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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

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

01Identify rewindable objects
02Arrange forward actions
03Choose a past point
04Use persistent world state

Time and echoesLinked states

Selective rewind

Record a path through the switch before rewinding the box, or move it directly to the exit?

Reference gamesBraid · The Entropy Centre

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Core loop

01Choose a repeatable task
02Record the actions
03Work with the replay
04Adjust timing and handoffs

Time and echoesLinked states

Recorded-self cooperation

Record a short reliable action or combine several tasks in one longer loop?

Reference gamesThe Last Clockwinder · Super Time Force Ultra

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Core loop

01Pause and inspect
02Allocate action budget
03Commit and execute
04Review the final position

Time and echoesOne rule

Plan, then execute

Spend the budget attacking or reserve a move to finish in safety?

Reference gamesTransistor · Frozen Synapse

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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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Core loop

01Read light and sightlines
02Choose cover
03Move or change lighting
04Check exposure

Stealth and scoutingOne rule

Light and concealment

Cross the short lit route or spend time darkening it first?

Reference gamesThief Gold (1999) · Mark of the Ninja

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Core loop

01Read patrol timing
02Neutralize or bypass
03Move to concealment
04Check the later route

Stealth and scoutingOne rule

Concealing action traces

Leave now or hide the evidence before the next patrol arrives?

Reference gamesHITMAN World of Assassination · Desperados III

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Core loop

01Choose a camera
02Read visible behavior
03Note blind-spot assumptions
04Switch or direct action

Stealth and scoutingOne rule

Remote surveillance views

Keep watching to confirm a pattern or inspect the exit before moving?

Reference gamesRepublique · Do Not Feed the Monkeys

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Core loop

01Read the landing
02Deform the launcher
03Release energy
04Adjust from the trajectory

Physics and contraptionsOne rule

Elastic deformation and launch

Pull farther for range or reduce energy to avoid overshooting?

Reference gamesAngry Birds Journey · Worms W.M.D Mobilize

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Core loop

01Identify the surface
02Predict stopping distance
03Time input changes
04Compare actual sliding

Physics and contraptionsOne rule

Surface friction differences

Brake on rough ground early or slide on ice and countersteer later?

Reference gamesSuperTux · Trackmania

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Core loop

01Read levels and paths
02Set valves
03Advance flow
04Check overflow and delivery

Physics and contraptionsLinked states

Valves and fluid levels

Fill the upper reservoir first or send limited water straight to the destination?

Reference gamesFactorio · Timberborn

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Core loop

01Stop and inspect
02Plan a segment
03Act to advance the world
04Stop and reassess

Time and echoesOne rule

Action-driven world time

Pause to read trajectories or move into position while enemies advance too?

Reference gamesSUPERHOT · SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE

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Core loop

01Assess threat density
02Activate slow motion
03Act within the reserve
04Exit and inspect remaining time

Time and echoesOne rule

Limited slow motion

Spend slow motion on an easy target or save it for overlapping threats?

Reference gamesMax Payne · Boomerang X

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Core loop

01Read timed connections
02Prepare the route
03Trigger in order
04Pass before expiry

Time and echoesOne rule

Timed switch chains

Prepare a shortcut before starting the timer or trigger now and arrange things on the run?

Reference gamesPortal 2 · Twelve Minutes

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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.