Game devs talk design methods, system mechanics in design summit
Game Developer
MARCH 13, 2023
For anyone with an interest in game design, Polaris' developer summit has different articles covering various aspects of design development.
Dev Games Mechanics 
Palworld dev says Ark: Survival Evolved, Titanfall 2, and other games invalidate patent lawsuit
Game Developer
APRIL 21, 2025
Palworld maker Pocketpair argues multiple games used mechanics from Nintendo's patents before their filing in 2021, rendering them 'invalid.'
Render 
273
273 Join 5,000+
Insiders
Sign Up for our Newsletter
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Trending Sources
Solo dev Jason Priskomatis on his horror debut Friday Night: “Keep pushing your comfort zone”
PreMortem.Games
APRIL 3, 2025
Jason Priskomatis , the solo developer behind EJETA Studios, always enjoyed playing video games, ever since he was young. While studying Information Technology in Athens, Greece, he created a small game for his thesis. For now, hes happy in the solo dev life, but the door to collaboration remains open. And the biggest pitfalls?
Horror 104
104 
Solo dev Esteban Hernandez spent 7 years on Creo God Simulator: “I’ve learned perseverance”
PreMortem.Games
FEBRUARY 5, 2025
What started as a passion project has grown into a full-fledged god game blending city-building, resource management and player-driven storytelling. I became a solo developer initially because I wanted to make games, plain and simple, he says. I have full freedom and control over every aspect of my game.
Simulation 118
118 
Mirthwood by Bad Ridge Games is mixing genres with something darker and more adventurous
PreMortem.Games
DECEMBER 4, 2024
Mirthwood , the debut title from Bad Ridge Games , merges genres like RPGs, life sims, and farm sims into a medieval sandbox experience. Fast forward a bit and we thought we’d try something we had been talking about for a few years; making a game. Learning to draw specifically for the game, he refined the style over time.
Sandbox 145
145 
Games Speak through Mechanics, Not Rules
Brand Game Development
APRIL 28, 2017
Dev Diary posts are made to teach game development through specific examples from my latest project: Highways & Byways. The mark of a great game developer is to make great complexity and interaction come out of simple elements. Need help on your board game? Games tell stories – whether they mean to or not.
Mechanics 130
130 
Spotting and Dropping Bad Mechanics
Brand Game Development
APRIL 21, 2017
Dev Diary posts are made to teach game development through specific examples from my latest project: Highways & Byways. Most board game mechanics will not work as well as you intend them to. Good board game developers need to know when to drop mechanics and when to refine them. Click here. So it goes.
Mechanics 130
130 
How to Design the Mechanics of Your Board Game
Brand Game Development
NOVEMBER 20, 2017
Board game development is a very individual process. Every single developer has different methods for creating their games. This article is the third of a 19-part suite on board game design and development. Need help on your board game? Join my community of over 2,000 game developers, artists, and passionate creators.
Mechanics 130
130 
Theme vs. Mechanics
Brand Game Development
NOVEMBER 28, 2016
“Theme-first or mechanics-first” might be the most asked “big question” in the board game community. Need help on your board game? Join my community of over 2,000 game developers, artists, and passionate creators. Theme and mechanics are inseparable parts of board games as a whole.
Mechanics 100
100 
What is the benefit of mechanics that give the winning side advantages that help them win more, such as COD poweups?
Ask a Game Dev
DECEMBER 27, 2024
They're similar to, for example, randomly-determined critical hits that deal additional damage or dizzying your opponent in fighting games. Statistically speaking, the killstreak rewards are designed so they won't greatly affect overall game results, but they're really cool to activate and the players engaging with them have a lot of fun.
Mechanics 52
52 
Solo dev Josh Salley (HALbot Studios) “I believe in keeping a good work life balance”
PreMortem.Games
AUGUST 3, 2023
Josh Salley has always been a big fan of gaming, but thought that game development was out of his reach. “I I just assumed game development involved writing code all day.” I have always been a huge gamer, but never imagined I want to actually make games. The Nightmare Escape is a horror game.
Balance 195
195 
Solo dev Chris Arvanitis: “Total control can be a double edged sword”
PreMortem.Games
AUGUST 25, 2023
Operating under the name of Xenoplasis Games , solo developer Christos Arvanitis is about to release his debut game Ontosis. It’s his first endeavor working completely alone after a failed attempt at developing a horror game with 2 others back in 2015. “A Why did you become a solo developer? “I years of development.
