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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 committed attacks
02Compare threatened targets
03Choose limited counters
04End the turn and verify

Turns and tacticsOne rule

Visible enemy intent

Save the most threatened unit or use one move to invalidate two attacks?

Reference gamesInto the Breach · Phantom Brigade

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Core loop

01Read positions and terrain
02Predict displacement
03Push, pull or swap
04Resolve collisions and threats

Turns and tacticsOne rule

Displacement and terrain

Deal direct damage or move the enemy off its attack line or into a hazard?

Reference gamesInto the Breach · Fights in Tight Spaces

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Core loop

01Assess possible routes
02Lock visible or hidden orders
03Execute and resolve conflicts
04Update predictions

Turns and tacticsLinked states

Simultaneous orders

Rush the shortest route or detour around a likely contested crossing?

Reference gamesFrozen Synapse · Phantom Brigade

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Core loop

01Read enemy differences
02Set priority
03Observe selected targets
04Adjust from leaks

Defense and wavesOne rule

Target priorities

Stop the small enemy near the exit or focus on the tougher threat behind it?

Reference gamesBloons TD 6 · GemCraft Labyrinth

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Core loop

01Read entry and exit
02Place walls and towers
03Verify reachability
04Run a wave and inspect exposure

Defense and wavesLinked states

Maze-building defense

Spend on a longer route or more damage along a shorter one?

Reference gamesDefense Grid: The Awakening · Sanctum 2

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Core loop

01Read remaining threats
02Compare bonus and pressure
03Call early or wait
04Observe base health under overlap

Defense and wavesOne rule

Calling a wave early

Take the bonus now or clear part of the current wave before accepting overlap?

Reference gamesKingdom Rush: Vengeance · GemCraft: Frostborn Wrath

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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

01Predict a route
02Set an overwatch arc
03Advance enemies
04Resolve triggers and charges

Turns and tacticsOne rule

Reserved overwatch reactions

Shoot a weak target now or watch the next choke point?

Reference gamesXCOM 2 · Gears Tactics

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Core loop

01Read attack directions
02Preview lines from a move
03Choose a position
04Resolve protection on both sides

Turns and tacticsOne rule

Directional cover and flanking

Fire safely with poor odds or spend movement to flank and expose yourself?

Reference gamesXCOM 2 · Gears Tactics

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Core loop

01Read the budget
02Preview costs
03Execute one action
04Recompute legal options

Turns and tacticsOne rule

A shared action-point budget

Spend movement for a better position or save points for two actions?

Reference gamesGears Tactics · XCOM 2

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Core loop

01Read resistances
02Choose damage types
03Inspect effective damage
04Fill a matchup gap

Defense and wavesOne rule

Armor and damage counters

Upgrade raw damage or add a tower that counters the next wave?

Reference gamesKingdom Rush Battles · Dungeon Defenders

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Core loop

01Inspect damage
02Compare costs
03Allocate repair/building
04Observe next-wave attrition

Defense and wavesOne rule

Repair or expand the defense

Restore a weak barrier or trust a new turret to clear enemies before it breaks?

Reference gamesDungeon Defenders: Awakened · Mindustry

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Core loop

01Read spacing
02Choose impact or placement
03Resolve targets in radius
04Compare damage and leaks

Defense and wavesOne rule

Splash damage and crowd density

Hit the dangerous leader or center the blast on more targets?

Reference gamesMindustry · Dungeon Defenders

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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.