Every Unsolicited Resource is a Goal
Players need goals. Without them, gameplay loses its meaning. But they also prefer to choose their own objectives. Telling players what to do next robs them of agency and makes games feel like
Designing Turn Order Selection Around Tangible Rewards
The first decision players are confronted with in many games is "who goes first?". But the value of going first differs wildly depending on the game, with few common heuristics to
Accidental Progression Is Still Progression
We want players to feel like they are getting stronger over the course of the game, but increasing their power level as a function of time alone feels unearned. Players want progression to
Players Don't Care About Counterfactual Success
One game I am working on right now is a social deduction game with a drawing element. Players conceal subtle details in their drawings in case they are randomly selected for a secret
Don’t Ask Defenders to Roll Dice
Effort in games should be balanced by reward. When players perform work for no reward, the game seems long, tedious, and not worth the setup. Rolling dice is work, and rolling attack dice