Game Design
Ongoing coverage on Game Design.
Latest coverage
Crimson Desert hands-on report: four hours in the RPG’s massive open world
A hands-on report of Crimson Desert reveals a massive open world with extensive activities and a dynamic combat system. Players control Kliff, a member of the Greymanes, exploring the world of Pywel and learning new skills through observation. The game will feature enhancements for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Pro, utilizing features like PSSR and raytracing for improved visuals and performance.
Marathon roadmap: All upcoming updates
Bungie has outlined the roadmap for its upcoming extraction shooter, Marathon, detailing content updates for its first three seasons. The game will feature new maps, playable classes, weapons, and game modes, with seasonal server wipes intended to refresh the gameplay loop. Marathon aims to compete in the live service space against titles like Arc Raiders.
After 6 hours, Crimson Desert is one of the most overwhelming, chaotic, madcap videogames I've ever…
Crimson Desert, the upcoming single-player action RPG from Pearl Abyss, offers a chaotic and unrestrained high-fantasy experience with an absurdly deep combat system. Despite its overwhelming complexity and a vast array of mechanics, the game aims to deliver constant "hell yeah" moments through its irreverent story and sincere presentation.
Planet Of Lana 2 review - the prettiest landscapes in gaming
Planet of Lana 2 is a visually stunning 2D puzzle game that unfortunately offers little improvement over its predecessor. While its art style and sound design are exceptional, the game suffers from simplistic and recycled puzzles, as well as slightly clumsy controls, leading to a disappointingly bland experience.
'You Know It's Bad When You Have Dreams About the S**t' — Resident Evil Requiem's Infamous Spider Is Making Ice T Feel the Heat - IGN
Rapper Ice T has expressed his struggles with the spider boss in Resident Evil Requiem, even experiencing nightmares about it. The game's challenging arachnid enemy is causing widespread fear among players, with some resorting to mods or altering their gameplay experience to cope. Capcom recently announced that Resident Evil Requiem has achieved over 5 million sales.
Marathon launch times and release date
Bungie's extraction shooter Marathon will launch on March 5, 2024, at 6 pm UTC on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The game will feature mandatory server wipes every three months, with new maps and ranked modes rolling out post-launch. Preloading is available for those who have pre-ordered the game.
World of Warcraft: Midnight Brings Azeroth to Xbox – A Historic Console Debut
World of Warcraft: Midnight marks a historic console debut for the long-running MMORPG, launching on Xbox after two decades of PC exclusivity. Microsoft and Blizzard Entertainment have adapted the game for controller play, aiming to attract both hardcore players and newcomers to Azeroth. This transition reflects broader industry trends towards cross-platform accessibility and ecosystem integration.
Marathon Pre-Load Now Live | Season 1 Details & Gameplay Overview — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
Bungie has released the pre-load for their extraction shooter Marathon across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC, with the game size listed at 16.3 GB. The first season, titled 'Death is the First Step,' begins March 5 and will run for three months, featuring multiple maps, Runner Shells, weapons, and an in-season event. A mid-season update will introduce new content, and a ranked mode will be added halfway through. Season 2, 'Nightfall,' has also been teased.
If Baldur's Gate 3 is the ultimate D&D sandbox, Esoteric Ebb is like a tabletop campaign with the best Dungeon Master ever
Esoteric Ebb is a highly reactive RPG that draws comparisons to Disco Elysium and Dungeons & Dragons, offering a unique fantasy setting with deep world-building and character writing. Developed by Christoffer Bodegård and published by Raw Fury, the game features innovative dialogue-based combat and a reactive world, making it a standout title for RPG fans.
Games Inbox: Is it worth buying a PS5 in 2026?
Readers discuss whether it's worth buying a PlayStation 5 in 2026, considering the potential release of the PlayStation 6 and the option of purchasing a Switch 2. Other topics include the appeal of extraction shooters like Marathon, the behavior of zombies in Resident Evil Requiem, and Nintendo's secretive approach to announcing new games for the Switch 2.
