Skip to main content

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 ropes and swing
02Predict release direction
03Choose and cut a rope
04Inspect landing and retry

Physics and contraptionsOne rule

Releasing a rope

Cut now or wait for a swing with a better launch direction?

Reference gamesCut the Rope Daily · Unravel

Open this entry

Core loop

01Inspect pivot and load
02Position a counterweight
03Let the platform settle
04Test with player weight

Physics and contraptionsOne rule

Counterweights and pivots

Place the weight farther out for lift, or nearer so the route survives the player's added weight?

Reference gamesHuman Fall Flat · Trine Enchanted Edition

Open this entry

Core loop

01Read levels and floats
02Plan valve order
03Transfer water
04Use the new height

Physics and contraptionsOne rule

Water-level routes

Raise the cargo platform first or open the far gate before its switch becomes inaccessible?

Reference gamesHydrophobia: Prophecy · Fluidity: Spin Cycle

Open this entry

Core loop

01Identify rewindable objects
02Arrange forward actions
03Choose a past point
04Use persistent world state

Time and echoesLinked states

Selective rewind

Record a path through the switch before rewinding the box, or move it directly to the exit?

Reference gamesBraid · The Entropy Centre

Open this entry

Core loop

01Choose a repeatable task
02Record the actions
03Work with the replay
04Adjust timing and handoffs

Time and echoesLinked states

Recorded-self cooperation

Record a short reliable action or combine several tasks in one longer loop?

Reference gamesThe Last Clockwinder · Super Time Force Ultra

Open this entry

Core loop

01Pause and inspect
02Allocate action budget
03Commit and execute
04Review the final position

Time and echoesOne rule

Plan, then execute

Spend the budget attacking or reserve a move to finish in safety?

Reference gamesTransistor · Frozen Synapse

Open this entry

Core loop

01Read sight and awareness
02Choose a crossing moment
03Accumulate or cool down
04Reach cover within the window

Stealth and scoutingOne rule

Accumulating awareness

Cross the short gap now or wait for awareness to fall before the next crossing?

Reference gamesMark of the Ninja · Desperados III

Open this entry

Core loop

01Inspect hearing range
02Choose a landing point
03Make sound and read response
04Cross the redirected route

Stealth and scoutingOne rule

Sound decoys

Lure the guard farther away or merely turn them, avoiding other listeners?

Reference gamesMark of the Ninja · Desperados III

Open this entry

Core loop

01Read access rules
02Choose an identity
03Avoid detection and illegal acts
04Enter and leave the target area

Stealth and scoutingOne rule

Disguise and access

Adopt warehouse access or keep lobby access and seek another entrance?

Reference gamesHITMAN World of Assassination · Desperados III

Open this entry

Core loop

01Hear the call
02Keep the pulse
03Respond on your turn
04Compare early and late feedback

Rhythm and timingOne rule

Rhythmic call and response

Reproduce the demonstrated intervals or mistakenly flatten them into equal beats?

Reference gamesRhythm Heaven Groove · Rhythm Doctor

Open this entry

Core loop

01Read start and endpoint
02Press on time
03Maintain input
04Release and review

Rhythm and timingOne rule

Timed holds and releases

Sustain to the endpoint or release too early while preparing the next input?

Reference gamesSpin Rhythm XD · Rhythm Heaven

Open this entry

Core loop

01Establish a pulse
02Fade selected cues
03Maintain internal count
04Restore cues and measure drift

Rhythm and timingOne rule

Keeping time as cues fade

Maintain the established pulse or let distracting visuals shift the timing?

Reference gamesRhythm Heaven · Rhythm Doctor

Open this entry

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

Open this entry Play the lab

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

Open this entry

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

Open this entry

Core loop

01Scan valid swaps
02Choose goal and setup
03Swap and resolve in order
04Read the resulting board

Matching and mergingOne rule

Adjacent swaps and cascades

Clear the largest immediate group or clear below to improve the target color's position?

Reference gamesBejeweled 3 · PuzzleQuest: Challenge of the Warlords

Open this entry

Core loop

01Find matching paths
02Extend or backtrack
03Confirm chain and endpoint
04Resolve and plan again

Matching and mergingOne rule

Chain drawing and endpoints

Extend for more value or stop at a safer endpoint?

Reference gamesGrindstone · Two Dots

Open this entry

Core loop

01Read tiers and free cells
02Choose movement or placement
03Merge and add an object
04Preserve future moves

Matching and mergingOne rule

Merging with a space budget

Merge now for space or keep lower tiers positioned for the next arrival?

Reference games2048 · Triple Town

Open this entry

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.