Game Design
Ongoing coverage on Game Design.
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Doom: The Dark Ages | Revelations review – the best DLC of the year
This review praises Doom: The Dark Ages | Revelations as an exceptional DLC expansion, calling it one of the best ever made and potentially the best Doom game since the 90s. Despite the recent layoffs at id Software, the expansion successfully blends elements from Doom Eternal and Doom: The Dark Ages, introducing the versatile Chain Spear weapon and improved level design. The DLC is available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
EA Backed Down on College Football 27, But the Battle Isn’t Over
Players have voiced strong opposition to paid progression systems in College Football 27's Road to Glory and Dynasty modes, viewing them as detrimental to the core gameplay experience. Electronic Arts has acknowledged the backlash, stating the paid progression did not deliver intended value, but the article argues the studio has not fully addressed the issue, suggesting future installments like College Football 28 may still feature similar monetization tactics.
Was Assassin's Creed Origins' Egypt the best open world in the series?
This article discusses whether Assassin's Creed Origins' depiction of ancient Egypt was the best open world in the series. It contrasts Origins' Egypt with the worlds of later titles like Odyssey, Valhalla, and Shadows, noting how Origins' world felt majestic and educational, even featuring a Discovery Tour mode. While acknowledging that other Assassin's Creed games often have strong worlds, the article suggests Origins' Egypt stands out as a particularly rich and convincing historical recreation.
Original Witcher dev says remaking it as an open world won't be easy: 'As a player, I might be happy about that, but as a designer, I'm starting to get gray'
Original Witcher designer Artur Ganszyniec discussed the challenges of remaking the first game as an open-world RPG. He explained that the linear design of the original allowed for precise player event triggering, a luxury not afforded in open-world titles. Ganszyniec, who also consulted on The Thaumaturge for Fool's Theory (the studio developing the remake), expressed that while he might enjoy an open-world Witcher as a player, the design complexities make him apprehensive.
Beyond the Review Score: The Invisible Grind For Our Collective Attention Span
Modern game reviews increasingly prioritize user experience factors like onboarding, UI design, and customer support over traditional metrics. Factors such as time-to-play, seamless signup processes, and mobile optimization are now critical for player retention and overall game success. Companies like Microsoft are actively refining their platforms, such as the Xbox home screen, to reduce friction and improve user engagement.
Moonlight Peaks review
Moonlight Peaks is a nocturnal farming simulation game with a supernatural theme, developed by Little Chicken and published by Xseed Games and Marvelous Europe. While its premise offers a refreshing twist on the genre, the game suffers from bland writing and inconsistent tone, making it difficult for players to become invested in the story and characters. It functions adequately as a casual farming experience but lacks the depth and originality to stand out in a crowded market.
MW4 Multiplayer: Kill Block Intel
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 will feature a dynamic multiplayer experience called Kill Block, an adaptive training facility where modular battlegrounds reconfigure before each match. Attendees at Fanatics Fest NYC can experience Kill Block firsthand, which includes expanded Gunfight modes like 3v3 and 10v10, with future support planned for more core multiplayer modes. The game is developed by Infinity Ward and will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC on October 23, 2026.
A university is offering scholarships to MMORPG players who have completed lengthy grinds
The University of Silicon Valley is offering the Max Achievement Scholarship program, providing up to $5,000 per term for students who have completed significant in-game grinds in MMORPGs like World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy XIV, Guild Wars 2, and RuneScape. The university aims to recognize skills such as persistence and problem-solving demonstrated through these gaming achievements.
Black Flag Resynced is missing iconic combat mechanics simply because they were 'lower priority'
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Resynced game director Richard Knight explained that iconic combat mechanics like hidden blade combat and picking up enemy weapons were cut due to lower priority during development. While Knight stated they are listening to community feedback, the decision was made to prioritize core combat systems, with the cost of reinventing and rebuilding these features for modern standards being a significant factor.
RPG players are conditioned to think they're 'built different', says Josh Sawyer, so some of them hate it when games like Pillars of Eternity tell them they can't do something
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire director Josh Sawyer discussed player expectations in RPGs, noting that some players dislike the game's ending where the protagonist cannot stop the god Eothas. Sawyer explained that this narrative choice was intentional to explore the limitations of power and challenge the common RPG trope of the protagonist being able to overcome any obstacle.
