Game Design
Ongoing coverage on Game Design.
Latest coverage
Sony's "lack of marketing push" on Marathon "speaks to the lack of faith from the platform holder," says former Square Enix exec
A former Square Enix executive believes Sony's limited marketing for Bungie's Marathon indicates a lack of faith in the title. Despite Marathon being the most played game on Xbox last month, its presence on PlayStation dashboards is minimal. This lack of promotion is contrasted with Microsoft's typical support for its first-party titles and the potential for Marathon to be a major success if marketed effectively.
NBA The Run comes to PS5 this June
Play by Play Studios announced that NBA The Run will be released on PlayStation 5 in June. The game features four-round knockout tournaments on streetball courts with randomized rulesets and a momentum-based "in the zone" system for signature abilities. Players can unlock cosmetics and streetball legends, including announcer Bobbito Garcia, through in-game currency and ranking up.
WoW Factor: The times when World of Warcraft’s story did everything right
This article analyzes the narrative strengths of World of Warcraft, particularly highlighting Mists of Pandaria as a peak for its deliberate pacing and earned story moments. It contrasts this with the perceived lack of consequence and rushed plot developments in the recent expansion, Midnight, arguing that modern WoW's stories feel unearned due to their speed. The author advises current writers to adopt a slower, more methodical approach to storytelling, drawing parallels to the successful character development and faction conflict resolution seen in Mists of Pandaria.
After the Wolfenstein tabletop RPG dev told me about its OTT hail mary system, I'm all in
Modiphius Entertainment is developing a Wolfenstein tabletop RPG based on The New Order and The New Colossus, set in an alternate 1962. The game will utilize a streamlined version of the 2d20 system with new mechanics like 'stances' and an 'I AM PREPARED TO DIE' option for high-stakes gameplay. The crowdfunding campaign is expected in Fall 2026.
Valorborn Early Access Preview – Ambitious but Frustrating RPG | Invision Game Community
Valorborn's early access launch presents an ambitious medieval fantasy sandbox RPG with a visually striking world and promising core mechanics. However, the experience is hampered by significant inconsistencies in combat, progression, and technical performance, leading to frustration despite moments of genuine enjoyment. While multiplayer shows potential, issues with matchmaking and connectivity detract from the overall experience, leaving Valorborn in a "wait and see" category for now.
Innovative Mobile Game Mechanics That Changed Gaming in 2026 - Walkthrough, Tips, Review
Mobile games in 2026 are increasingly defined by innovative design choices rather than just visuals, focusing on mechanics that influence player engagement and retention. Key trends include hybrid-casual gameplay, live-service features, AI-driven personalization, idle loops, social integration, and evolving monetization systems that prioritize transparency and player experience.
How Indie Games Are Quietly Reinventing the Luck Mechanic - Walkthrough, Tips, Review
Indie game developers are increasingly treating randomness and luck as core design elements rather than afterthoughts. Games like Slay the Spire and Hades demonstrate how to implement controlled chaos, where luck feels earned and navigable, enhancing player agency and replayability. This intentional design approach, influenced by player psychology and digital platform expectations, aims to create engaging experiences that reward skill over pure fortune.
Dune Awakening has officially split the Deep Desert into PvE and PvP instances with this week’s patch
Dune Awakening has implemented a PvE and PvP split for its Deep Desert instances with the 1.3.20 patch. This change allows players to choose between PvE-focused or PvP-enabled areas, addressing player preference for PvE content. The update also includes adjustments to boss health, drop rates, and performance optimizations.
Final Fantasy 14's Unreal trials are such a brilliant way to reintroduce old fights for new players and I wish we…
The article praises Final Fantasy XIV's Unreal trials as an innovative method for reintroducing older Extreme trials to current players. These trials scale down older content to the current level cap, allowing players to experience them with their full modern kits, which is seen as a valuable and developer-resource-friendly approach to engaging with legacy content.
DarkSwitch Review – Holding the Line
DarkSwitch offers a unique fantasy city-builder experience with its innovative vertical building mechanics around a massive tree and a gripping narrative. Despite some tutorial interruptions and minor building system friction, the game provides a tense yet rewarding experience, making it a strong recommendation for genre fans and newcomers alike. The PC version boasts stable performance and impressive visuals, complemented by a moody soundtrack from Silent Hill composer Akira Yamaoka.
