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Design

Discover coverage of gameplay design, game mechanics, level design, systems design, narrative design, quest design, UX and UI design, player experience, combat systems, prototyping, and game design theory. Learn how designers turn concepts into engaging interactive experiences and how design decisions evolve throughout game development.

Control Resonant protagonist Dylan Faden looks out over an altered cityscape.

Control Resonant director lays out case for avoiding excessive 'yellow paint'Control Resonant director lays out case for avoiding excessive 'yellow paint'

'It has to feel like it’s on you to make a decision on what to do with those elements that you see within the world.'

byBryant Francis,Senior Editor

Sep 29, 2026

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4 Min Read

Characters from different factions look upon a brightly lit wasteland

Paradox Interactive's Afterworld wants to entice new players to grand strategy with tasty RPG hooks Paradox Interactive's Afterworld wants to entice new players to grand strategy with tasty RPG hooks

byAlessandro Fillari

Sep 1, 2026

7 Min Read

The protagonist in Warlock, a pale woman with a dark black pixie cut wearing magic armour

Warlock's magic system was built on game-bending player choices Warlock's magic system was built on game-bending player choices

Aug 28, 2026

4 Min Read

Key art from Slumber Realm, with colorful characters and dice

How you (yes, you) can benefit from 1-on-1 synchronous playtesting How you (yes, you) can benefit from 1-on-1 synchronous playtesting

byDanielle Riendeau

Aug 27, 2026

4 Min Read

A low-poly haunted house, looming against an eerie sky

How Forbidden Solitaire brought solitaire games to the forefront How Forbidden Solitaire brought solitaire games to the forefront

byKhee Hoon Chan

Aug 17, 2026

8 Min Read

A city with towering skyscrapers and mining apparatus

Pushing the limits in Simulating a City, One Page at a Time Pushing the limits in Simulating a City, One Page at a Time

byDanielle Riendeau

Aug 7, 2026

5 Min Read

Protagonist Simon against a foggy background

How Silent Hill: Townfall gets deep into its protagonist's headspace

How Silent Hill: Townfall gets deep into its protagonist's headspace

byAlessandro Fillari,Contributor

Voice actor Sam Beart

GDC Side Quest - A Sit-Down With The Indomitable Sam Beart

GDC Side Quest - A Sit-Down With The Indomitable Sam Beart

byGame Developer Podcast

Narrative Notebook #5: UNBEATABLE's music video vibes can't be beat

Narrative Notebook #5: UNBEATABLE's music video vibes can't be beat

byBryant Francis,Senior Editor

A screenshot of Splatoon Raiders, showcasing two characters standing alongside a flexing manta ray

Splatoon Raiders started off as a tower defense game

Splatoon Raiders started off as a tower defense game

byDiego Argüello,Contributor

The key art of Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire showcasing multiple characters

Pentiment director emphasizes the importance of RPG players not controlling everything

Pentiment director emphasizes the importance of RPG players not controlling everything

byDiego Argüello,Contributor

Zelda looks over a majestic kingdom

What developers can learn from this generation of game criticism

What developers can learn from this generation of game criticism

byTim Brinkhof,Contributor

Spore image with colorful creatures

'The goal of design is to efficiently communicate ideas'

'The goal of design is to efficiently communicate ideas'

byDanielle Riendeau,Contributor

The terrifying creature from Alien Isolation 2, with an open maw

How a 12 year wait made Alien Isolation 2 a better sequel

How a 12 year wait made Alien Isolation 2 a better sequel

byAlessandro Fillari,Contributor

A view from the hood of Pacific Drive's trusty station wagon as a bolt of energy sparks

Resource management? Survival games are about time management.

Resource management? Survival games are about time management.

byCarli Velocci,Contributor

Key art from Mouse: P.I. For Hire showing its hero, Jack Pepper, a femme fatale, and a car chase.

