obtain missing materials from the crafting screen, whether from inventory recycling or traders. The studio also mentioned ongoing investigations into other player-reported pain points.
Happy Resurrection Day 2026!
This article draws parallels between the concept of resurrection in video games like Pac-Man and Super Mario Brothers, and the religious concept of rebirth. It argues that just as players are given opportunities to 'respawn' and try again in games, religious figures offer a chance for new beginnings. The piece emphasizes embracing this opportunity for spiritual renewal.
5 dead games I still can’t stop thinking about
This article discusses five 'dead games' that, despite player abandonment or functional abandonment, remain memorable due to their strong core concepts or communities. Games like Anthem, Deceive Inc., Gigantic, Titanfall 2, and Paladins: Champions of the Realm are examined for their initial appeal and the reasons for their decline, often citing issues with live-service models, market timing, or lack of sustained support.
The Daily Grind: Which MMORPG has your favorite moon?
This article poses a question to MMORPG players about which game features their favorite moon. It explores various ways moons are depicted in MMORPGs, from being explorable locations to simply being a visual element in the sky, and encourages community discussion on the topic.
Slay the Spire 2 is cooking a "competitive" mode, but I'm most excited about its new short-time format
Mega Crit co-founder Casey Yano discussed potential new modes for Slay the Spire 2, including a competitive mode and a shorter-time format for players with less time. He also teased a new social multiplayer interaction mode, emphasizing that these are still in consideration and may not make it into the final game. Yano also expressed caution about adding too many features or Ascension levels to maintain the game's core simplicity and avoid an overly long completion time.
These Nintendo games didn’t get DLC, but could have
This article discusses several major Nintendo games that have not received substantial downloadable content, exploring potential additions that could have enhanced them. Titles like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Super Mario Odyssey are highlighted as examples of complete experiences, while others like Mario Party Superstars are noted for their lack of post-launch expansions.
5 things we want to see from a new Star Fox game
Rumors suggest a new Star Fox game is coming to Nintendo Switch 2, prompting discussion on desired features. Key desires include advancing the series' stagnant canon, introducing new villains beyond Andross, and implementing accessible controls similar to Star Fox 64. The article also touches on the importance of beautiful graphics and performance, and the potential for an Arwing amiibo.
LEGO Fortnite Drops New Weapon to Beat ‘The Thing from Beneath’
LEGO Fortnite has released a new weapon specifically designed to help players defeat the challenging 'The Thing from Beneath' boss. This update is seen by players and critics as a positive sign of Epic Games listening to community feedback and focusing on game balance and unique mechanics within the LEGO Fortnite ecosystem.
Katana Punk – Beta Sign Up | Alpha Beta Gamer
Katana Punk is a roguelike deckbuilder set in a dystopian Tokyo where players can rewrite cards mid-run to discover powerful synergies. The game features over a hundred base cards, mods, and passive treasures, encouraging creative rule-breaking and experimentation. Beta sign-ups are currently open.
Camelot Unchained discusses the RvR-centric design of its factions, abilities, and economy
Camelot Unchained's latest video discusses its RvR-centric design, focusing on how factions, abilities, and economy are built around player-versus-player combat. The MMORPG will feature distinct realm playstyles, with crafting specializations and 19 gathering/crafting professions planned. The game is currently in backers-only early access, with a Steam release planned for later.
Hitch a Ride with Cozy Caravan 🐸
Dean Ferguson, creative lead at 5 Lives Studios, discusses the unique stop-motion-like visuals and animation process for Cozy Caravan. He highlights the game's focus on kindness, relaxation, and the joy of making others happy, and touches on the collaboration with Youtooz for the Bubba plushie.