A Game Design Vocabulary

1. Games are conversations between creators and players

Games can present us with overt choices and ask us what we think; they can also show us that in some circumstances and systems, choices are limited or don't necessarily make a difference.

Game as dialogue. Games create a unique form of communication between creators and players. Unlike traditional media, games allow for interactive storytelling and dynamic experiences. This conversation is shaped by the game's rules, mechanics, and narrative elements, all carefully crafted by the creator to engage the player.

Player agency and limitations. While games offer choices, they also have boundaries. Some games provide wide-ranging decisions that significantly impact the outcome, while others present more constrained options or even the illusion of choice. This spectrum of agency reflects different design philosophies and storytelling approaches.

Types of player choices:

• Plot-altering decisions
• Reflective choices (affecting character development)
• Strategic gameplay decisions
• Cosmetic or inconsequential choices

2. Verbs and objects form the foundation of game design

Verbs are the rules that allow the player to interact with the other rules in the game: "jump," "shoot," "fall," or "flap" in the case of Joust.

Core gameplay mechanics. Verbs represent the actions players can take within a game, while objects are the elements they interact with. This framework forms the basis of gameplay, defining what players can do and how they engage with the game world.

Balancing and development. Designers must carefully consider how verbs and objects interact, ensuring a cohesive and engaging experience. As the game progresses, these elements often evolve, introducing new challenges and keeping players invested.

Key considerations for verbs and objects:

• Clarity and intuitiveness
• Depth and complexity
• Progression and development
• Interaction between different verbs/objects

3. Scenes shape the player's journey through resistance and reward

Scenes are often made of many tiny choices, exclusive to each player's individual performance of a scene. That's why it's often useful to think and design in terms of the overall shape of a scene.

Designing player experiences. Scenes in games are carefully structured to guide players through challenges and rewards. They create a rhythm of tension and release, shaping the overall pacing and emotional journey of the game.

Balancing structure and freedom. While designers craft scenes with specific intentions, they must also allow for player agency and varied playstyles. This balance creates a sense of authored experience while still enabling emergent gameplay and personal stories.

Elements of scene design:

• Difficulty curve
• Introduction of new mechanics or challenges
• Narrative beats and reveals
• Opportunities for player expression
• Rewards and progression

4. Visual and audio context brings games to life

The way objects in a game appear should tell the player about what they do and what their relationships to each other and to the player are.

Communicating through design. Visual and audio elements in games serve a crucial role beyond aesthetics. They provide essential information to players, conveying the nature of objects, the state of the game world, and potential interactions.

Creating immersion and emotion. Thoughtful use of visuals and sound deepens player engagement, evoking emotions and enhancing the overall experience. These elements can reinforce themes, build atmosphere, and guide player attention.

Key aspects of visual and audio design:

• Consistent visual language for game elements
• Sound cues for feedback and atmosphere
• Color theory and composition to guide focus
• Animation to convey character and object properties
• Music to reinforce emotional beats

5. Flow balances challenge and skill for optimal engagement

Flow is just one way to talk about what happens when the objects, verbs, and resistance of a game develop at a particular pace that encourages a player to stick around for more of the conversation.

Maintaining player engagement. The concept of flow in games describes a state where players are fully immersed and challenged at an appropriate level. Designers strive to create experiences that keep players in this sweet spot between boredom and frustration.

Adapting to player skill. As players improve, games often increase in difficulty to maintain the flow state. Some games use dynamic difficulty adjustment, while others rely on careful level design and progression systems.

Techniques for maintaining flow:

• Gradual introduction of new mechanics
• Increasing complexity of challenges
• Optional side content for varied skill levels
• Feedback systems to encourage improvement
• Moments of relaxation between intense challenges

6. Player choices and interpretations create emergent stories

Players will react creatively to fill in the blanks, to imagine that Michelle "Banzai" Rodriguez has a hotheaded personality, or even a backstory that explains her recklessness.

Beyond authored narratives. While many games feature carefully crafted stories, players often create their own narratives through gameplay. These emergent stories arise from the intersection of game systems, player choices, and imagination.

Designing for emergence. Game creators can foster emergent storytelling by providing rich, reactive worlds and systems that allow for player expression. This approach can lead to deeply personal and memorable experiences that extend beyond the game's core narrative.

Elements that encourage emergent stories:

• Open-ended gameplay systems
• Character customization and development
• Meaningful consequences for player actions
• Procedurally generated content
• Social interactions in multiplayer games

7. Complex systems and multiplayer interactions generate unique experiences

If we want many different players to experience their own uniquely emergent stories, a complex system of many parts that interact with each other is invaluable.

Depth through complexity. Games with intricate, interacting systems create a vast space of possibilities for players to explore. This complexity leads to emergent gameplay and stories that even the designers may not have anticipated.

The human element. Multiplayer games add an additional layer of unpredictability and depth. The interactions between human players create dynamic, ever-changing experiences that go beyond what's possible in single-player games.

Characteristics of complex game systems:

• Multiple interacting mechanics
• Emergent strategies and tactics
• Procedural content generation
• Player-driven economies or social structures
• Evolving meta-games in competitive settings

Human-to-human gameplay elements:

• Mind games and psychology
• Team dynamics and coordination
• Social interactions and community-building
• Competitive scene development

Last updated: January 22, 2025