Wisdom of Nym: Speculating about the second half of Final Fantasy XIV’s Occult Crescent
This article speculates on the upcoming second half of Final Fantasy XIV's Occult Crescent content update, discussing potential changes to Phantom Weapons, currency rewards, and the challenging Forked Tower instance. The author anticipates adjustments to balance and progression compared to the first half, while acknowledging some design issues may persist.
Flameseeker Chronicles: Lessons Guild Wars 3 must not fail to learn from its predecessors
This opinion piece discusses key lessons ArenaNet should learn from Guild Wars 1 and Guild Wars 2 for the development of Guild Wars 3. It highlights the importance of a consistent content release cadence, the pitfalls of the Living World experiment, the need for flexible race and class design, and the significance of player mobility options and respecting the existing player base. The author expresses cautious optimism that ArenaNet has learned from past mistakes.
Discovering the Strangest High Score System in Gaming
This article examines the peculiar and counterintuitive high score system in the 1999 Game Boy Color title Pong: The Next Level. Unlike traditional Pong, this version rewards players for extending games and achieving higher scores through precarious play rather than decisive victories. The analysis explores how this design choice fundamentally alters the player's experience, transforming the game into a test of nerve and endurance, akin to a bullfight, despite the lack of a save feature for these high scores.
Denshattack: Designing A New Skateboarding Game Where the Skateboard is A Train
Denshattack! is a new skateboarding game where players control a train, blending the thrill of extreme sports with the momentum of a locomotive. The game's design focuses on timing, rhythm, and creative expression, inspired by titles like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater and Sonic. It is available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, and Xbox Game Pass, featuring a story about self-expression and reclaiming abandoned spaces in a Japanese-inspired dystopia.
How Hold and Win Mechanics Elevate Suspense in Slot Games
Slot game designers utilize the Hold and Win mechanic to create suspense by pausing standard gameplay for goal-oriented sequences, turning symbol appearances into engaging, cinematic moments. This feature involves locking special symbols and awarding respins to collect additional values, with design elements like sticky symbols, timed respins, and escalating audio amplifying player anticipation and emotional investment.
After Manor Lords Reworked Pathfinding, What Else Do Strategy Games Need to Solve?
This article analyzes how strategy games like Manor Lords and Mandate Order need to improve simulation and pathfinding to build player trust. Recent updates to Manor Lords focused on technical revisions to movement and task behavior, aiming to make the game's execution of player decisions more reliable. Mandate Order is highlighted for its approach to integrating warfare with city-building, making conscription a clear trade-off that impacts the entire city's economy and logistics, thus requiring better feedback systems.
Arc Raiders is down but not out - dwindling player numbers and a long wait for the next update mark an important time for the extraction shooter
Arc Raiders, an extraction shooter praised for its accessibility and social features, is experiencing a significant decline in player numbers, dropping from nearly half a million daily players to around 50,000. This decrease is attributed to a lack of substantial content updates, with major additions now only arriving twice a year. The game's unique aggression-based matchmaking system may also suffer as the player pool shrinks, potentially forcing players with different playstyles into the same lobbies. The upcoming 'Frozen Trials' update is seen as a critical relaunch opportunity for Embark Studios to re-engage players and regain lost momentum.
The Daily Grind: What’s your favorite video game that couldn’t realistically be turned into an MMO?
This article discusses which favorite video games are not realistically adaptable into MMORPGs without compromising their core gameplay. Examples like Rollercoaster Tycoon and Chrono Trigger are cited as titles whose unique mechanics would be difficult to translate into the massively multiplayer online roleplaying genre.
As a Spyro fan from the '90s, here's what Spyro: A Realm Beyond needs to get right
A long-time fan of the original Spyro games discusses expectations for the upcoming title, Spyro: A Realm Beyond, developed by Toys for Bob. The article highlights the importance of balancing nostalgic elements with modern game design to appeal to both older and newer generations of players, emphasizing the potential of free flight mechanics and the need to retain the series' core charm.
ZPF Review – Genesis of the Shmup
ZPF is a solid but unremarkable shmup for the Mega Drive, featuring a colorful 16-bit aesthetic and a choice of ships with different abilities. While it offers a significant challenge with limited lives and no continues, clunky controls and a lack of variety make it feel dated compared to other titles in the genre.