Analyzing Mouse: P.I. For Hire's audacious worldbuilding - Narrative Notebook #4

Analyzing Mouse: P.I. For Hire's audacious worldbuilding - Narrative Notebook #4

byBryant Francis,Senior Editor

The art of game writing in 'non-narrative' games ft. Emma Kidwell and Harrison Pink

The art of game writing in 'non-narrative' games ft. Emma Kidwell and Harrison Pink

byGame Developer Podcast

The lead characters in Crossfire

How That's No Moon's Crossfire evolves the cover-based shooter

How That's No Moon's Crossfire evolves the cover-based shooter

byAlessandro Fillari,Contributor

The Wingman device from Replaced up close

How the Replaced devs fixed display bloat with a stylish gadget

How the Replaced devs fixed display bloat with a stylish gadget

byDiego Argüello,Contributor

Control Resonant Protagonist Dylan Faden stands before a paranaturally-warped New York City.

How to direct unconventional games like Control Resonant

How to direct unconventional games like Control Resonant

byBryant Francis,Senior Editor

A runner takes cover behind a piece of debris in Marathon

Bungie experiments by adding casual PvP-lite mode to Marathon

Bungie experiments by adding casual PvP-lite mode to Marathon

byChris Kerr,Contributor

Crafting Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's mournful tale ft. Jennifer Svedberg-Yen

Crafting Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's mournful tale ft. Jennifer Svedberg-Yen

byGame Developer Podcast

A screenshot of the USS Voyager from Star Trek: Voyager - Across the Unknown

Star Trek: Voyager - Across the Unknown reinvents TV storytelling for survival strategy - Narrative Notebook #3

Star Trek: Voyager - Across the Unknown reinvents TV storytelling for survival strategy - Narrative Notebook #3

byBryant Francis,Senior Editor

Key art of Splinter Cell showing the protagonist covered in shadows

Splinter Cell designer says modern lighting has made stealth games harder to read

Splinter Cell designer says modern lighting has made stealth games harder to read

byDiego Argüello,Contributor

A photograph of Gamescom LATAM's LATAM showcase area.

LATAM indie devs lay out how to improve your text animation

LATAM indie devs lay out how to improve your text animation

byBryant Francis,Senior Editor

What happened when one game writer tried making a game in 30 days with Godot

What happened when one game writer tried making a game in 30 days with Godot

byBen Reeves,Contributor

We tested the Steam Controller

We tested the Steam Controller

byGame Developer Podcast

Colorful heroes from Overwatch fly across the battlefield

The secret to Overwatch's revitalization? Over-communicating.

The secret to Overwatch's revitalization? Over-communicating.

byCarli Velocci,Contributor

A photograph of the Steam Controller.

'Millimeters matter:' Making the Steam Controller 'just work' on day one

'Millimeters matter:' Making the Steam Controller 'just work' on day one

byBryant Francis,Senior Editor

Player character stands in the foreground while a mysterious, shadowy, multi-armed finger looms behind him in front of an eclipse.

Inside Housemarque's improved narrative process for Saros

Inside Housemarque's improved narrative process for Saros

byBryant Francis,Senior Editor

An illustration of a number of spirits controlling pottery fighting each other.

How Double Fine balances fun with pottery sculpting in Kiln

How Double Fine balances fun with pottery sculpting in Kiln

bySamuel Tolbert,Contributor

Supporting juniors and sharpening your creativity

Supporting juniors and sharpening your creativity

byGame Developer Podcast

Sponsored Content

Beyond Outsourcing: How US/UK Partnerships are Evolving in the Game Industry

Beyond Outsourcing: How US/UK partnerships are evolving in the game industry

Attendees and signage at GDC 2026

Data and player sentiment highlight the value of authentic LGBTQ narratives

Data and player sentiment highlight the value of authentic LGBTQ narratives

byAlessandro Fillari,Contributor

Hugh and Diana run from a giant robot in Pragmata.

How Capcom's Pragmata blends puzzle-solving with sci-fi combat

How Capcom's Pragmata blends puzzle-solving with sci-fi combat

byAlessandro Fillari,Contributor

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