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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

01Inspect footprints
02Rotate and arrange
03Consume or discard
04Confirm loadout and space

Inventory and loadoutsOne rule

Inventory shapes and tradeoffs

Discard a low-value item or rotate and consume supplies to create the needed shape?

Reference gamesSave Room - Organization Puzzle · Backpack Hero

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Core loop

01Read adjacency conditions
02Arrange a combination
03Inspect active links
04Adjust total output

Inventory and loadoutsLinked states

Equipment adjacency

Boost one strong weapon or place the amplifier between two weaker items?

Reference gamesBackpack Hero · Backpack Battles

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Core loop

01Read route and durability
02Choose a tool
03Spend and update reserves
04Repair, replace or return

Inventory and loadoutsOne rule

Durability and reserves

Spend the strong tool now or save it for a tougher obstacle and use a weaker tool first?

Reference gamesThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild · Valheim

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Core loop

01Read weight and utility
02Choose cargo
03Preview travel cost
04Settle on arrival

Inventory and loadoutsOne rule

Weight budgets and cargo choices

Carry valuable ore or preserve tools and food needed to return?

Reference gamesThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim · Death Stranding

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Core loop

01Read route needs
02Assign slots
03Use tools in context
04Review missing preparation

Inventory and loadoutsOne rule

Quickslots and preparation

Equip a recovery item or reserve a slot for a special obstacle?

Reference gamesMinecraft · Elden Ring

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Core loop

01Read the base skill
02Preview compatible modules
03Install and try
04Compare behavior and cost

Inventory and loadoutsOne rule

Sockets and skill modifiers

Split a projectile for coverage or preserve single-target power?

Reference gamesPath of Exile · Diablo III

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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.