Game Design
Ongoing coverage on Game Design.
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Is Nintendo Losing Its Soul?
This article questions whether Nintendo is losing its creative identity, citing the upcoming Switch 2 as an iterative console and the Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Star Fox remakes as safe, generic choices. The author also points to the Mario movies as formulaic, suggesting a potential decline in Nintendo's unique artistic vision.
Building Berlin by Night. How Oaths and Ashes is redefining the Vampire: The Masquerade visual novel
Vampire: The Masquerade - Oaths and Ashes is a new visual novel from Revive the Spark set in a modern-day Berlin, reimagining the classic Vampire: The Masquerade setting. Players can experience the story through the eyes of Alice, a devoted Camarilla Ventrue, and Lenz, a Thin-blood. The game aims to advance the visual novel genre with player choices impacting the city's political structure and a potion-making minigame, while focusing on the core feeling of managing the predator within and the cost of power.
Turn-based tactical RPG Beaten Path revealed for Nintendo Switch
Wales Interactive and Peacebreak Studio have revealed Beaten Path, a turn-based tactical RPG launching in 2027 for the Nintendo Switch. Players will control Panna and her companions in a world of fallen gods and ancient machines, unraveling secrets of time and confronting a looping fate. The game features grid-based combat inspired by Final Fantasy Tactics and Fire Emblem, a flexible job system, and a narrative-driven overworld.
Beast Of Reincarnation’s First Patch Will Tackle Tiny Text And Broken Cameras
Co-developer Game Freak announced that the first patch for Beast of Reincarnation will address technical issues including tiny text, a broken camera, and story pacing. The patch is expected to release next week and will also switch the default graphical mode from Cinematic to Performance. Beast of Reincarnation is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, and is included with Game Pass.
Game Freak promises Beast of Reincarnation improvements following mixed reviews, starting with "story pacing improvements" within a week: "We take your feedback to heart"
Developer Game Freak has announced an upcoming patch for Beast of Reincarnation, addressing player feedback on the action-RPG. The update, expected within a week, will include improvements to story pacing, camera adjustments, text size, and bug fixes. Game Freak stated they are taking player feedback to heart and plan continuous updates.
Beast Of Reincarnation review: A briefly fun Sekiro-like that becomes chewing gum for the brain
Beast Of Reincarnation starts with a promising Sekiro-like combat system and unique mechanics like a fireball-shooting dog and stretch-armstrong ponytail, but quickly devolves into repetitive gameplay and bland environments. Despite its initial appeal and inspirations from Game Freak, FromSoftware, and Team Ico, the game suffers from clumsy combat, questionable balancing, and a lack of new ideas, making the later hours a tedious experience.
Sonic Unleashed: Denying The Darkness Within
This article discusses the creative decisions made during the development of Sonic Unleashed, particularly the departure from the series' traditional fast-paced racing formula. It explores the 'darkness within' theme and how it influenced the game's design.
Can You Play Big Walk Solo?
Big Walk is a cooperative adventure puzzle game that requires at least two players and cannot be played solo. The game's design, featuring team puzzles and minigames, necessitates simultaneous input from multiple participants. While it supports cross-platform play between PC, Xbox, and PlayStation, it does not feature matchmaking, emphasizing group play over random encounters.
Beast of Reincarnation Will Receive “Story Pacing” and Camera Improvements in Next Patch
Game Freak announced that Beast of Reincarnation will receive a patch within the week to address camera issues and story pacing, with further adjustments planned. The update will also increase text size, fix bugs, and change the default visual setting to Performance. This comes after mixed player reception on Steam and a 73 aggregate score on Metacritic.
Mortal Shell 2 Is Taking a Massive Leap Beyond the Original – 15 Biggest Differences
Mortal Shell 2, developed by Cold Symmetry, introduces significant changes compared to its predecessor, focusing on a more aggressive and fluid combat system by removing the stamina bar and enhancing abilities. The sequel also features a larger, more vertical world with increased exploration options, deeper RPG systems including more playable shells and customizable progression, and a more involved setting with greater optional content.
