Skip to main content

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

01Cast bait
02Observe probes
03Recognize the bite
04Respond and catch

Catching and trackingOne rule

Reading the bite signal

Is this a probe or a confirmed signal—and should I act now or keep waiting?

Reference gamesDinkum · Stardew Valley

Open this entry

Core loop

01Read struggle and distance
02Reel or release
03Watch tension change
04Advance during calm periods

Catching and trackingOne rule

Managing line tension

Risk one high-tension pull to finish or release and wait for the next calm interval?

Reference gamesDinkum · Fishing Planet

Open this entry Play the lab

Core loop

01Collect environmental clues
02Form a habitat hypothesis
03Choose gear and travel
04Update the record

Catching and trackingOne rule

Tracking habitat conditions

Wait at the most likely location or investigate another habitat hypothesis that remains possible?

Reference gamesStardew Valley · DREDGE

Open this entry

Core loop

01Read landing and ceiling
02Choose takeoff
03Hold or release early
04Observe and adjust

Movement and jumpingOne rule

Variable-height jumping

Release now to avoid the ceiling or keep rising to reach a farther landing?

Reference gamesSuper Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS · Celeste

Open this entry

Core loop

01Read dash charges
02Plan refill order
03Spend a dash
04Refill and continue

Movement and jumpingOne rule

Dash refill routes

Dash sideways into a refill or upward to retain height for the final segment?

Reference gamesCeleste · Neon White

Open this entry

Core loop

01Reach a usable wall
02Control contact height
03Jump away
04Choose the next wall

Movement and jumpingOne rule

Wall-jump routing

Jump immediately or slide lower to avoid the hazard band on the opposite wall?

Reference gamesSuper Meat Boy · Celeste

Open this entry

Core loop

01Identify reflective surfaces
02Predict the first hit
03Shoot and observe bounces
04Adjust the angle

Aiming and projectilesOne rule

Ricochet aiming

Hit a nearby target directly or risk a bounce that can reach several targets?

Reference gamesPeggle Deluxe · Peglin

Open this entry

Core loop

01Observe direction and speed
02Estimate travel time
03Aim ahead
04Correct from the miss

Aiming and projectilesOne rule

Leading a moving target

Shoot while motion is steady or wait until a turn ends to estimate velocity again?

Reference gamesWorld of Warships · War Thunder

Open this entry

Core loop

01Read distance and timing
02Begin charging
03Trade power against exposure
04Release and inspect

Aiming and projectilesOne rule

Charge and release

Charge for a distant shot or fire now before the opening closes?

Reference gamesMonster Hunter Generations · Worms W.M.D Mobilize

Open this entry

Core loop

01Read an opening
02Pay the attack cost
03Reserve escape capacity
04Disengage and recover

Close combatOne rule

Keeping a defensive reserve

One more hit may finish the fight, but will enough resource remain for a retreat?

Reference gamesElden Ring · Monster Hunter Generations

Open this entry

Core loop

01Read the wind-up
02Wait for the window
03Parry
04Use the opening

Close combatOne rule

Timed parries

Take a small loss with a safer guard or risk a missed parry for a larger opening?

Reference gamesSekiro: Shadows Die Twice · Dead Cells

Open this entry

Core loop

01Read the guard
02Choose angle or position
03Check the block result
04Switch before the response

Close combatOne rule

Directional defense

Change attack direction to draw a guard or spend time moving behind the defender?

Reference gamesFor Honor · Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord

Open this entry

Core loop

01Read corner and speed
02Choose a braking point
03Control the turn
04Compare exit speed and time

Vehicles and racingOne rule

Braking and exit lines

Brake late for more straight-line speed or slow earlier for a better exit position?

Reference gamesGran Turismo 7 · art of rally

Open this entry

Core loop

01Enter at a suitable speed
02Initiate a slide
03Countersteer
04Recover grip on exit

Vehicles and racingOne rule

Drift and grip recovery

Increase the slip angle for a longer drift or straighten early for a narrow exit?

Reference gamesAbsolute Drift · art of rally

Open this entry

Core loop

01Place cargo
02Read balance and terrain
03Control speed through hazards
04Deliver and inspect losses

Vehicles and racingOne rule

Cargo and balance

Carry a full load slowly or make two faster trips with a more stable center of mass?

Reference gamesSnowRunner · Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

Open this entry

Core loop

01Hear the call
02Keep the pulse
03Respond on your turn
04Compare early and late feedback

Rhythm and timingOne rule

Rhythmic call and response

Reproduce the demonstrated intervals or mistakenly flatten them into equal beats?

Reference gamesRhythm Heaven Groove · Rhythm Doctor

Open this entry

Core loop

01Read start and endpoint
02Press on time
03Maintain input
04Release and review

Rhythm and timingOne rule

Timed holds and releases

Sustain to the endpoint or release too early while preparing the next input?

Reference gamesSpin Rhythm XD · Rhythm Heaven

Open this entry

Core loop

01Establish a pulse
02Fade selected cues
03Maintain internal count
04Restore cues and measure drift

Rhythm and timingOne rule

Keeping time as cues fade

Maintain the established pulse or let distracting visuals shift the timing?

Reference gamesRhythm Heaven · Rhythm Doctor

Open this entry

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.