PreMortem.Games

DECEMBER 4, 2024

We’ve known each other since kindergarten, but weren’t quite ready to start a studio back then,” jokes Otis. Their approach was to mix familiar mechanics with something fresh: “What we hadn’t seen attempted at the time, was mixing the genre with something darker, and more adventurous.

Sandbox 145

Sandbox Mechanics Pixel Art 145

Game Developer

AUGUST 3, 2023

Oculus Studios senior game producer Mari Kyle breaks down the design of Asgard's Wrath 2's "Godscale" mechanic.

Mechanics 246

Mechanics Studios Games 246

PreMortem.Games

AUGUST 3, 2023

He now works under the name of HALbot Studios on not one, but two first person survival horror games, House of Lies and The Nightmare Escape. Thinking about those ideas and how I could come up with my own spin or tell my own story with similar mechanics. I just assumed game development involved writing code all day.”

Balance 195

Balance Horror Studios Dev 195

PreMortem.Games

MARCH 24, 2025

For Barcelona-based Gatera Studio , their debut title ANTRO is more than just a game, its a statement. platforming, parkour mechanics and puzzle-solving, all tightly synchronized to a pulsating urban soundtrack. Gatera Studios origins are as grassroots as the themes of their game. Keep it simple, stupid!

Prototyping 104

Prototyping Studios Electronics PC 104

PreMortem.Games

MAY 8, 2024

This unique ability, previously unseen in Metroidvania games, represents a significant innovation for the genre that the creators at Canadian indie game company Lucid Dreams Studio so love. “In In the team, everyone is a fan of Metroidvania”, says Brand Manager Rayanne Berriche of Lucid Dreams Studio. “So

Studios 129

Studios Mechanics Fantasy Feature 129

PreMortem.Games

APRIL 3, 2025

Jason Priskomatis , the solo developer behind EJETA Studios, always enjoyed playing video games, ever since he was young. But it also comes with challenges: If a game mechanic takes me three days to implement, thats three days where nothing else is happening in the game. It was always my escape, a comfort place, he says.

Horror 104

Horror Dev Mechanics Localization 104

PreMortem.Games

OCTOBER 25, 2024

If there ever was a fitting metaphor for the trials and tribulations that indie developers face while creating their debut game, it’s Ascending Inferno , the upcoming release by Australian developer Oppolyon Studio. For Oppolyon Studio’s co-founder, Isaac Iozzi , this hellish struggle is all too familiar.

Studios 118

Studios Indy Mechanics Games 118

PreMortem.Games

DECEMBER 6, 2024

South Korean indie studio Cat Society is a small team with big ambitions. The three-person studio, made up of Minjin Ko, his wife Hyemyung Lee and their friend Yeram Kim, has been working on their debut title Dungeon Inn since 2019. This collaborative dynamic reflects the teams studio philosophy.

Balance 129

Balance UX Studios Art 129

PreMortem.Games

NOVEMBER 29, 2023

Typically highlighting a game’s mechanics in their raw form, even before content and visuals receive their final polish. Public demos aim to showcase your game’s mechanics and style to players while also garnering interest in the full game through story introduction. Consider Holstin’s demo as an example.

Demo 239

Demo Mechanics Games Bug 239

PreMortem.Games

NOVEMBER 20, 2024

We have really worked hard on making each mission a different and fun experience that introduces a unique mechanic.” The four studio founders ( Lars Olsson , Daniel Nielsen , Jimmy Hultén and Jonatan Johansson ) laid the foundation there of what would eventually become Deliver At All Cost. And that’s certainly the case!”

Open World 104

Open World Games Studios Development 104

PreMortem.Games

NOVEMBER 27, 2024

Elements of Steampunk Another highlight is the airplane control mechanism. “We Cyborn experimented extensively to refine the core gameplay mechanics, such as interactions with the town’s miniature citizens and designing activities that feel natural in mixed-reality settings. But I’m happy we put it in already.”

Games 118

Games Mechanics Prototyping Build 118

PreMortem.Games

FEBRUARY 5, 2025

I can really implement my vision, and I have the flexibility to add in content and mechanics that Creo’s fanbase and others would like to see. I also speak with my friends, family, and community extensively to get feedback on lore, game mechanics, design, and more. And the biggest pitfalls?

