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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 box and standing space
02Plan pushes
03Walk around and push
04Check dead positions and undo

Spatial and path puzzlesOne rule

Pushing and dead positions

Walk around first or push toward the goal and lose turning room?

Reference gamesA Monster's Expedition · Sokobond

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Core loop

01Read path conditions
02Choose visit order
03Draw and inspect conflicts
04Backtrack and submit

Spatial and path puzzlesOne rule

Paths with constraints

Visit the near checkpoint first or preserve access to the far region?

Reference gamesThe Witness · Linelight

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Core loop

01Identify a missing link
02Change viewpoint
03Align and confirm
04Test the resulting route

Spatial and path puzzlesOne rule

Perspective alignment

Move to another viewpoint or adjust the held shape to cover the gap?

Reference gamesSuperliminal · Viewfinder

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Core loop

01Read committed attacks
02Compare threatened targets
03Choose limited counters
04End the turn and verify

Turns and tacticsOne rule

Visible enemy intent

Save the most threatened unit or use one move to invalidate two attacks?

Reference gamesInto the Breach · Phantom Brigade

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Core loop

01Read positions and terrain
02Predict displacement
03Push, pull or swap
04Resolve collisions and threats

Turns and tacticsOne rule

Displacement and terrain

Deal direct damage or move the enemy off its attack line or into a hazard?

Reference gamesInto the Breach · Fights in Tight Spaces

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Core loop

01Assess possible routes
02Lock visible or hidden orders
03Execute and resolve conflicts
04Update predictions

Turns and tacticsLinked states

Simultaneous orders

Rush the shortest route or detour around a likely contested crossing?

Reference gamesFrozen Synapse · Phantom Brigade

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Core loop

01Read enemy differences
02Set priority
03Observe selected targets
04Adjust from leaks

Defense and wavesOne rule

Target priorities

Stop the small enemy near the exit or focus on the tougher threat behind it?

Reference gamesBloons TD 6 · GemCraft Labyrinth

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Core loop

01Read entry and exit
02Place walls and towers
03Verify reachability
04Run a wave and inspect exposure

Defense and wavesLinked states

Maze-building defense

Spend on a longer route or more damage along a shorter one?

Reference gamesDefense Grid: The Awakening · Sanctum 2

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Core loop

01Read remaining threats
02Compare bonus and pressure
03Call early or wait
04Observe base health under overlap

Defense and wavesOne rule

Calling a wave early

Take the bonus now or clear part of the current wave before accepting overlap?

Reference gamesKingdom Rush: Vengeance · GemCraft: Frostborn Wrath

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Core loop

01Inspect footprints
02Rotate and arrange
03Consume or discard
04Confirm loadout and space

Inventory and loadoutsOne rule

Inventory shapes and tradeoffs

Discard a low-value item or rotate and consume supplies to create the needed shape?

Reference gamesSave Room - Organization Puzzle · Backpack Hero

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Core loop

01Read adjacency conditions
02Arrange a combination
03Inspect active links
04Adjust total output

Inventory and loadoutsLinked states

Equipment adjacency

Boost one strong weapon or place the amplifier between two weaker items?

Reference gamesBackpack Hero · Backpack Battles

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Core loop

01Read route and durability
02Choose a tool
03Spend and update reserves
04Repair, replace or return

Inventory and loadoutsOne rule

Durability and reserves

Spend the strong tool now or save it for a tougher obstacle and use a weaker tool first?

Reference gamesThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild · Valheim

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Core loop

01Recognize an obstacle
02Find and learn an ability
03Recall an old route
04Open a new connection

Maps and explorationOne rule

Ability gates and revisits

Continue outward or revisit a remembered obstacle to test the new ability?

Reference gamesMetroid Dread · Hollow Knight

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Core loop

01Observe landmarks
02Form a location hypothesis
03Test it along a route
04Reorient from a new view

Maps and explorationOne rule

Navigating by landmarks

Take the nearby fork or climb higher to reorient against the tower and coastline?

Reference gamesSea of Thieves · A Short Hike

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Core loop

01Meet an unexplained barrier
02Collect rule clues
03Test a hypothesis
04Enter through understanding

Maps and explorationOne rule

Knowledge as access

Keep looking for a key or apply a newly understood rule to an old barrier?

Reference gamesOuter Wilds · TUNIC

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Core loop

01Inspect collected and missing items
02Choose a discovery
03Confirm a new entry
04Display the set and next goal

Collecting and expressionOne rule

Collections and missing pieces

Complete a nearly finished set or pursue a rare discovery in another category?

Reference gamesStardew Valley · New Pokémon Snap

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Core loop

01Find subject and behavior
02Adjust distance and framing
03Wait and photograph
04Review conditions and reshoot

Collecting and expressionOne rule

Photographing behavior

Take a clear ordinary shot now or wait for a rare behavior and risk losing the view?

Reference gamesNew Pokémon Snap · Alba: A Wildlife Adventure

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Core loop

01Inspect shared features
02Choose an organizing rule
03Arrange and test relationships
04Confirm and preserve the display

Collecting and expressionOne rule

Tidying rules and expression

Order by size or group by purpose for easier use?

Reference gamesA Little to the Left · Unpacking

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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.