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Memory and Push-Your-Luck Mechanics Pair Perfectly

06 Feb 2026 1 min read Foreshadowing
Both push-your-luck and memory mechanics have weaknesses that can lead to negative experiences. In push-your-luck games, an unlucky run can end much earlier than expected, leading to a bust that feels undeserved. In

The Secret to Good Counterspells Is Imperfection

04 Feb 2026 2 min read Externalities
Counterspells can be annoying to play against. These effects, here named after the iconic card from Magic: The Gathering but most common in take-that games, negate an opponent's action. They play

The Cure for Downtime Is Emotional Investment, Not Frequency of Choices

02 Feb 2026 2 min read
One of the big problems with turn-based games is downtime. Downtime is often framed as a lack of opportunities to make choices, yet plenty of games have low downtime despite stretches of gameplay
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