Simulation 118

Simulation Dev Mechanics Development 118

Game Refinery

NOVEMBER 21, 2024

With IDFA regulation changes and an influx of new games entering the market, publishers and mobile game studios are facing an ever-uphill battle to acquire new players (UA) and retain them. Magic Cauldron follows Wordle’s template, with similar mechanics but featuring potions instead of words.

Development 130

Development Puzzle Mobile Mobile 130

Game Refinery

APRIL 6, 2023

With increased competition from IDFA regulation changes and new games consistently entering the market, two of the biggest challenges facing publishers and mobile game studios are acquiring new players (UA) and keeping those players in your game (player retention).

Mechanics 236

Mechanics Mobile Mobile Puzzle 236

PreMortem.Games

MAY 1, 2023

BitCake Studio , an indie game development studio based in Brazil, is celebrating its 10th year in the industry. “We didn’t know each other, we just all got a call from a bigger studio that told us we could use some of their spare space to develop video games. . There was a bunch of things she wanted in the game.

Studios 104

Studios Build Playtesting Concepts 104

PreMortem.Games

OCTOBER 11, 2023

The game immerses players in a captivating odyssey across worlds within worlds, beckoning them to master the art of world-leaping mechanics to uncover a cosmic mystery. Cocoon is the first venture of Geometric Interactive , a Danish indie studio founded by Carlsen and his ex-Playdead colleague, Jakob Schmid.

Puzzle 257

Puzzle Prototyping Art Communications 257

PreMortem.Games

SEPTEMBER 13, 2024

White Star Studio, a small and ambitious game development studio based in Shenzen, China, has captured the essence of ancient China in their game Thriving City. Combining these elements with sim mechanics meant we could come up with some exciting, innovative gameplay.” But it took some tweaking to get the right balance.

Studios 104

Studios Content Balance Mechanics 104

PreMortem.Games

MAY 24, 2023

White Star Studio, a small and ambitious game development studio based in Shenzen, China, has captured the essence of ancient China in their game Thriving City. Combining these elements with sim mechanics meant we could come up with some exciting, innovative gameplay.” But it took some tweaking to get the right balance.

Studios 104

Studios Content Balance Playtesting 104

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. The control mechanics are integral to the gameplay, allowing players to operate Kazimir and his staff both together and independently.

Prototyping 104

Prototyping Indy Games Concepts 104

PreMortem.Games

MAY 19, 2023

Wikkl Works , a Netherlands-based game studio, is working hard on the climbing game New Heights. The 5 person studio, founded by Guido Boogaard and Finn van der Heide, created a climbing system that mirrors the intricacies of real-life climbing. It is great to see that it’s working out so far.”

Indy 104

Indy Dev Studios Playtesting 104

Deconstructor of Fun

DECEMBER 2, 2024

AppLovin is seeing high-IP games use ad-based monetization from the hyper-casual world, while casual titles layer in complex mechanics. Revamping Mechanics to Match User Expectations Mechanics like tile placement have surged in popularity as they blend accessibility with high engagement. And it’s not just small studios.

Mechanics 52

Mechanics AI Games Studios 52

Juego Studio

SEPTEMBER 7, 2023

When looking at these games one could not help but wonder “How are video racing more enjoyable and realistic at the same time?” […] The post Racing Game Mechanics – A Detailed Guide appeared first on Juego Studio.

Racing 52

Racing Mechanics Games Studios 52

Game Refinery

MARCH 16, 2023

Many mobile games are involved with the Playing for The Planet initiative, with studios raising awareness of environmental issues by hosting events on major calendar dates such as World Environment Day (5th June). Pride, which celebrates equality and human rights, has also become a major calendar date for several mobile game studios.

Mobile Gaming 299

Mobile Gaming Mobile Mobile Content 299

Game Refinery

OCTOBER 26, 2023

The ever-changing nature of the mobile market means that new monetization mechanics are constantly emerging and evolving. One of the most popular monetization mechanics is the subscription-based battle pass , which was introduced via Valve’s DOTA 2 in 2013 but popularized by the worldwide phenomenon, Fortnite.

Mobile Gaming 237

Mobile Gaming Mobile Mobile Co-op 237

GamesIndustry.biz

NOVEMBER 28, 2023

Over the past twenty years, the scope, budget and audience expectations of games have inflated, and smaller studios are left seemingly locked in a cycle of diminishing returns on increasingly ambitious productions. Savvy studios seeking more immediate return on their investments might seek other, more cost-effective approaches to game design.

