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
Growing and tendingOne rule
Finish a nearly mature crop or protect a seedling that needs consecutive watering?
Reference gamesStardew Valley · Timberborn
Growing and tendingOne rule
With five days left, plant a fast low-return crop or save land and funds for next season?
Reference gamesStardew Valley · Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town
Growing and tendingLinked states
Accept a lower harvest to restore the field now, or keep producing and face later soil or disease pressure?
Reference gamesFarthest Frontier · Farming Simulator
Catching and trackingOne rule
Is this a probe or a confirmed signal—and should I act now or keep waiting?
Reference gamesDinkum · Stardew Valley
Catching and trackingOne rule
Risk one high-tension pull to finish or release and wait for the next calm interval?
Reference gamesDinkum · Fishing Planet
Catching and trackingOne rule
Wait at the most likely location or investigate another habitat hypothesis that remains possible?
Reference gamesStardew Valley · DREDGE
Survival and environmentsOne rule
Collect one more resource or return while the route remains affordable?
Reference gamesSubnautica · Astroneer
Survival and environmentsOne rule
Fetch fuel in the cold or spend reserves until conditions improve?
Reference gamesThe Long Dark · Oxygen Not Included
Survival and environmentsLinked states
Clean every affected item now or isolate the source before recontamination?
Reference gamesOxygen Not Included · RimWorld
Ecology and populationsMultiple systems
Add predators to control herbivores or restore plants first to prevent a later food collapse?
Reference gamesEco · Rain World
Ecology and populationsLinked states
Create one mixed habitat or two smaller areas that better satisfy distinct needs?
Reference gamesTerra Nil · Planet Zoo
Ecology and populationsLinked states
Select one strong trait or preserve diversity for a changing environment?
Reference gamesNiche - a genetics survival game · Wobbledogs
Growing and tendingOne rule
Keep current leaves or sacrifice a branch to reach sunlight?
Reference gamesPrune · Grow Home
Growing and tendingOne rule
Plant a directly sellable crop or a flower supporting nearby production?
Reference gamesAPICO · Stardew Valley
Growing and tendingOne rule
Take quick one-off yield or wait for repeated later harvests?
Reference gamesStardew Valley · Farm Together
Catching and trackingOne rule
Spend scarce targeted bait for an order or accept mixed catches with generic bait?
Reference gamesStardew Valley · Fishing Planet
Catching and trackingOne rule
Choose a distant valuable site or a nearby low-maintenance route?
Reference gamesDREDGE · Stardew Valley
Catching and trackingOne rule
Attack again for better odds or attempt capture before knocking the target out?
Reference gamesMonster Hunter Generations · Pokémon Brilliant Diamond / Shining Pearl
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.
