Game Design
Ongoing coverage on Game Design.
Latest coverage
Wisdom of Nym: The cross(over) to bear in Final Fantasy XIV’s upcoming raids for Evercold
Square Enix has announced two crossover raid series for Final Fantasy XIV's upcoming Evercold patch sequence, sparking mixed reactions. The author discusses the history of crossovers in FFXIV, acknowledging both the potential for disappointment and excitement, while emphasizing the need to wait for the actual implementation before passing final judgment on their execution and narrative impact.
The Sinking City 2 Review | TheXboxHub
The Sinking City 2 shifts from investigative adventure to a more focused survival horror experience, drawing comparisons to Resident Evil. Developed by Frogwares amidst the war in Ukraine, the game features a new protagonist, Calvin Rafferty, and a supernatural flood-ravaged Arkham. The review praises its Lovecraftian atmosphere, engaging narrative, and tight combat, despite a potential dampening of the first game's detective elements.
Why Arcade Shooter Mechanics Enhance Digital Casino Libraries
Arcade shooter mechanics are being integrated into digital casino libraries to offer a more engaging and skill-based experience compared to traditional chance-driven games. Titles like Dino Shooter on Sportzino blend fast-paced action with elements of randomness, providing short, rewarding rounds that appeal to a broader audience. This approach enhances player retention through bite-sized progression and social features, while also allowing for efficient content development and strategic library integration.
The Sinking City 2 Review – Farewell, Arkham!
The Sinking City 2 offers a tense survival horror experience with a strong Lovecraftian narrative, shifting focus from investigation to combat and resource management. Despite clunky combat and occasional cryptic puzzles, the game excels with its atmospheric sound design, engaging story, and rich world-building, making it a worthy successor to the original.
I screamed more through The Sinking City 2 than Resident Evil Requiem, and that's a survival horror marker I have to respect
The Sinking City 2 is a confident survival horror game that successfully blends Lovecraftian themes with modern genre conventions, drawing comparisons to Resident Evil and Silent Hill. Despite some issues with gauntlets and boss battles, its unpredictable moments, polished design, and emphasis on resource management create a compelling and terrifying experience. The game is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X.
The Sinking City 2 review
The Sinking City 2 shifts from its predecessor's open-world approach to a more focused survival horror experience, drawing comparisons to Resident Evil. While it streamlines gameplay and offers improved combat, the sequel downplays investigation elements and features a rushed conclusion. Despite these criticisms, it's considered an incremental improvement over the original, offering around 15 hours of gameplay.
How Forbidden Solitaire brought solitaire games to the forefront
Forbidden Solitaire, developed by Gray Alien Games and Night Signal Entertainment, has achieved significant commercial success on Steam, selling 10,000 copies in 48 hours and reaching 880 concurrent players. This success is attributed to its unique analog horror presentation and engaging solitaire gameplay, which has revitalized interest in the genre among PC gamers. The developers discuss their approach to innovating within the solitaire genre and the impact of this success on their future projects.
Mortal Shell 2 review: A monumental heavy metal sequel with the spirit of a '90s PC game
Mortal Shell 2 is a monumental sequel that blends modern Soulslike elements with the spirit of '90s PC games, offering a unique and humorous take on the genre. It significantly improves upon its predecessor with diverse playable 'Shells,' a more straightforward narrative, and innovative combat mechanics that forgo a stamina bar, making it highly accessible and flexible.
Mortal Shell 2 Review – A Bigger, Better Sequel, Clearly Inspired by Elden Ring
Mortal Shell 2 offers a refined Soulslike experience, drawing clear inspiration from Elden Ring's open-world design and progression systems while maintaining its own identity. The game features a more interconnected world, expanded Shell mechanics, and a satisfying combat system that blends traditional weaponry with firearms and status effects. Despite some noticeable bugs and a less impactful narrative, Mortal Shell 2 is a strong sequel that builds upon its predecessor's foundation.
Sraëka Lillian's one-a-week RPG "sketches" are a lovely series of experiments with hoary old conventions from Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest
Sraëka Lillian is releasing a series of "RPG sketches" on Itch.io, with each mini-RPG experiment developed in under a week. These sketches explore and deconstruct common conventions found in classic RPGs like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, offering insights into game design and the creative process.
