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

Guides explain combinations and are counted separately from individual mechanisms.

Genre guides

Roguelike runs

A run begins with a set of starting resources while rooms, rewards or combinations change. Failure resets the run; each design decides which forms of progress persist outside it.

Show the loop

Enter a new area with few resources
Make one tradeoff in a fight or an event
Use the new ability to change the next encounter
Restart immediately, keeping only memory of the route

Reference gamesHades · Spelunky · The Binding of Isaac

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Genre guides

Survivor-like

The character attacks automatically, and the player mostly moves. Pressure comes from enemies closing in together, and growth comes from one choice at each level.

Show the loop

Move through gaps in the crowd
Let the automatic attack open a temporary path
Choose one ability from a few options
Use the new range to choose a new place to stand

Reference gamesVampire Survivors · Brotato · Halls of Torment

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Genre guides

Idle progress

Progress continues while the player is away, and the return needs a decision that visibly changes the pace. The pleasure is knowing what to change at that moment.

Show the loop

See what offline or automatic work produced
Spend resources on a new producer
Let production run by itself for a while
On return, retire an outdated setup and replace it

Reference gamesCookie Clicker · Melvor Idle · AdVenture Capitalist

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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.

Roguelike runs

A run begins with a set of starting resources while rooms, rewards or combinations change. Failure resets the run; each design decides which forms of progress persist outside it.

Show the loop

Enter a new area with few resources
Make one tradeoff in a fight or an event
Use the new ability to change the next encounter
Restart immediately, keeping only memory of the route

Reference gamesHades · Spelunky · The Binding of Isaac

Survivor-like

The character attacks automatically, and the player mostly moves. Pressure comes from enemies closing in together, and growth comes from one choice at each level.

Show the loop

Move through gaps in the crowd
Let the automatic attack open a temporary path
Choose one ability from a few options
Use the new range to choose a new place to stand

Reference gamesVampire Survivors · Brotato · Halls of Torment

Idle progress

Progress continues while the player is away, and the return needs a decision that visibly changes the pace. The pleasure is knowing what to change at that moment.

Show the loop

See what offline or automatic work produced
Spend resources on a new producer
Let production run by itself for a while
On return, retire an outdated setup and replace it

Reference gamesCookie Clicker · Melvor Idle · AdVenture Capitalist