PHYSICS-BASED COMBAT | Alpha Trailer | BLOODFALL | Join the Steam Playtest news - BLOODFALL: The First Temple
The alpha for BLOODFALL: The First Temple is now available on Steam, introducing a new era of physics-based combat with a focus on Structural Dynamics and 1:1 mouse control. Players can request access on Steam to test the game's unique mechanics, including a training challenge and an arcade-style progression system.
Review: Total Chaos (Switch 2) - Performance Woes Tarnish Fort Oasis
Total Chaos, a first-person survival horror game originally released in November 2025, is now available on Nintendo Switch but suffers from significant performance issues. Developed by Trigger Happy Interactive, the game features exploration, resource management, and combat on the mysterious island of Fort Oasis. Despite its intriguing mechanics and adjustable difficulty options, the visuals are muddy and the frame rate struggles to maintain stability, tarnishing the overall experience.
Video Games Need More Suffering, Slay The Princess Devs Say
Developers from Black Tabby Games and Sunset Visitor discuss the importance of 'friction' and 'suffering' in video game narratives, arguing that removing challenges leads to a lack of learning. They also detail their new publishing partnership, aimed at supporting narrative-focused studios and streamlining the publishing process for titles like Sunset Visitor's upcoming game, Prove You're Human.
"Lord of Hatred is the best Diablo 4 has ever been," Blizzard says
Blizzard Entertainment developers Zaven Haroutunian and Colin Finer believe Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred represents the game at its finest, calling it the ultimate expression of the action RPG. While the expansion refines endgame systems like War Plans and adds customization through Talismans and the Horadric Cube, it aims to elevate the experience to rival competitors and conclude the Mephisto saga.
Neverway doesn't want to be Stardew Valley. Instead, the devs are going as "weird as possible," Larian-style
Neverway aims to differentiate itself from Stardew Valley by embracing a 'weird as possible' approach, inspired by Larian Studios' design philosophy. The game blends life simulation with horror, RPG, and Soulslike elements, exploring themes of trauma and cosmic realms. Developers Isadora Sophia and Pedro Medeiros, along with composer Disasterpeace, discuss their unique artistic choices in mechanics, art style, and music to create an authentic and deep experience for players.
Returnal Creators Reveal Saros as Dark Successor About Power and Greed | HappyGamer
Housemarque has revealed Saros as their next project, a successor to Returnal that will explore themes of obsession, greed, power, and corruption. The Finnish studio aims to build on the success of Returnal, which proved the viability of AAA roguelikes, by tackling darker subject matter. While details are scarce, the studio is expected to integrate these mature themes into gameplay mechanics on the PlayStation 5.
NARAKA: BLADEPOINT Gets New Hero Tara Gan in April 29 Update | HappyGamer
NARAKA: BLADEPOINT's April 29 update introduces a new hero, Tara Gan, whose cosmic horror-inspired backstory and theme of defying fate add significant narrative depth to the battle royale experience. The update also includes new gameplay mechanics like the Land of Peace sanctuary, Vermilion Bird Talismans for second chances, and Vajra Fruit for enhanced recovery, all tied to mythological symbolism.
Pragmata and Saros give hope for the future of big budget video games
The release of new intellectual properties like Pragmata and Saros offers a hopeful contrast to the current trend of sequels and licensed games in the industry. These titles prioritize gameplay and unique experiences, a rarity in modern big-budget development. While Western publishers are increasingly risk-averse, focusing on live service games, Japanese developers like Capcom and Sony Interactive Entertainment are still willing to invest in new IPs, providing a much-needed breath of fresh air.
4:LOOP’s Scanner Boss Fight And Design Detailed in New Deep Dive
Bad Robot Games' co-op shooter 4:LOOP will feature unique boss encounters, with Chief Creative Officer Mike Booth detailing the design of the 'Scanner' boss. This boss fight emphasizes spatial awareness and team coordination over direct combat, requiring players to destroy 54 panels while navigating an increasingly tight laser grid. The game is in development for PC and PlayStation 5.
Forza Horizon 6 Looks Like a Major Evolution Over Forza Horizon 5
Forza Horizon 6 is set to be Playground Games' most ambitious entry yet, featuring a diverse Japanese setting with radically different roadways compared to Forza Horizon 5. The game introduces significant overhauls in progression, exploration, and customization, including denser environments, dramatic seasonal changes, enhanced audio, and rebalanced vehicle classes. New features like the Car Proximity Radar, Horizon Rush events, and a customizable Estate aim to deepen player immersion and social interaction.