Horror 197
197 
Ascent of Ashes dev switches to Godot halfway development “Not as chaotic as Unity”
PreMortem.Games
DECEMBER 16, 2024
Studio owner and Lead Developer Max Hermann originally developed the idea for the game in the time when he was still a computer science student and active in the RimWorld modding scene. Exceedingly difficult The team first built the game in Unity. Ascent of Ashes is inspired by other games besides RimWorld as well.
Dev 104
104 
The Sweet Art of Feature Adaptation
Deconstructor of Fun
NOVEMBER 12, 2024
Written by Ahmetcan Demirel , the maestro of product management and a podcast host ( Game Dev Diary ) from Germany! With a knack for puzzles, arcades, and simulation games. In the ever-evolving landscape of the gaming industry, it's no secret that games often draw inspiration from one another.
Feature 98
98 
Dev Diary: 03/31/17
Brand Game Development
MARCH 31, 2017
Need help on your board game? Join my community of over 2,000 game developers, artists, and passionate creators. Naturally, this game is nowhere remotely close to completion. Also, the game doesn’t have a defined win condition yet. The post Dev Diary: 03/31/17 appeared first on Brandon the Game Dev.
Dev 130
130 
Solo developer Voidmaw on creating Katanaut: “Done is better than perfect”
PreMortem.Games
JANUARY 30, 2025
Ive always loved creating things, and game development felt like the perfect mix of art, storytelling, and problem-solving, he explains. While the ability to shape every aspect of the game without compromise is a major advantage, he acknowledges the downside: Wearing all the hats can be overwhelming. That done is better than perfect.
Development 138
138 
How to Fight “Tired Mode” as a Game Dev
Brand Game Development
JULY 28, 2017
Dev Diary posts are made to teach game development through specific examples from my latest project: Highways & Byways. This week in Start to Finish , I wrote Choose Your Own Adventure: Self-Publish or Not , an article dedicated to the benefits and pitfalls of self-publishing your game. Need help on your board game?
Fighting 130
130 
Creating the First Version of Game Rules
Brand Game Development
APRIL 7, 2017
I’m trying something different on the Dev Diary. I’ll be explaining my development processes for this game so that you can learn from them. I’ll be explaining my development processes for this game so that you can learn from them. We’re in this together, game devs. This is a teaching blog.
Mechanics 130
130 
Solo dev Almar works on debut game Repunk “I’ve had some darker moments”
PreMortem.Games
NOVEMBER 17, 2023
For some, the idea of developing a game alone is daunting. Yet, for indie dev Almar, it offered an escape from the corporate rat race he felt trapped in. Sadly, the reality of the business showed me that the type of games that pay the rent weren’t the type of experiences I wanted to create”, he says. Which are its verbs?
Dev 160
160 
Kazakhstan-based Goodwin Games takes us on an emotional adventure in Selfloss
PreMortem.Games
OCTOBER 28, 2024
Set in a beautiful, Slavic-inspired world, Selfloss by Kazakhstan-based indie studio Goodwin Games is an adventure that explores themes of grief, healing, and resilience. Reflecting on the game’s core concept, Khoroshavin shares, “The very first idea was that I want to make a game about an old protagonist that can traverse via boat.
Prototyping 104
104 
20 New Year’s Resolutions for Board Game Devs in 2020
Brand Game Development
DECEMBER 30, 2019
Need help on your board game? Join my community of over 2,000 game developers, artists, and passionate creators. With that in mind, I want to help you come up with some New Year’s Resolutions of your own, ones specifically related to board game design. Create your first board game. Card games count, too!
Dev 130
130 
Top 7 Game Dev Myths Explored
DameDev.tv
DECEMBER 16, 2022
Have you ever questioned your ability to make a game? as we explore the top 7 game dev myths Laurie (Avocado Fire) joins Rick Davidson & Tim Ruswick* to discuss these 7 game dev myths and address any concerns that you have. Listen to the whole chat here: [link] and see below for all 7 game dev myths.