Madden NFL 27 – 20 Biggest Features You May Not Know
Madden NFL 27 is set to launch on August 13, 2026, for PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Series X|S, with early access starting August 6 for Deluxe and MVP editions. The game introduces numerous new features, including a revamped defensive system, more physical WR/DB battles, timing-based catching, and significant overhauls to Franchise mode, contracts, and Superstar career progression. EA aims to address player feedback with ambitious changes, though cautious optimism is advised pending AI consistency and final tuning.
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An indie developer has created a humorous solution to address player frustration and 'rage quitting' in games. This approach aims to provide a lighthearted response to players who exhibit 'tilt' behavior.
Riftbound Directors Says Game Used To Be A Lot Like Magic: The Gathering–Until Players Rejected It
Riftbound game director Dave Guskin revealed that the trading card game initially had a resource system inspired by Magic: The Gathering, but players rejected it. The team then developed the current Rune resource system, which has become a popular feature. The game is nearing its one-year anniversary and recently released its fourth expansion, Vendetta.
The biggest Baldur's Gate 3 save scummers slammed quicksave over 1,400 times in one go, Larian says: "You…
Larian Studios has revealed player statistics for Baldur's Gate 3, highlighting that some players have utilized the quicksave feature over 1,400 times in a single playthrough. The developer humorously questioned the well-being of these dedicated players, while the article discusses the prevalence and implications of save scumming in modern gaming.
Riftbound Director Says TCG Will Eventually Include All League Of Legends Champions
Riftbound game director Dave Guskin stated that Riot Games' League of Legends trading card game will eventually include all champions from the popular MOBA. Guskin explained that the team considers both player popularity in League of Legends and how well a character translates to a card game when selecting new additions. He also confirmed that popular champions like Aurelion Sol are planned for future sets.
One of Big Walk's puzzles is simple to solve but still gave us an existential crisis
The co-op walking simulator Big Walk features a unique puzzle that requires players to simply wait for five minutes without interacting with anything. This seemingly simple task proved to be an "existential crisis" for the players, highlighting the difficulty of forced inactivity. The puzzle ultimately opens a door and releases a prize, serving as a meta-commentary on player behavior and the nature of puzzles.
I Want to Play the Villain! Will Let You Rewrite The Cast
I Want to Play the Villain! is a new logic puzzler from Triomatica Games, the developers behind Boxville. Players will direct actors in theatre productions, matching personalities to roles and ensuring successful performances. The game is set to release on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, PC, iOS, and Android, with a free Steam demo available on August 17th.
Stellar Blade: Blood Rain – Release Date, Gameplay, And Everything We Know
Shift Up is developing Stellar Blade: Blood Rain, the sequel to their 2024 hit Stellar Blade. While a release date is not yet announced, the game is in early development and will feature a new protagonist, Evie, with a different combat style. The sequel is expected to explore new story elements and potentially launch on PC and PlayStation 5, with Shift Up self-publishing.
Is Palworld Worth It in 2026? A Verdict for Busy Adults | Two Average Gamers
Palworld 1.0 is a survival game with a significant gap between critical reception and player scores, reflecting its strengths in gameplay loops and weaknesses in polish. While critics point to issues with AI, performance, and shallow building, players praise its addictive systems and creature collection. The game is available on PC and Xbox Series X, including day one on Game Pass, and despite a lawsuit from Nintendo and The Pokémon Company, its merits are considered independent of legal outcomes.
The Daily Grind: How many seasons of MMOs and multiplayer games can you play before you’re bored?
This article discusses the player expectation of seasonal content in MMORPGs and multiplayer games, questioning why players are expected to remain engaged season after season. It references player sentiment regarding games like Diablo IV and Path of Exile 2, suggesting that some games may adhere to Eastern design principles that limit long-term player retention.
