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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 draws and gaps
02Choose a removal cost
03Remove and reshuffle
04Compare key-turn access

Cards and diceOne rule

Deck thinning and draw density

Remove a weak card for consistency or retain it as insurance against a specific threat?

Reference gamesSlay the Spire · Dominion

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Core loop

01Read rolled values
02Match slot requirements
03Assign and spend dice
04Resolve and replan

Cards and diceOne rule

Assigning dice results

Use the only even die for defense or spend it on a stronger attack?

Reference gamesDicey Dungeons · Astrea: Six-Sided Oracles

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Core loop

01Read current resources
02Choose the next effect
03Resolve and inspect change
04Schedule the final spend

Cards and diceOne rule

Effect order and combinations

Add resources before doubling or double the current stock first, and when should it be spent?

Reference gamesDominion · Slay the Spire

Open this entry Play the lab

Core loop

01Read revealed hazards
02Draw or stop
03Update provisional rewards
04Bank or lose

Cards and diceOne rule

Push-your-luck drawing

Risk another reveal as visible hazards accumulate?

Reference gamesPort Royal · Incan Gold

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Core loop

01Read the next threat
02Play cards
03Mark retained cards
04Draw within capacity

Cards and diceOne rule

Holding cards across turns

Keep future defense or make room for fresh offense?

Reference gamesSlay the Spire · Gloomhaven

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Core loop

01Compare card effects
02Choose a build
03Select payment cards
04Resolve ability and hand

Cards and diceOne rule

Multi-use cards

Spend a strong future card to activate production now?

Reference gamesRace for the Galaxy · Port Royal

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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.