Dev 97
97 
Make a Board Game in 28 Days: A Challenge by Brandon the Game Dev
Brand Game Development
FEBRUARY 1, 2021
Today, I have a challenge for you as a board game designer. I want to see you make a board game in 28 days. That’s why I’ve provided a 28-day game design challenge for you. Need help on your board game? Join my community of over 2,000 game developers, artists, and passionate creators.
Dev 130
130 
Last time we had a global recession, life style games were barely a thing only in the form of subscription based MMO’s. How do you think modern lifestyle games without subscriptions will fare?
Ask a Game Dev
APRIL 9, 2025
lavish vacations, theme parks, theater going) to cheaper forms of entertainment (camping, hiking, video games, local attractions, etc.). Similar trends follow in video games - instead of buying Madden or Call of Duty every year, in times of economic hardship you'll see players skipping a year and buying the game the year after.
Solo dev Evan Polekoff of Critter Crossfire “Motivation is a limited resource”
PreMortem.Games
JANUARY 8, 2024
During the day he works as a Senior Software Engineer at Blizzard Entertainment, creating games like Hearthstone, together with a large group of specialized professionals. This game represents me as a developer”, he says. With the game now announced for a 2024-release, the part time solo dev is motivated to finish the game.
Dev 160
160 
Solo dev Mario Malagrino “The psychological pressure is the worst part of game development”
PreMortem.Games
NOVEMBER 3, 2023
On his company Twitter account Next Game Level , he introduces himself with a great sense of humor. Game developer from Italy! Although his first game Remote Life was quite successful and his next game Crude already amassed thousands of wishlists on Steam, Malagrino admits to sometimes struggle with motivation.
Game Developer 138
138 
5 Levels of Communication through Game Development
Brand Game Development
JULY 17, 2017
After spending a lot of time last week talking about how to make games, let’s talk about how to make them well. When it comes to games, there are a handful of truths that are very important to realize. Need help on your board game? Join my community of over 2,000 game developers, artists, and passionate creators.
Communications 130
130 
Solo dev Matthieu Houllier lets you take a paper plane on an adventure in Paper Sky
PreMortem.Games
MAY 6, 2024
French solo dev Matthieu Houllier , operating under the name Brute Force , has been making games by himself for five years. In that time he has released the 3D platform game Crumble. “It Because Houllier is working alone, he needs player’s feedback to shape his games. “I ” Why did you become a solo developer? “It
Dev 129
129 
Solo dev Michael Schmidt “Adding spiritual traditions to games is hard”
PreMortem.Games
OCTOBER 23, 2023
Michael Schmidt has been interested in spirituality and Islamic spiritual tradition for a long time, and in his latest game Islands of the Caliph it all comes together. Schmidt developed the game by himself, because “I’ve never been any other kind of developer”. Each game has been different. Yes, a video game did that!
Dev 118
118 
Solo dev Tomasz Kaye: “ChatGPT massively sped up the development of Axe Ghost”
PreMortem.Games
OCTOBER 2, 2024
Tomasz Kaye had prior game development experience, with credits on Ibb & Obb and Chalo Chalo , but this time he went solo for his latest creation Axe Ghost. “It It wasn’t exactly a deliberate choice,” he explains, “I had a small game idea that I wanted to finish and publish, and it seemed doable alone.” My creative process varies.
Dev 104
104 
Why are there games without dedicated stealth mechanics that put in random stealth sections? Theres a fair number of times those situations either lack tools for the player to properly plan their route and identify threats (lack of a proper cover mechanic/corner look for example) or they lack proper detection for enemy units leading to immersion breaking behavior (no noise detection leading to a full sprint directly behind someone not being detected) and those types of things seem integral to a stealth style of game. While they can obviously be done well when done poorly they can feel like a very frustrating or out of place moment in an otherwise very good game.
Ask a Game Dev
JANUARY 28, 2025
Non-stealth games put in stealth minigames for the same reason that we put in lockpicking minigames, crafting minigames, rhythm minigames, collectible card minigames, and the others. In games we try to mix the gameplay up so that too much of the core gameplay doesn't fatigue the player.
Cinematics 52
52 
How to Build up a Facebook Page as a Board Game Dev
Brand Game Development
APRIL 23, 2018
Need help on your board game? Join my community of over 2,000 game developers, artists, and passionate creators. Much like my old staple How to Get Big on Twitter as a Board Game Dev , I’ll be covering everything you need to know to get started on Facebook as a board game developer. Getting Started.