Blue Prince – Launch Trailer – Nintendo Switch 2
The launch trailer for Blue Prince on Nintendo Switch has been released, highlighting the game's innovative approach to gameplay. VGChartz's Mark Nielsen praised the title for offering fresh experiences not commonly seen in the industry, contrasting it with the prevalence of remakes and safe sequels.
Ninja Gaiden 4: The Two Masters DLC Arrives Today – We Spoke to the Game’s Director About Every Addition
The Two Masters DLC for Ninja Gaiden 4 is now available, featuring new narrative content, weapons for Ryu Hayabusa and Yakumo, and the challenging 100-battle Abyssal Road mode. In an interview, producer and director Yuji Nakao discussed the new additions, the contrasting stage designs for the two protagonists, and the quality-of-life improvements implemented in the update.
Choose My Adventure: Project Gorgon teaches me what sandbox vets have been saying forever
The author expresses a newfound appreciation for sandbox MMORPGs, specifically highlighting Project Gorgon as an example of the genre at its best. Despite initial skepticism towards sandboxes, the author found Project Gorgon to be a well-crafted experience that encourages curiosity and camaraderie, contrasting it with the perceived underbaked nature of other games in the genre.
Feature: "Astonish Is Super Effective!" - How Pokémon Taught Me To Love Words
This article explores how the Pokémon series, particularly through its move names and item descriptions, fostered a love for language and vocabulary in the author from a young age. It highlights how the games introduced complex words and concepts, encouraging curiosity and learning beyond gameplay.
Marathon Confirms Seasonal Resets, Which Means Everyone's Gear, Contract and Faction Progression, and Player Level Wipe Every Few Months - IGN
Bungie has confirmed that its upcoming extraction shooter Marathon will feature seasonal resets, wiping player gear, contracts, faction progression, and player levels every few months. While achievements and cosmetics will be retained, these resets aim to keep the game fresh and provide new opportunities for players. The game launches on March 5 with Season 1: First Step, followed by Season 2: Nightfall, introducing new content and systems.
Bungie lay out their Marathon season plans, which yes, includes forced resets for everybody
Bungie has outlined the seasonal plans for their upcoming shooter, Marathon, which will feature three-month-long seasons with new content and gameplay features. Unlike other games, Marathon will implement forced resets at the start of each season, requiring all players to begin with no gear and face the threat of death. While cosmetics and codex progression will carry over, players will need to re-earn stats and gear each season. The first season, 'Death is the First Step,' will focus on a gold rush on Tau Ceti and introduce a new end-game zone, Cryo Archive, later in the season.
Fallout 3 lead Emil Pagliarulo tried to stuff it to the gills with Deus Ex DNA: 'As much immersive sim as was…
Fallout 3 lead designer Emil Pagliarulo aimed to incorporate as many immersive sim elements as possible, drawing heavy inspiration from Deus Ex. He discussed how the team supported diverse playstyles and mechanics like the limb damage system, which was directly influenced by Deus Ex. Pagliarulo noted that this design DNA has spread to studios like Arkane, who also have roots in immersive sim development.
Morning Crowdfunding
A Kickstarter campaign is underway to help Theresa Loong finish her documentary about Brenda Romero, a visionary game designer and mentor. The film aims to highlight Romero's significant contributions to the future of game development.
Resident Evil Requiem Now Tied For Metacritic's Greatest Game of All Time
Resident Evil Requiem has achieved a Metacritic User Score tying it for the highest-rated game of all time, surpassing titles like Metal Gear Solid and The Witcher 3. The game also set a new series record on Steam with over 330,000 concurrent players. It is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC, featuring dual protagonists Leon Kennedy and Grace Ashcroft with swappable first and third-person perspectives.
Fantasy RPG Esoteric Ebb is "the most exciting game Disco Elysium has inspired", says former ZA/UM writer
Esoteric Ebb, a new RPG inspired by Disco Elysium, is described by a former ZA/UM writer as the most exciting game to emerge from that inspiration. The game features a detective protagonist with internal voices representing stats, a unique setting, and a narrative that blends humor with political commentary. It is available on PC and has a demo.
