Designhead Dungeon
@designheaddungeon.bsky.social
Carefully collected bits of game development wisdom.
#gamedev
#gamedesign
#gamedev
#gamedesign
Reposted by Designhead Dungeon
For his perfect console @jon.inkle.co, narrative designer and co-founder
of @inkle.co, chose:
1. Plundered Hearts
2. Blade Runner: The Adventure Game
3. Riven: The Sequel to Myst
4. The Last Express
5. Shadow of the Colossus
Listen to Jon discuss his picks in this week's episode:
sptfy.in/3lqj
of @inkle.co, chose:
1. Plundered Hearts
2. Blade Runner: The Adventure Game
3. Riven: The Sequel to Myst
4. The Last Express
5. Shadow of the Colossus
Listen to Jon discuss his picks in this week's episode:
sptfy.in/3lqj
February 5, 2026 at 5:40 PM
For his perfect console @jon.inkle.co, narrative designer and co-founder
of @inkle.co, chose:
1. Plundered Hearts
2. Blade Runner: The Adventure Game
3. Riven: The Sequel to Myst
4. The Last Express
5. Shadow of the Colossus
Listen to Jon discuss his picks in this week's episode:
sptfy.in/3lqj
of @inkle.co, chose:
1. Plundered Hearts
2. Blade Runner: The Adventure Game
3. Riven: The Sequel to Myst
4. The Last Express
5. Shadow of the Colossus
Listen to Jon discuss his picks in this week's episode:
sptfy.in/3lqj
Reposted by Designhead Dungeon
My 2025 talk 'Gyms, Zoos, and Museums: Your documentation should be in-game' is now also available in text format, for those who like to read instead of watch: rystorm.com/blog/gyms-zo...
And if you haven't seen it yet, there is an all new video too, with bonus material on the history of Zoos!
And if you haven't seen it yet, there is an all new video too, with bonus material on the history of Zoos!
Gyms, Zoos, and Museums: Your documentation should be in-game — Robin-Yann Storm, Product & UX Designer for Tools
Gyms, Zoos, and Museums: Your documentation should be in-game
rystorm.com
January 27, 2026 at 6:11 PM
My 2025 talk 'Gyms, Zoos, and Museums: Your documentation should be in-game' is now also available in text format, for those who like to read instead of watch: rystorm.com/blog/gyms-zo...
And if you haven't seen it yet, there is an all new video too, with bonus material on the history of Zoos!
And if you haven't seen it yet, there is an all new video too, with bonus material on the history of Zoos!
Reposted by Designhead Dungeon
🚨NEW DOC ALERT🕹️
Our Disco Elysium series continues with a 72 minute deep dive into Writing. From how characters were created, to the tech the team used, the collaborations between writers and editors, and the struggles they had along the way.
youtu.be/fpjHZc9bbFk
Our Disco Elysium series continues with a 72 minute deep dive into Writing. From how characters were created, to the tech the team used, the collaborations between writers and editors, and the struggles they had along the way.
youtu.be/fpjHZc9bbFk
The Making of Disco Elysium - Part Three: Writing
YouTube video by /noclip
youtu.be
January 13, 2026 at 5:30 PM
🚨NEW DOC ALERT🕹️
Our Disco Elysium series continues with a 72 minute deep dive into Writing. From how characters were created, to the tech the team used, the collaborations between writers and editors, and the struggles they had along the way.
youtu.be/fpjHZc9bbFk
Our Disco Elysium series continues with a 72 minute deep dive into Writing. From how characters were created, to the tech the team used, the collaborations between writers and editors, and the struggles they had along the way.
youtu.be/fpjHZc9bbFk
Reposted by Designhead Dungeon
January 5, 2026 at 11:17 PM
Reposted by Designhead Dungeon
🚨NEW DOC ALERT🕹️
The Making of Disco Elysium - Part Two: Building Elysium
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrVW...
In the second episode of our Disco Elysium series we explore the crumbling studio space the game was created in, and tell the story of the people who quickly made it there home.
The Making of Disco Elysium - Part Two: Building Elysium
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrVW...
