article thumbnail

Chance vs. Choice: Balancing RNG and Player Agency in Modern Games

Game Wisdom

Chance vs. Choice: Balancing RNG and Player Agency in Modern Games Josh Bycer josh@game-wisdom.com In the evolution of modern game design, few concepts have sparked as much debate as the balance between chance and player choice.

Balance 52
article thumbnail

The Last Three by Csaba Putnai “Discipline and planning are essential, but don’t forget flexibility”

PreMortem.Games

Its his second game after the release of his debut, Bob A Thousand Lives , which he developed in his forties. The Last Three is a game about the last stone tiger family that lives deep in a magical forest. They are the guardians of balance in the mystical creatures’ realm.

Media 260
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Love Letter: Elegantly Balancing a Game

Brand Game Development

Though it’s super easy to pick up, the game turns into a slightly heady mix of deduction, risk mitigation, and probabilistic thinking. All the strategy fundamentally comes down to a single principle of game design that became apparent to me after a few rounds. The eight cards in Love Letter are as follows: Guard.

Balance 130
article thumbnail

Balancing Challenge and Reward in Game Design

Game Wisdom

Balancing Challenge and Reward in Game Design Josh Bycer josh@game-wisdom.com In game making, creators match challenges and prizes to craft a fun and pleasing game for players. A well-tuned game keeps players hooked by ensuring tasks are not too complex or too simple, and that prizes feel worth earning.

Balance 52
article thumbnail

In Guntouchables enemies power up with the upgrades that you leave behind

PreMortem.Games

In Guntouchables by Danish indie developer Game Swing , enemies randomly power up from the upgrades that a team of four players cant lift out of the levels. This leads to some unexpected and quite frankly, explosive situations as the game progresses. Game Swing was founded in 2013 by five Danish game design students.

Co-op 104
article thumbnail

4 Lessons from Pandemic for Aspiring Board Game Designers

Brand Game Development

” reaction and it’s a lot easier to compete with 6% of games than it is to compete with 94% of games. Force players to balance tactics and strategy. Getting into the gameplay of Pandemic itself, you notice that the game creates all kinds of interesting decision points at every turn.

article thumbnail

4 Lessons from Root for Aspiring Board Game Designers

Brand Game Development

Seem like a monster to balance? These are valid concerns, but consider the following reviews on Board Game Geek: “Totally asymmetric but surprisingly balanced” – Patmol, 10/10 “Excellent design, asymmetric factions. For that reason, I think asymmetry is underrated in board gaming.