AAA 136

AAA Mechanics Studios Game Designer 136

Game Refinery

JUNE 15, 2023

The rise of hybridization in mobile games has resulted in game developers experimenting with new gameplay mechanics and features from other genres to drive engagement, something that’s often done via limited-time events. Some developers have added extra mechanics to their race events to keep things fresh and rewarding.

Racing 219

Racing Mobile Gaming Mobile Mobile 219

Juego Studio

MARCH 16, 2023

The post The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Game Mechanics appeared first on Juego Studio.

Mechanics 52

Mechanics Games Studios 52

PreMortem.Games

JUNE 3, 2024

Anima Flux , the latest game by studio Anima Flux, is exploring new territories in gaming. The game’s cooperative mechanics allow players to combine the unique abilities of these characters, enhancing their effectiveness and vigor. According to Andrey Songraf, Game Designer and Product Owner, this makes them pioneers of sorts.

Co-op 239

Co-op Cutscenes Communications Animation 239

PreMortem.Games

NOVEMBER 6, 2024

Perfect Random, the indie studio behind Sulfur, began as a dream project from four co-founders back in 2021. Mod and wield with pride When talking about Sulfur, Albiin describes it as “a dream mix of our favorite game elements: action-filled FPS mechanics combined with the unpredictable, high-stakes loop of a roguelike.”

FPS 104

FPS Art Indy Media 104

GamesIndustry.biz

JUNE 18, 2024

This results in diverse and adaptable gameplay where over time players can master a wide range of mechanics without the need to create and level up a new character repeatedly. What makes it unique from other games in the genre is that you can change how you play by capturing the memories of your enemies and gaining their abilities.

Fighting 129

Fighting AI Mechanics Studios 129

PreMortem.Games

FEBRUARY 24, 2025

According to Carlos Casals , 3D Artist and Co-founder of Ticking Clock Games, “We were throwing around all sorts of mechanics and game genres, but we kept coming back to one image; a flying ship.” Funding the game has been another challenge for the small studio.

Point and Click 104

Point and Click Games Feature Balance 104

Big Games

MARCH 27, 2025

Unreal Engine Here’s an overview of these two dynamic mechanisms that will help you understand what they are, how they work, and the merits they offer to Android programmers: Unity It is a popular game engine renowned for its cross-platform compatibility and intuitive user interface that supports both 2D & 3D game development.

Engineering 52

Engineering Engine Game Developer Game Development 52

Deconstructor of Fun

FEBRUARY 10, 2025

Dylan Tredrea is a product & publishing consultant with over 12 years of experience in mobile free to play games at studios such as Disney, Rovio, Zeptolab, & CrazyLabs. Hexasort with its new matching mechanic executed so well, is an industry darling. the game continues to scale, these elements are worth deeper analysis.

Cutscenes 90

Cutscenes AI Content Mechanics 90

PreMortem.Games

MARCH 1, 2024

As avid fans of Studio Ghibli’s animated movie Porco Rosso, Rob Hartley and Diccon Yamanaka were inspired to create a game about seaplanes flying around in a beautiful Mediterranean setting. Most indie studios don’t survive long after their first release. Based in Vancouver, Canada, The Brew Barons is their debut title.

Studios 104

Studios Prototyping Visual Scripting Art 104

iXie gaming

MARCH 28, 2025

Lets break down the seven critical phases of the game art pipeline and explore how studios bring stunning, optimized visuals to life. Pre-production lays the foundation for artistic direction, ensuring that all visual elements align with the games mechanics, worldbuilding, and narrative. Thats where iXie comes in.

Concepts 52

Concepts Art Texture Asset 52

PreMortem.Games

OCTOBER 18, 2024

That’s why Brazilian developer Gamecraft Studios is evening the odds with a unique weapon-stacking system. Vampire Hunters was conceived at the beginning of last year during an internal game jam held at Gamecraft Studios. The key idea was to use the gameplay mechanics from Vampire Survivors in a different genre. “We

Concepts 104

Concepts Mechanics FPS Studios 104

GamesIndustry.biz

JUNE 24, 2024

The studio's founder Mark Gerhard tells GamesIndustry.biz that, after a long time in stealth mode, the team was relieved the initial reveal went down well: "People are looking for fresh content, stuff that's innovative. I think there's a fatigue around sequels, the next battle royale, and things like that. Read more

Mechanics 112

Mechanics Content Studios Development 112