Skip to main content

ATLAS / IDEAS

Game design atlas

Find a mechanism, understand its tradeoffs and smallest useful scope, then build your game with a design card and sample project.

192 Mechanisms32 Mechanism domain48 Art styles12 Genre guides

Art styles My research shelf Rain Canopy Workshop · Try the complete prototype Pixel toolkit

Core loop

01Read landing and ceiling
02Choose takeoff
03Hold or release early
04Observe and adjust

Movement and jumpingOne rule

Variable-height jumping

Release now to avoid the ceiling or keep rising to reach a farther landing?

Reference gamesSuper Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS · Celeste

Open this entry

Core loop

01Read dash charges
02Plan refill order
03Spend a dash
04Refill and continue

Movement and jumpingOne rule

Dash refill routes

Dash sideways into a refill or upward to retain height for the final segment?

Reference gamesCeleste · Neon White

Open this entry

Core loop

01Reach a usable wall
02Control contact height
03Jump away
04Choose the next wall

Movement and jumpingOne rule

Wall-jump routing

Jump immediately or slide lower to avoid the hazard band on the opposite wall?

Reference gamesSuper Meat Boy · Celeste

Open this entry

Core loop

01Identify anchors
02Choose a connection
03Adjust the swing
04Release or transfer

Movement and jumpingOne rule

Choosing grapple anchors

Take a close low anchor for safety or a distant high one for reach?

Reference gamesGrapple Dog · Deep Rock Galactic

Open this entry

Core loop

01Read slopes and bends
02Build speed
03Choose a preserving route
04Check the next segment

Movement and jumpingOne rule

Momentum-preserving routes

Take a sharp shortcut or preserve speed on a longer curve for the gap ahead?

Reference gamesThe King's Bird · Boomerang X

Open this entry

Core loop

01Read both positions
02Preview the swap
03Confirm a valid target
04Act from the new arrangement

Movement and jumpingOne rule

Position swapping

Is placing the partner beside the switch worth entering danger yourself?

Reference gamesThe Swapper · Heat Signature

Open this entry

Covers are original AI-generated style illustrations. Game names reference publicly visible design choices and remain the property of their owners. This atlas does not supply screenshots or assets from those games. Prompts and combinations are original drafts for new games.