Game Design
Ongoing coverage on Game Design.
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Smash Bros. director shares thoughts on originality in games, says “industry that loses its originality will ultimately just die a slow death”
Masahiro Sakurai, director of Super Smash Bros., believes originality has little impact on game sales, stating that an industry that loses its originality will eventually die. He announced the discontinuation of the Game Designers Award at the Japan Game Awards, which recognized creativity and innovation.
World of Warcraft Forever elaborates on its campsites feature and horizontal progression plans
World of Warcraft Forever is introducing new features like campsites and horizontal progression. Campsites will offer temporary buffs and can be placed almost anywhere, while horizontal progression aims to keep older gear relevant through biome-specific effects and legacy systems. The developers are carefully balancing these systems to enhance player experience without forcing specific paths.
After 26 hours in The Blood of Dawnwalker, comparisons to The Witcher 3 feel less and less accurate
This article argues that comparisons between The Blood of Dawnwalker and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt are becoming inaccurate as players spend more time with Rebel Wolves' vampire RPG. While both games share some DNA due to ex-CD Projekt Red developers, The Blood of Dawnwalker offers a distinct experience with its own mechanics, tone, and gameplay loop, particularly regarding its time-sensitive open world and melee-focused combat.
Why Blizzard Stopped Protecting The Overwatch Formula To Save The Game
Blizzard is embracing changes to Overwatch's core formula, including a new Perk system and a year-long narrative arc, to revitalize the game and surprise players. Associate game director Alec Dawson stated that the team is no longer afraid to innovate, aiming to expand the definition of Overwatch while maintaining its status as a top competitive shooter.
Gladio Mori – Fully Armed And Dangerously Unhinged
Gladio Mori, a physics-driven gladiator fighter, has launched out of Steam Early Access into Version 1.0. Available on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC for £16.74, the game features a unique damage system that targets individual body parts instead of a health bar. Developed by Plebeian Studio and published by Bonus Stage Publishing, it also includes a moveset editor for players to design their own attacks and supports up to four-player crossplay.
GLOOMKEEP II - WHAT THE LIGHT WAKES - A turn-based dungeon crawler for the Commodore 64 by J5
GloomKeep II is a new turn-based dungeon crawler for the Commodore 64, serving as a sequel to the original GloomKeep. The game features a unique mechanic where players must manage light and shadow, as carrying a relic illuminates the map but alerts enemies. Developed in 6502 assembly, the game features new art and music inspired by the original.
Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave review - an essential for the Switch 2, and one of the best strategy RPGs ever made
Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave is hailed as a pinnacle of the series, blending the storytelling of Three Houses with the combat of Engage, and is considered an essential title for the Nintendo Switch 2. Despite minor issues like a single save slot and diluted difficulty on normal, the game offers deep strategic combat, compelling characters, and multiple engaging story paths that can take over 200 hours to complete. The game's design is praised for its intricate maps, varied victory conditions, and the ability to customize difficulty, making it a standout strategy RPG.
Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave Is The Series’ New Peak
Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave is hailed as the new peak of the series, offering an exceptional experience that elevates the franchise. The game's design and gameplay are praised for their quality and innovation.
Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave's feels like a genuine RPG epic, even if its busywork can pull me out
Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave offers an ambitious and epic narrative with engaging tactical battles, building upon previous entries like Three Houses. However, its momentum is hampered by a convoluted time system and skippable mini-dungeon battles, despite flexible customization options.
Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave Is The Series’ New Peak
Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave is hailed as the new high point for the series, blending deep interconnected stories with intricate RPG systems. The game features a unique sci-fi setting, a flexible structure allowing players to tackle stories in any order, and expertly designed tactical combat. Its layered narrative, gorgeous visuals, and impressive orchestral score contribute to a sprawling masterpiece.
Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons won't have waypoints, so that players can figure things out without 'blindly…
Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons will remove traditional waypoints, encouraging players to explore and engage with the game world organically. Developer Invoke Studios aims to foster player agency by replacing hand-holding with 'Mysteries' that players uncover through in-game clues and NPC interactions.
Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave Developers Explain Why You Only Need 1 Save File — and That The Game Originally Had 8 Protagonists
The development team behind Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave explained their decision to implement a single save file system. They believe this design choice will not negatively impact the player experience and discussed the game's original concept which featured eight protagonists.
StarCraft general manager says 'tension' was the key to designing a StarCraft game from a first-person perspective — 'Every shot matters. Everything you do matters'
StarCraft general manager and creative director Dan Hay discussed the design philosophy behind the upcoming first-person shooter entry in the series, emphasizing the crucial role of 'tension' in creating a dangerous and engaging combat experience. Unlike the original real-time strategy games, this new perspective requires players to actively protect themselves, making every action feel significant.
Wo Long 2: Wings Of Ember Made Me Rethink My Relationship With Soulslikes
A hands-on preview of Wo Long 2: Wings Of Ember reveals significant improvements over its predecessor, particularly its open-world structure and more approachable combat tutorials. The game retains its fast-paced martial arts combat but offers more freedom for exploration and player progression, making it surprisingly engaging for players who typically struggle with the Soulslike genre.
Wo Long 2: Wings of Ember isn't just a sequel - it's a culmination of everything Team Ninja has learned from Nioh, Ninja Gaiden, and Dead or Alive
Wo Long 2: Wings of Ember builds upon the foundations of its predecessor and Team Ninja's other titles like Nioh and Ninja Gaiden, offering a more fluid and vertical combat experience. The sequel introduces new mechanics and a steeper learning curve, promising a more rewarding challenge for players. A demo is available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons Won’t Have Waypoints to Encourage Player-Driven Exploration
Invoke Studios revealed that Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons will not feature waypoints to encourage player-driven exploration and agency. General manager Dominic Guay explained that the team wants players to engage with the world and discover things organically. The game, set for a 2027 release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, will also include a 'Mystery' system for players to uncover.
The Blood of Dawnwalker’s Sequel May Not Feature a Timer, Says Director
Rebel Wolves director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz stated that the timer mechanic for the sequel to The Blood of Dawnwalker has not yet been decided and will be implemented only if it fits the narrative. The studio is also exploring other innovative ideas for the RPG genre and continues to address bugs and performance issues in the first game. The Blood of Dawnwalker is available on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC.
Catch up on BlizzCon’s panels about the cozy housing of WoW Midnight and the new zones of WoW Forever
BlizzCon panels are now available for viewing, discussing the implementation of housing in World of Warcraft and the development of new zones for World of Warcraft Forever. The housing panel specifically addresses the challenges and progress of bringing player housing to the retail game, while the other panel touches on the evolution of existing zones and the creation of new ones for the upcoming version.
Diablo 5 senior game director says 'the continued passion' is the reason Diablo 2: Resurrected exists and has allowed Blizzard to look at it for modern inspiration — 'Because it exists today alongside Diablo 4, we can look at it through today's lens'
Diablo 5's senior game director, Joe Shely, stated that the success and continued passion for Diablo 2: Resurrected has allowed Blizzard to draw modern inspiration from it for the upcoming sequel. The team can now look at Diablo 2's elements through a contemporary lens, utilizing its itemization and recent features as a guide for Diablo 5's development.
Bungie's mantra was "I love playing Destiny. I hate that it’s not better" in the MMO's early…
Former Bungie VP Mark Noseworthy reflected on Destiny's The Taken King expansion, calling it his personal favorite and a high point for the game. He described the development mantra as "I love playing Destiny. I hate that it’s not better," highlighting the game's constant struggle to reach its full potential despite its strong core appeal.