Custom Reticles Sharpen Your Aiming Instincts - Walkthrough, Tips, Review
This guide explains how customizing reticles in Overwatch can significantly improve aiming accuracy by enhancing visual clarity and reducing cognitive load. It details different reticle styles, their advantages for various hero archetypes, and provides steps for players to craft their optimal visual layout for better target acquisition.
Marvel’s Wolverine Is Another Victim Of The Internet’s Endless Gaming Negativity
The upcoming game Marvel's Wolverine is facing online criticism, with some labeling it 'dead on arrival' due to its linear single-player design. Insomniac Games' community director James Stevenson has spoken out against the toxic algorithms on platforms like X that amplify negativity, impacting developer mental health and creating a distorted perception of player sentiment. Despite the online discourse, early previews suggest Wolverine will be a strong addition to Insomniac's library, with a limited-edition PlayStation 5 bundle also announced.
The latest Crimson Desert patch cuts down on animal cruelty, finally
The latest Crimson Desert patch introduces a significant change allowing players to learn about wildlife without killing them, aligning with a more non-violent approach to gameplay. This update also reorganizes quests into knowledge sub-categories and ensures all traders are consistently available. The patch, version 1.18.00, also adjusted research costs and item locations.
Mortal Shell 2 review: "The best Soulslike I've played since Elden Ring thanks to brilliant death-dealing toys and speedy combat"
Mortal Shell 2 is a superior and more accessible sequel to the original, offering faster combat and a world dense with ideas. While it doesn't dethrone Elden Ring, it stands as a strong Soulslike with its own merits, featuring unique "mortal shells" with distinct abilities and a satisfying combat system. Despite minor issues with camera control and difficulty balance, the game is a visually impressive and fun experience available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X.
Lord of the Rings Online Q&A video talks about Wolves of Mordor, new legendary servers, and more
Standing Stone Games released a Q&A video addressing questions about the upcoming Lord of the Rings Online expansion, Wolves of Mordor. The video touched on new regions, mechanics like Neighbour and Survival Instincts, and potential future content for legendary servers. Developers also hinted at future expansions into Nurn and Rhun and ongoing work on Beorning forms.
Grow, Adapt And Survive In Black Flower
Black Flower, a strategic roguelike from Triomatica Games, is now available on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. The game challenges players to manage a garden amidst unpredictable weather and limited resources, with a mysterious black seed as the ultimate goal. Despite its cozy appearance, the game punishes poor decisions, offering a unique twist on the roguelike formula.
Respawn Monday #12: Why Beast of Reincarnation Felt Rough at the Start — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
The author found the initial hours of Beast of Reincarnation, developed by Pokémon studio Game Freak, to be rough due to a jumbled story pacing and an identity crisis stemming from its inspirations. Despite these issues and awkward boss fights, the author plans to continue playing the game, which is available on PC Game Pass.
Kingdom Hearts 4 releasing in late 2027, according to a trailer in which Donald Duck and Goofy go to hell, miss a skeletal fiesta and rock up as creepy force ghosts
Square Enix has announced that Kingdom Hearts 4 is slated for release in late 2027, with creative director Tatsuya Nomura emphasizing that the window is firm. The latest trailer showcases Donald Duck and Goofy in the underworld and a realm inspired by Mexican Día de Muertos celebrations, with a PC version also confirmed via a Steam page.
Mortal Shell 2 Might Finally Give Bloodborne Fans What They Want
This article draws parallels between Bloodborne and the upcoming Mortal Shell 2, suggesting the latter may offer a similar aggressive combat experience. It highlights mechanics like Bloodborne's regen system and Mortal Shell 2's Harden and firearm usage as key elements that cater to fans seeking a challenging, offensive-minded Soulslike. The piece concludes that while not a direct sequel, Mortal Shell 2 captures the spirit of Bloodborne's combat philosophy.
Marvel’s Wolverine Is Hiding A Lot More Depth Than Its Linear Structure Suggests
This article analyzes the potential depth of Marvel's Wolverine beyond its seemingly linear structure, highlighting Insomniac Games' ability to create engaging experiences outside of open worlds. It discusses how Logan's investigative skills, enhanced senses, and the Rage system contribute to gameplay variety, alongside features like Nightmare Doors and New Game Plus, suggesting the game offers more than just combat.
