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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

01Read the landing
02Deform the launcher
03Release energy
04Adjust from the trajectory

Physics and contraptionsOne rule

Elastic deformation and launch

Pull farther for range or reduce energy to avoid overshooting?

Reference gamesAngry Birds Journey · Worms W.M.D Mobilize

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Core loop

01Identify the surface
02Predict stopping distance
03Time input changes
04Compare actual sliding

Physics and contraptionsOne rule

Surface friction differences

Brake on rough ground early or slide on ice and countersteer later?

Reference gamesSuperTux · Trackmania

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Core loop

01Read levels and paths
02Set valves
03Advance flow
04Check overflow and delivery

Physics and contraptionsLinked states

Valves and fluid levels

Fill the upper reservoir first or send limited water straight to the destination?

Reference gamesFactorio · Timberborn

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Core loop

01Stop and inspect
02Plan a segment
03Act to advance the world
04Stop and reassess

Time and echoesOne rule

Action-driven world time

Pause to read trajectories or move into position while enemies advance too?

Reference gamesSUPERHOT · SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE

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Core loop

01Assess threat density
02Activate slow motion
03Act within the reserve
04Exit and inspect remaining time

Time and echoesOne rule

Limited slow motion

Spend slow motion on an easy target or save it for overlapping threats?

Reference gamesMax Payne · Boomerang X

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Core loop

01Read timed connections
02Prepare the route
03Trigger in order
04Pass before expiry

Time and echoesOne rule

Timed switch chains

Prepare a shortcut before starting the timer or trigger now and arrange things on the run?

Reference gamesPortal 2 · Twelve Minutes

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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.