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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

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

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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

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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

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Core loop

01Read local species
02Choose bait
03Resolve one catch
04Update stock/observations

Catching and trackingOne rule

Bait and target likelihood

Spend scarce targeted bait for an order or accept mixed catches with generic bait?

Reference gamesStardew Valley · Fishing Planet

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Core loop

01Place a trap
02Work elsewhere
03Return on schedule
04Rebait/repair/redeploy

Catching and trackingOne rule

Trap placement and collection routes

Choose a distant valuable site or a nearby low-maintenance route?

Reference gamesDREDGE · Stardew Valley

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Core loop

01Read target state
02Choose weakening action
03Check eligibility
04Use a tool and resolve

Catching and trackingOne rule

Weakening and capture windows

Attack again for better odds or attempt capture before knocking the target out?

Reference gamesMonster Hunter Generations · Pokémon Brilliant Diamond / Shining Pearl

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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.