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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 enemy differences
02Set priority
03Observe selected targets
04Adjust from leaks

Defense and wavesOne rule

Target priorities

Stop the small enemy near the exit or focus on the tougher threat behind it?

Reference gamesBloons TD 6 · GemCraft Labyrinth

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Core loop

01Read entry and exit
02Place walls and towers
03Verify reachability
04Run a wave and inspect exposure

Defense and wavesLinked states

Maze-building defense

Spend on a longer route or more damage along a shorter one?

Reference gamesDefense Grid: The Awakening · Sanctum 2

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Core loop

01Read remaining threats
02Compare bonus and pressure
03Call early or wait
04Observe base health under overlap

Defense and wavesOne rule

Calling a wave early

Take the bonus now or clear part of the current wave before accepting overlap?

Reference gamesKingdom Rush: Vengeance · GemCraft: Frostborn Wrath

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Core loop

01Inspect footprints
02Rotate and arrange
03Consume or discard
04Confirm loadout and space

Inventory and loadoutsOne rule

Inventory shapes and tradeoffs

Discard a low-value item or rotate and consume supplies to create the needed shape?

Reference gamesSave Room - Organization Puzzle · Backpack Hero

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Core loop

01Read adjacency conditions
02Arrange a combination
03Inspect active links
04Adjust total output

Inventory and loadoutsLinked states

Equipment adjacency

Boost one strong weapon or place the amplifier between two weaker items?

Reference gamesBackpack Hero · Backpack Battles

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Core loop

01Read route and durability
02Choose a tool
03Spend and update reserves
04Repair, replace or return

Inventory and loadoutsOne rule

Durability and reserves

Spend the strong tool now or save it for a tougher obstacle and use a weaker tool first?

Reference gamesThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild · Valheim

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Core loop

01Estimate round-trip cost
02Choose target and route
03Gather and monitor reserves
04Refill and depart again

Survival and environmentsOne rule

Oxygen and return planning

Collect one more resource or return while the route remains affordable?

Reference gamesSubnautica · Astroneer

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Core loop

01Read weather and insulation
02Plan exposure
03Spend warmth or fuel
04Recover in shelter

Survival and environmentsOne rule

Warmth, fuel and shelter

Fetch fuel in the cold or spend reserves until conditions improve?

Reference gamesThe Long Dark · Oxygen Not Included

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Core loop

01Trace the source
02Inspect contact and transport
03Place separation or cleaning
04Run and check recurrence

Survival and environmentsLinked states

Contamination and separation

Clean every affected item now or isolate the source before recontamination?

Reference gamesOxygen Not Included · RimWorld

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Core loop

01Observe population trends
02Form an intervention hypothesis
03Change one resource or group
04Track delayed effects

Ecology and populationsMultiple systems

Food webs and cascades

Add predators to control herbivores or restore plants first to prevent a later food collapse?

Reference gamesEco · Rain World

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Core loop

01Read species needs
02Find compatible overlap
03Arrange terrain and borders
04Check every species

Ecology and populationsLinked states

Shared habitats

Create one mixed habitat or two smaller areas that better satisfy distinct needs?

Reference gamesTerra Nil · Planet Zoo

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Core loop

01Inspect parent traits
02Choose pairings
03Generate and record offspring
04Select for the next environment

Ecology and populationsLinked states

Traits across generations

Select one strong trait or preserve diversity for a changing environment?

Reference gamesNiche - a genetics survival game · Wobbledogs

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Core loop

01Estimate time away
02Configure rate and capacity
03Settle elapsed time
04Inspect limits and reallocate

Idle and incrementalOne rule

Offline yield and capacity

Raise production rate or expand storage for a longer absence?

Reference gamesMelvor Idle · Kittens Game

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Core loop

01Read persistent gains
02Compare waiting and rebuilding
03Confirm reset scope
04Test the new capability

Idle and incrementalOne rule

Resetting for a new growth layer

Reset now for a faster next run or wait to reach the next persistent-reward threshold?

Reference gamesCookie Clicker · Antimatter Dimensions

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Core loop

01Inspect concurrent needs
02Allocate workers
03Advance and observe gaps
04Reassign after milestones

Idle and incrementalLinked states

Parallel projects and allocation

Put everyone into research or retain food production to support the research period?

Reference gamesKittens Game · Melvor Idle

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Core loop

01Value the item and budgets
02Choose a hidden bid
03Reveal and break ties
04Pay and plan the next round

Competition and bargainingOne rule

Sealed simultaneous bids

Bid high for a key item or preserve budget for a better later target?

Reference gamesModern Art · QE

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Core loop

01Read the current pack
02Evaluate both sides' sets
03Pick one and pass
04Update expectations from circulation

Competition and bargainingOne rule

Drafting and passing

Complete your own combination or deny the final piece an opponent visibly needs?

Reference gamesSushi Go! · 7 Wonders

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Core loop

01Read shared needs
02Compare private and group value
03Contribute or retain
04Reveal results and update trust

Competition and bargainingLinked states

Shared contributions and private goals

Keep resources assuming others will fill the gap, or contribute now to reduce shared failure risk?

Reference gamesEco · Dead of Winter

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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.