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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

01Stop and inspect
02Plan a segment
03Act to advance the world
04Stop and reassess

Time and echoesOne rule

Action-driven world time

Pause to read trajectories or move into position while enemies advance too?

Reference gamesSUPERHOT · SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE

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Core loop

01Assess threat density
02Activate slow motion
03Act within the reserve
04Exit and inspect remaining time

Time and echoesOne rule

Limited slow motion

Spend slow motion on an easy target or save it for overlapping threats?

Reference gamesMax Payne · Boomerang X

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Core loop

01Read timed connections
02Prepare the route
03Trigger in order
04Pass before expiry

Time and echoesOne rule

Timed switch chains

Prepare a shortcut before starting the timer or trigger now and arrange things on the run?

Reference gamesPortal 2 · Twelve Minutes

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Core loop

01Read clues
02Mark forced cells
03Propagate intersections
04Complete and verify

Observation and deductionOne rule

Nonogram run constraints

Use overlap in a long run or split a row around known empty cells?

Reference gamesPattern · Picross e

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Core loop

01Organize candidates
02Construct a probe
03Read both feedback counts
04Eliminate inconsistencies

Observation and deductionOne rule

Code-breaking feedback

Guess the likeliest answer or probe to eliminate more candidates?

Reference gamesGuess · Mastermind

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Core loop

01Read testimony
02Question or inspect
03Pair contradictory evidence
04Explain and update

Observation and deductionOne rule

Cross-examining contradictions

Is the evidence enough, or must you clarify the time or location first?

Reference gamesApollo Justice: Ace Attorney · Contradiction: Spot The Liar

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Core loop

01Inspect letters
02Trace neighbors
03Validate word and path
04Keep found words and search

Language and rule manipulationOne rule

Words through adjacent tiles

Submit a safe short word or extend through a rare letter with uncertain validity?

Reference gamesBoggle · Wordament

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Core loop

01Read a fragment
02Propose a term
03Inspect search results
04Update clues and hypotheses

Language and rule manipulationOne rule

Keyword-driven investigation

Keep searching a known name or follow an unusual object mentioned in a sentence?

Reference gamesHer Story · Telling Lies

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Core loop

01Read distance and word length
02Select a target
03Type or switch
04Resolve and reprioritize

Language and rule manipulationOne rule

Typing target priorities

Finish a half-typed long word or switch to the short-word threat about to reach you?

Reference gamesEpistory - Typing Chronicles · The Typing of The Dead: Overkill

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Core loop

01Read current and next pieces
02Choose orientation and landing
03Lock and clear
04Plan remaining space

Matching and mergingOne rule

Falling pieces and stack planning

Clear a row now or preserve a well for a better upcoming piece?

Reference gamesTetris® Effect: Connected · Puyo Puyo™Tetris®

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Core loop

01Preview a group
02Predict collapse
03Remove it
04Inspect new groups and singles

Matching and mergingOne rule

Group removal and collapse

Take the large group now or remove a small group to join separated colors?

Reference gamesSame Game · Puyo Puyo™Tetris®

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Core loop

01Read the frontier
02Choose a color
03Merge neighbors
04Plan remaining moves

Matching and mergingOne rule

Flood-fill frontiers

Absorb the largest nearby patch or take a small corridor toward a distant region?

Reference gamesFlood · KAMI

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Core loop

01Predict a route
02Set an overwatch arc
03Advance enemies
04Resolve triggers and charges

Turns and tacticsOne rule

Reserved overwatch reactions

Shoot a weak target now or watch the next choke point?

Reference gamesXCOM 2 · Gears Tactics

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Core loop

01Read attack directions
02Preview lines from a move
03Choose a position
04Resolve protection on both sides

Turns and tacticsOne rule

Directional cover and flanking

Fire safely with poor odds or spend movement to flank and expose yourself?

Reference gamesXCOM 2 · Gears Tactics

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Core loop

01Read the budget
02Preview costs
03Execute one action
04Recompute legal options

Turns and tacticsOne rule

A shared action-point budget

Spend movement for a better position or save points for two actions?

Reference gamesGears Tactics · XCOM 2

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Core loop

01Read local species
02Choose bait
03Resolve one catch
04Update stock/observations

Catching and trackingOne rule

Bait and target likelihood

Spend scarce targeted bait for an order or accept mixed catches with generic bait?

Reference gamesStardew Valley · Fishing Planet

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Core loop

01Place a trap
02Work elsewhere
03Return on schedule
04Rebait/repair/redeploy

Catching and trackingOne rule

Trap placement and collection routes

Choose a distant valuable site or a nearby low-maintenance route?

Reference gamesDREDGE · Stardew Valley

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Core loop

01Read target state
02Choose weakening action
03Check eligibility
04Use a tool and resolve

Catching and trackingOne rule

Weakening and capture windows

Attack again for better odds or attempt capture before knocking the target out?

Reference gamesMonster Hunter Generations · Pokémon Brilliant Diamond / Shining Pearl

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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.