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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

01Confirm the opener
02Read range and threats
03Choose a branch
04Inspect the recovery position

Close combatOne rule

Combo branching

Commit to a long combo or use a short branch to escape a second enemy?

Reference gamesSifu · Street Fighter V

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Core loop

01Read both meters
02Choose offense or defense
03Maintain or release pressure
04Use the break window

Close combatOne rule

Posture buildup and break

Maintain pressure to prevent recovery or retreat to restore your own posture?

Reference gamesSekiro: Shadows Die Twice · Sifu

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Core loop

01Start an action
02Confirm the hit state
03Input during the window
04Check transition and cost

Close combatOne rule

Action-cancel windows

Commit after confirming a hit or stop to avoid punishment on block?

Reference gamesStreet Fighter V · Street Fighter IV

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Core loop

01Read revealed hazards
02Draw or stop
03Update provisional rewards
04Bank or lose

Cards and diceOne rule

Push-your-luck drawing

Risk another reveal as visible hazards accumulate?

Reference gamesPort Royal · Incan Gold

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Core loop

01Read the next threat
02Play cards
03Mark retained cards
04Draw within capacity

Cards and diceOne rule

Holding cards across turns

Keep future defense or make room for fresh offense?

Reference gamesSlay the Spire · Gloomhaven

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Core loop

01Compare card effects
02Choose a build
03Select payment cards
04Resolve ability and hand

Cards and diceOne rule

Multi-use cards

Spend a strong future card to activate production now?

Reference gamesRace for the Galaxy · Port Royal

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Core loop

01Read resistances
02Choose damage types
03Inspect effective damage
04Fill a matchup gap

Defense and wavesOne rule

Armor and damage counters

Upgrade raw damage or add a tower that counters the next wave?

Reference gamesKingdom Rush Battles · Dungeon Defenders

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Core loop

01Inspect damage
02Compare costs
03Allocate repair/building
04Observe next-wave attrition

Defense and wavesOne rule

Repair or expand the defense

Restore a weak barrier or trust a new turret to clear enemies before it breaks?

Reference gamesDungeon Defenders: Awakened · Mindustry

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Core loop

01Read spacing
02Choose impact or placement
03Resolve targets in radius
04Compare damage and leaks

Defense and wavesOne rule

Splash damage and crowd density

Hit the dangerous leader or center the blast on more targets?

Reference gamesMindustry · Dungeon Defenders

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Core loop

01Read weight and utility
02Choose cargo
03Preview travel cost
04Settle on arrival

Inventory and loadoutsOne rule

Weight budgets and cargo choices

Carry valuable ore or preserve tools and food needed to return?

Reference gamesThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim · Death Stranding

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Core loop

01Read route needs
02Assign slots
03Use tools in context
04Review missing preparation

Inventory and loadoutsOne rule

Quickslots and preparation

Equip a recovery item or reserve a slot for a special obstacle?

Reference gamesMinecraft · Elden Ring

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Core loop

01Read the base skill
02Preview compatible modules
03Install and try
04Compare behavior and cost

Inventory and loadoutsOne rule

Sockets and skill modifiers

Split a projectile for coverage or preserve single-target power?

Reference gamesPath of Exile · Diablo III

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Core loop

01Read growth direction
02Prune or steer
03Advance growth
04Check light and bloom

Growing and tendingOne rule

Pruning and directed growth

Keep current leaves or sacrifice a branch to reach sunlight?

Reference gamesPrune · Grow Home

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Core loop

01Read interaction range
02Place flowers/hives
03Advance visits
04Compare propagation/products

Growing and tendingOne rule

Flowers, pollinators and layout

Plant a directly sellable crop or a flower supporting nearby production?

Reference gamesAPICO · Stardew Valley

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Core loop

01Compare maturity/regrowth
02Plant a plot
03Harvest and update stage
04Retain or replace

Growing and tendingOne rule

One-off crops versus regrowth

Take quick one-off yield or wait for repeated later harvests?

Reference gamesStardew Valley · Farm Together

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Core loop

01Read deficits
02Choose food combinations
03Spend actions/stock
04Check remaining needs

Survival and environmentsOne rule

Multiple nutrition needs

Gather easy fruit or detour for the missing food category?

Reference gamesEco · Green Hell

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Core loop

01Estimate the route
02Travel or rest
03Advance time/supplies
04Reassess a safe return

Survival and environmentsOne rule

Fatigue and rest scheduling

Travel while light remains or rest before an exhausting night return?

Reference gamesThe Long Dark · Don't Starve

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Core loop

01Read provisional loot
02Continue or extract
03Reach and hold an exit
04Settle secured/lost rewards

Survival and environmentsOne rule

Extracting to secure rewards

Return with current gains or push deeper for more?

Reference gamesHunt: Showdown 1896 · Deep Rock Galactic

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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.