Game Design
Ongoing coverage on Game Design.
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Crushed in Time Interview – How to release a game that’s (deliberately) broken
Freddi Malavasi, Associate Producer at Draw Me A Pixel, discusses the intentionally broken design of their upcoming game, Crushed in Time. The interview explores the game's unique elasticity mechanics, subverted tropes of characters like Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, and the team's philosophy of creating distinct gaming experiences.
Realm Of Ink review - drawing on Hades for inspiration
Realm Of Ink is an isometric roguelite that draws heavy inspiration from Hades, featuring fast-paced combat and a focus on build variety. While its storyline and characters are less developed than its inspiration, the game offers deep combat systems and satisfying build customization across multiple platforms.
Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy devs learned to make melee combat on the job
Asobo Studio, developers of Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, discussed the challenges of implementing melee combat for the first time. Lead level designer Valérian Robert explained that the team drew inspiration from games like Ghost of Tsushima, Sekiro, and Sifu to develop their combat mechanics. The game focuses on Sophia using speed and environmental interactions to defeat armored soldiers, aiming for a balance between challenging and accessible gameplay.
Toys For Bob Hopes The New Spyro Adventure Will Be The "First Of Many"
Toys for Bob, the studio behind the new Spyro: A Realm Beyond, hopes this title will be the first of many new games in the franchise. Studio head Paul Yan emphasized the need to take risks and evolve the character while remaining true to Spyro's roots. The game is set to launch in 2027 for Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC, featuring a visually updated Spyro with an enhanced wingspan.
Yes, you have a gun in Gen Atlas, but Fumito Ueda doesn't want you to think it's a shooter
Fumito Ueda's new game, Gen Atlas, features a gun mechanic, but he emphasizes it is not the primary focus and is intended as one of several ways to overcome challenges. The game, set in a desert world with giant robot carcasses, will allow players to use the gun as a tool for progression rather than for scoring points, drawing parallels to the player's choices in Ico.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation's combat "reached its perfected state" by embracing the series' "iconic" job system, says director
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director Naoki Hamaguchi states the game's combat system has reached its perfected state by embracing the series' iconic job system, now integrated as the Function Integrated Tactical Suitwear (FITS). This system allows for deep customization, enabling players to assign different jobs to characters like Cloud, blending close-range combat with magic. The game also features a larger open world than its predecessor and player choices will influence story moments leading to the final battle.
Before Obsession, Inde Navarrette was streaming her Call of Duty killstreaks with the type of unbothered grace I can…
Before achieving fame as the star of the horror film 'Obsession,' Inde Navarrette was a Twitch streamer known for her 'Call of Duty' gameplay and relaxed demeanor. She shared that her gaming journey began with her brother and mother playing 'Shrek' games on the PlayStation 2, eventually leading to her own PC build and streaming during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
Everything we know about Guild Wars 3 and how it plans to 'push the MMORPG genre forward'
ArenaNet is developing Guild Wars 3, aiming to innovate within the MMORPG genre with a planned fall 2027 beta and a launch on PC and PlayStation 5. The game will retain the series' buy-to-play model and will not feature battlepasses. Guild Wars 3 will feature action-RPG combat with a focus on fluid movement and strategic skill use, set 1,200 years before the original Guild Wars.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation has a "far bigger" open world map than Rebirth, says director, and some Rebirth locations aren't the way you remember them
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation will feature a significantly larger open world map than its predecessor, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, according to director Naoki Hamaguchi. The upcoming title will allow seamless exploration of the entire map via the Highwind airship, with some areas from Rebirth being altered. The game is slated for a Spring 2027 release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
The Duskbloods Receives Brief New Trailer, Closed Network Test Coming This Summer
FromSoftware has released a new trailer for their upcoming PvPvE title, The Duskbloods, for the Nintendo Switch 2. While a release date was not announced, a closed network test is scheduled for this summer. The trailer showcased new playable characters and hinted at the game's narrative of humanity's end, where players compete as Bloodsworn.
