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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

01Recognize an obstacle
02Find and learn an ability
03Recall an old route
04Open a new connection

Maps and explorationOne rule

Ability gates and revisits

Continue outward or revisit a remembered obstacle to test the new ability?

Reference gamesMetroid Dread · Hollow Knight

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Core loop

01Observe landmarks
02Form a location hypothesis
03Test it along a route
04Reorient from a new view

Maps and explorationOne rule

Navigating by landmarks

Take the nearby fork or climb higher to reorient against the tower and coastline?

Reference gamesSea of Thieves · A Short Hike

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Core loop

01Meet an unexplained barrier
02Collect rule clues
03Test a hypothesis
04Enter through understanding

Maps and explorationOne rule

Knowledge as access

Keep looking for a key or apply a newly understood rule to an old barrier?

Reference gamesOuter Wilds · TUNIC

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Core loop

01Read known borders
02Scout
03Update memory/visibility
04Choose using new information

Maps and explorationOne rule

Map fog and scouting value

Take the shortest unknown route or spend a step scouting?

Reference gamesCivilization VI · The Battle for Wesnoth

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Core loop

01Find a one-way barrier
02Reach the far side
03Open the link
04Use the shorter return

Maps and explorationOne rule

Opening shortcuts and loops

Push into a new area or first open a return route to safety?

Reference gamesTeardown · Salt and Sanctuary

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Core loop

01Read branch previews
02Compare node sequences
03Commit to a stop
04Replan after its outcome

Maps and explorationOne rule

Branching route commitments

Take immediate rewards or a route with timely recovery after danger?

Reference gamesSlay the Spire · 80 Days

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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.