Build 130
130 
Solo dev Diego Ras of Raccoo Venture “Everything starts with paper and pencil”
PreMortem.Games
FEBRUARY 2, 2024
He started his career in advertising, but the world of video games always held his real interest. Making games was something that seemed very far from reality”, he says. Yet, with help from the internet and some classes in college, he realized that he too could create games. Why did you become a solo developer? “I’ve
Dev 163
163 
What confuses you most about board game development?
Brand Game Development
MARCH 30, 2020
Board game development is incredibly complex. To create a board game from start to finish , think of everything you have to do: Come up with a board game idea and design a game around it. Create rules and mechanics that help you express your idea in the best way possible. Play-test the game until it feels right.
Game Developer 130
130 
4 Things to Expect on the First Play-Test of a New Board Game
Brand Game Development
NOVEMBER 17, 2017
Dev Diary posts are made to teach game development through specific examples from my latest project: Highways & Byways. This week, I talked about How to Play-Test the Core Engine of Your Board Game. This is the process by which you confirm that the game you ultimately want to make is possible. Click here.
Point and Click 130
130 
How to Play a Lot of Board Games with Little Time and Little Money
Brand Game Development
SEPTEMBER 8, 2017
Dev Diary posts are made to teach game development through specific examples from my latest project: Highways & Byways. This week with Highways & Byways , I’ve been making little improvements to the game to make it more usable and easy-to-understand. Need help on your board game? Click here.
Dev 130
130 
How Many Blind Play-Tests Does Your Board Game *Really* Need?
Brand Game Development
DECEMBER 22, 2017
Dev Diary posts are made to teach game development through specific examples from my latest project: Highways & Byways. I’ve already play-tested this game a ton. I even blind play-tested it at a game design convention. Need help on your board game? Just here for Highway s & Byways updates? Click here.
Point and Click 130
130 
Colony: Letting Leaders Lead without Losing Losers (A guest post by Burt Yaroch of the Healthy Gaming Network)
Brand Game Development
MARCH 13, 2017
Brandon: The following is the second guest post by Burt Yaroch of the Healthy Gaming Network. Today he shares with us a game he really enjoys: Colony. Burt: I’ve fallen in love with Colony by Bezier Games, designed by Ted Alspach, Toryo Hojo, and N2 (the pen name for Yoshihisa Nakatsu). Need help on your board game?
Mechanics 130
130 
Indie dev studio Wikkl Works takes virtual rock climbing to New Heights
PreMortem.Games
MAY 19, 2023
Wikkl Works , a Netherlands-based game studio, is working hard on the climbing game New Heights. By using photogrammetry the game offers real life locations like famous rock faces or even well known landmarks. Then we got the idea to scan real world cliffs and mountains into the game using photogrammetry.
Indy 104
104 
How to Design the Core Engine of Your Board Game
Brand Game Development
NOVEMBER 6, 2017
Board game development is a very individual process. Every single developer has different methods for creating their games. This article is the first of a 19-part suite on board game design and development. Need help on your board game? Join my community of over 2,000 game developers, artists, and passionate creators.
Engine 130
130 
Fighting for Santientkind!
Muha Games
APRIL 10, 2025
Todays dev diary focuses on one of our core conflict resolution mechanics: the Card Battle. Now, we’re not saying there was anything especially wrong with it, but… Once we implemented enough of the card game to actually Continue reading
Fighting 52
52 
Sulfur is a unique FPS/Roguelike “we’re proud of our creative weaponry and stupid jokes”
PreMortem.Games
NOVEMBER 6, 2024
With over a 1,000 positive reviews in just one week, the game seems well on its way to reaching the target of 200,000 copies sold. It’s also a quite difficult game, which brings friction to the minute-to-minute decision, which we find way more engaging. Sulfur burst out of the gates when it was released on Steam last week.
FPS 104
104 
Design review: Botany Manor as a quiet dark detective game
Radiator Blog
APRIL 11, 2024
Botany Manor is a 3 hour first person puzzle game about growing plants while exploring a big beautiful fancy house that smells like British Bake-Off. The Witness fully commits to hundreds of puzzles at the scope of an open world game. Which means this isn't just a puzzle game. How do we filter the clues? Which is for which?
Puzzle 173
173 
Let's personalize your content