Exodus: The Big Preview – Hands-on gameplay and developer access to the upcoming space sci-fi RPG
Archetype Entertainment's upcoming space sci-fi RPG, Exodus, is drawing comparisons to Mass Effect due to its genre and developer backgrounds. A recent preview offered hands-on gameplay, revealing a tactical combat approach and exploration of hostile environments. Narrative director Drew Karpyshyn also discussed inspirations beyond Mass Effect, with the game currently slated for a 2027 release.
Solo Developer's Party Game Fits Eight Players on One Keyboard and Two Controllers at Steam Next Fest
Scales of Silence, a couch party game from solo developer Aggro Games, is available as a demo during Steam Next Fest. The game supports up to eight players on a single PC using one keyboard and two controllers, with a separate 500-level campaign for solo or two-player co-op. The demo features local multiplayer battles and the opening chapter of the story campaign, with progress carrying over to the full game planned for Early Access launch.
Fumito Ueda on why Gen Atlas has shooting but isn't a shooter, cool robots, and generative AI
Fumito Ueda discusses his new game Gen Atlas, emphasizing its unique experience, refined mechanics, and the role of shooting as a progression tool rather than a primary focus. He also touches on the game's themes of robots and the passage of time, and his studio's cautious use of generative AI in development. This marks Ueda's first game to be released on PC.
The Hidden Logic Behind Turn-Based and Card Game Decisions - Walkthrough, Tips, Review
This analysis explores the core logic behind decision-making in turn-based and card games, emphasizing the importance of reading the 'game state' rather than just reacting to individual moves. It highlights how understanding visible information, changes, missing data, and future possibilities is crucial for effective play across various genres, from tactical RPGs to poker and slot machines. The article suggests that this deep engagement with game states enriches the player experience by revealing the underlying design craft.
Wisdom of Nym: The crafting-heavy content of Final Fantasy XIV’s patch 7.51
This opinion piece discusses the content of Final Fantasy XIV's patch 7.51, focusing on the balance between crafting/gathering and combat-oriented content. The author notes that while the patch offers new activities, the distribution of content may not appeal to all player types, particularly those not interested in crafting or the most challenging combat encounters.
Announcing Soul Walker, a 3v1 Asymmetrical Multiplayer Horror Game Produced by Cliff Bleszinski
Epoch Media Studios has announced Soul Walker, a 3v1 asymmetrical multiplayer horror game produced by Cliff Bleszinski, set to release on PC and Xbox. The game features a unique sound-based gameplay system where three survivors must evade a blind entity that hunts by noise, with mechanics that encourage both cooperation and betrayal. The studio is led by CEO Jeffery Thompson, a veteran executive.
It’s Hard To Get Excited For Persona 4 Revival
The author expresses a lack of excitement for the upcoming Persona 4 Revival remake, despite holding the original Persona 4 as a favorite JRPG. This is largely due to Persona 4 Golden already receiving a comprehensive re-release on modern platforms, making the need for another remake questionable. The article questions whether the new visuals and potential new content in Revival can justify its existence or improve upon the already definitive Persona 4 Golden.
GOALS Review: An Ambitious Free-to-Play Football Game That Misses an Open Goal
GOALS, a free-to-play football game from Swedish studio Goals AB, has officially launched but falls short of expectations. While it offers decent defensive mechanics, the game suffers from static attacking AI, limited tactical choices, and significant pay-to-win elements due to abysmal pack drop rates and the absence of a transfer market. The progression system and use of generic players are interesting concepts but lack proper execution, making it difficult to recommend as a viable alternative to established titles like EA FC.
Xbox and Sony's games all looked the same this year. Here's why the PC Gaming Show won
The author argues that while major showcases from Xbox and Sony featured many anticipated titles, most triple-A games looked visually similar. In contrast, the PC Gaming Show highlighted innovative indie and double-A titles across various genres, demonstrating where true creativity in gaming currently lies.
3 years after releasing one of the best indie JRPGs, Sea of Stars devs roll out the "final update" and tease a…
Sabotage Studio has released the final update for their indie JRPG, Sea of Stars, titled the Sunset Edition. This update includes a new cinematic intro, an expanded flashback sequence, and rebalanced Normal and Hard modes. The studio also teased their next project, codenamed 'Project Sparrow', which has been in pre-production for over a year.
