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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

01Build a structure
02Apply a load
03Inspect deformation and breaks
04Reallocate material

Building and layoutsOne rule

Loads and supports

Reinforce the weakest connection or shorten the unsupported span?

Reference gamesPoly Bridge 3 · Besiege

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Core loop

01Inspect demand
02Preview reach
03Place a facility
04Inspect unmet needs

Building and layoutsOne rule

Service coverage

Cover the dense center or reach an isolated group that otherwise remains unserved?

Reference gamesCities: Skylines II · Anno 1800

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Core loop

01Read origin-destination demand
02Connect routes
03Observe traffic
04Reroute congestion

Building and layoutsOne rule

Roads and access

Spend limited road pieces on a new connection or improve the junction used by every route?

Reference gamesMini Motorways · Anno 1800

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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

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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

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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

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Core loop

01Identify reflective surfaces
02Predict the first hit
03Shoot and observe bounces
04Adjust the angle

Aiming and projectilesOne rule

Ricochet aiming

Hit a nearby target directly or risk a bounce that can reach several targets?

Reference gamesPeggle Deluxe · Peglin

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Core loop

01Observe direction and speed
02Estimate travel time
03Aim ahead
04Correct from the miss

Aiming and projectilesOne rule

Leading a moving target

Shoot while motion is steady or wait until a turn ends to estimate velocity again?

Reference gamesWorld of Warships · War Thunder

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Core loop

01Read distance and timing
02Begin charging
03Trade power against exposure
04Release and inspect

Aiming and projectilesOne rule

Charge and release

Charge for a distant shot or fire now before the opening closes?

Reference gamesMonster Hunter Generations · Worms W.M.D Mobilize

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Core loop

01Read corner and speed
02Choose a braking point
03Control the turn
04Compare exit speed and time

Vehicles and racingOne rule

Braking and exit lines

Brake late for more straight-line speed or slow earlier for a better exit position?

Reference gamesGran Turismo 7 · art of rally

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Core loop

01Enter at a suitable speed
02Initiate a slide
03Countersteer
04Recover grip on exit

Vehicles and racingOne rule

Drift and grip recovery

Increase the slip angle for a longer drift or straighten early for a narrow exit?

Reference gamesAbsolute Drift · art of rally

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Core loop

01Place cargo
02Read balance and terrain
03Control speed through hazards
04Deliver and inspect losses

Vehicles and racingOne rule

Cargo and balance

Carry a full load slowly or make two faster trips with a more stable center of mass?

Reference gamesSnowRunner · Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

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Core loop

01Read ropes and swing
02Predict release direction
03Choose and cut a rope
04Inspect landing and retry

Physics and contraptionsOne rule

Releasing a rope

Cut now or wait for a swing with a better launch direction?

Reference gamesCut the Rope Daily · Unravel

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Core loop

01Inspect pivot and load
02Position a counterweight
03Let the platform settle
04Test with player weight

Physics and contraptionsOne rule

Counterweights and pivots

Place the weight farther out for lift, or nearer so the route survives the player's added weight?

Reference gamesHuman Fall Flat · Trine Enchanted Edition

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Core loop

01Read levels and floats
02Plan valve order
03Transfer water
04Use the new height

Physics and contraptionsOne rule

Water-level routes

Raise the cargo platform first or open the far gate before its switch becomes inaccessible?

Reference gamesHydrophobia: Prophecy · Fluidity: Spin Cycle

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Core loop

01Read sight and awareness
02Choose a crossing moment
03Accumulate or cool down
04Reach cover within the window

Stealth and scoutingOne rule

Accumulating awareness

Cross the short gap now or wait for awareness to fall before the next crossing?

Reference gamesMark of the Ninja · Desperados III

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Core loop

01Inspect hearing range
02Choose a landing point
03Make sound and read response
04Cross the redirected route

Stealth and scoutingOne rule

Sound decoys

Lure the guard farther away or merely turn them, avoiding other listeners?

Reference gamesMark of the Ninja · Desperados III

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Core loop

01Read access rules
02Choose an identity
03Avoid detection and illegal acts
04Enter and leave the target area

Stealth and scoutingOne rule

Disguise and access

Adopt warehouse access or keep lobby access and seek another entrance?

Reference gamesHITMAN World of Assassination · Desperados III

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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.