First and foremost, thank you.
The incredible support I’ve received over the past year—over 10,000 subscribers of this publication—has been utterly inspiring. I am deeply grateful for every one of you, whether you’re a longtime reader or someone just discovering this space. Your enthusiasm fuels what I do, and I’m excited to continue this creative journey with you.
Over the years, I’ve guided you through the process of game creation—from your first idea to publication or crowdfunding. This year, I’m building on that foundation and going even further by exploring how the core design principles can be fitted to work for any creative endeavor. The podcast will feature guests from within the game industry and beyond. My goal? To uncover lessons from game design that can be applied to other fields, and to bring insights from those fields back into the world of gaming. Creativity thrives at the intersections of disciplines, and I’m eager to explore these connections with you.
But today, let’s just get back to basics—
Have you ever played a game so captivating that you thought, “I wish I could design something like this?” Or perhaps, “Wouldn’t it be incredible to turn game design into a career?” Well, this article is here to take us back to the fundamentals—exploring what it truly means to be a game designer.
What is a Game Designer?
A game designer, like any other artist, attempts to craft an experience for their audience. What makes game design unique is the interactive nature of the medium.
The basics principles are as follows:
Games have players.
Games have rules.
Games are interactive.
Games have components.
A game designer, thus, uses the interaction between players, components, and rules to create experiences for their audience. The audience is typically the players, but in cases like streaming and eSports, there may be an additional audience to consider.
What Makes a Great Game Designer?
To be an exceptional game designer, you must predict how your players will emotionally respond to the rules and systems you design. This requires empathy and a deep understanding of why people play games. A great designer can anticipate both the actions players will take within a game and how those actions will make them feel.
Keep this in mind: The most important metric in game design is player experience.
Whenever you get lost, always come back to these practical questions:
What experience am I trying to create?
Who is my audience?
Use the answers to these questions to guide every decision you make as a designer.
How Do I Become a Great Game Designer?
Becoming a great game designer is a process of practice and observation. Playing games—and watching others play—develops the intuition necessary to create better designs. By observing your players and taking in their feedback—both explicit and implicit—you can refine your initial concepts into polished, enjoyable games.
Where Do I Start?
Regardless of the type of game you want to create, starting with traditional board games and card games is an excellent way to learn the art of game design. Tabletop games have a low iteration cost, meaning they’re inexpensive and quick to prototype, test, and refine. My company and many of my students use Tabletop Simulator to quickly and cheaply create their prototypes and test them with audiences around the globe. But that doesn’t necessarily mean Tabletop Simulator is right for you. The key is to find a way to prototype and test quickly. For example, my earliest prototypes used a regular deck of cards and a Sharpie. This rapid feedback loop allows you to identify what works and what doesn’t with each iteration of your game.
Playing a wide variety of games, including those you don’t necessarily enjoy, can also teach valuable lessons. Start with your favorite games and analyze what draws you to them. Pay attention to moments that evoke strong emotional responses—whether joy, frustration, or excitement—and consider how you might replicate or avoid those emotions in your own designs.
A great exercise is to reflect on the most memorable gaming experiences in your life. Consider the exact moment or mechanic that made each moment unforgettable. This process can reveal valuable insights into what creates impactful designs.
Was it an intense, emotional scene in an RPG that left you speechless?
Was it the thrill of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat at the last moment?
Was it the joy of a perfectly synchronized collaboration with a teammate or friend?
Was it the sheer delight when an improbable stroke of luck turned the tide in your favor?
Was it uncovering a clever strategy or unexpected depth in gameplay that surprised you?
As a novice designer, you will start by copying the designs of others, combining and refining mechanics from your favorite games. Over time, you will find your unique voice as a designer, creating things that are truly yours. Tapping into the strong emotions that drew you to games in the first place will help you find your unique voice.
The Most Important Concept in Game Design
The single most important concept for a game designer to understand is the Core Design Loop. This fundamental creative process is used by all great designers, regardless of their experience level.
The Core Design Loop consists of six steps:
Inspiring: Decide on the type of game and experience you want to create.
Framing: Define your limitations and deadlines.
Brainstorming: Generate ideas and get them down on paper.
Prototyping: Bring your best ideas to life in a playable form.
Testing: Identify what works and what doesn’t through testing.
Iterating: Use the insights from testing to improve your design; repeat the cycle.
The faster you progress through this cycle and complete more iterations, the better your game will become. Aim to keep your iteration cycles as brief as possible to maximize learning and improvement. Often, you don’t need to play through an entire game to gain valuable insights from an iteration. Before taking your game to market, however, it’s crucial to test it with your target audience. A clear sign that you’re on the right path is when they ask to play again without any prompting.
Additional Resources
For more tips on game design, check out my free podcast, where I interview some of the brightest creative minds in the world. These guests come not only from the game industry but also from other fields, offering their unique perspectives on design and creativity. Each episode explores lessons that may inspire your work, whether you’re designing games or pursuing another creative passion.
As we step into 2025, I’m excited to continue bringing you practical advice, inspiring stories, and fresh perspectives. Thank you for being part of this incredible journey. Here’s to another year of growth, creativity, and of course—games!
Popular Episodes From 2024
To celebrate the journey so far, I’ve put together a list of popular episodes from 2024. These standout conversations highlight the unique perspectives and valuable lessons shared by our guests over the past year. Whether you’re revisiting favorites or discovering them for the first time, these episodes are packed with insights to inspire your next creative endeavor.
Thankful for you, Justin. Keep up the good work!
Fingers crossed for a Brandon Sanderson podcast appearance 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