In the second episode of our Disco Elysium series we explore the crumbling studio space the game was created in, and tell the story of the people who quickly made it there home.
The Making of Disco Elysium - Part Two: Building Elysium
YouTube video by /noclip
www.youtube.com
December 12, 2025 at 5:32 PM
🚨NEW DOC ALERT🕹️
The Making of Disco Elysium - Part Two: Building Elysium
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrVW...
In the second episode of our Disco Elysium series we explore the crumbling studio space the game was created in, and tell the story of the people who quickly made it there home.
The Making of Disco Elysium - Part Two: Building Elysium
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrVW...
In the second episode of our Disco Elysium series we explore the crumbling studio space the game was created in, and tell the story of the people who quickly made it there home.
@simondev.bsky.social on math fundamentals for #gamedev, very accessible for less mathy folk:
December 18, 2025 at 1:32 PM
@simondev.bsky.social on math fundamentals for #gamedev, very accessible for less mathy folk:
Reposted by Designhead Dungeon
New on GMTK - The World Design of Hollow Knight: Silksong youtu.be/l7xXW0EbK4g
The World Design of Hollow Knight: Silksong
YouTube video by Game Maker's Toolkit
youtu.be
December 15, 2025 at 3:59 PM
New on GMTK - The World Design of Hollow Knight: Silksong youtu.be/l7xXW0EbK4g
Reposted by Designhead Dungeon
A detailed look at how Sandfall Interactive created @expedition33.bsky.social and why it wasn’t supposed to be so successful.
Watch here → youtu.be/pLSRlzSxEPw
Watch here → youtu.be/pLSRlzSxEPw
December 12, 2025 at 5:29 PM
A detailed look at how Sandfall Interactive created @expedition33.bsky.social and why it wasn’t supposed to be so successful.
Watch here → youtu.be/pLSRlzSxEPw
Watch here → youtu.be/pLSRlzSxEPw
Reposted by Designhead Dungeon
🚨NEW DOC ALERT🕹️
The Making of Disco Elysium - Part One: Foundations
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH6m...
After over 18 months of research, interviews & editing our Disco Elysium series is here.
In this first episode we focus on the cultural and personal foundations of the world of Elysium.
The Making of Disco Elysium - Part One: Foundations
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH6m...
After over 18 months of research, interviews & editing our Disco Elysium series is here.
In this first episode we focus on the cultural and personal foundations of the world of Elysium.
The Making of Disco Elysium - Part One: Foundations
YouTube video by /noclip
www.youtube.com
November 28, 2025 at 5:30 PM
🚨NEW DOC ALERT🕹️
The Making of Disco Elysium - Part One: Foundations
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH6m...
After over 18 months of research, interviews & editing our Disco Elysium series is here.
In this first episode we focus on the cultural and personal foundations of the world of Elysium.
The Making of Disco Elysium - Part One: Foundations
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH6m...
After over 18 months of research, interviews & editing our Disco Elysium series is here.
In this first episode we focus on the cultural and personal foundations of the world of Elysium.
Reposted by Designhead Dungeon
The boundaries is where the interesting things happen!
November 21, 2025 at 9:54 AM
The boundaries is where the interesting things happen!
@foddy.net @gcuzzillo.bsky.social @maxiboch.bsky.social on designing Baby Steps. “Making it interesting to get lost is a big creative challenge.”
#gamedev
#gamedesign
#gamedev
#gamedesign
The Baby Steps Interview: Does Bennett Foddy just want to make us mad?
YouTube video by GoGoGaming
youtu.be
November 21, 2025 at 3:48 PM
@foddy.net @gcuzzillo.bsky.social @maxiboch.bsky.social on designing Baby Steps. “Making it interesting to get lost is a big creative challenge.”
#gamedev
#gamedesign
#gamedev
#gamedesign
Reposted by Designhead Dungeon
New Paper: Game Design is Generative Design. Designing a procedural generator and designing a game share a lot of skills, problems and philosophies, even if we think of them as distinct. I try to connect them here, for good!
Read here: ojs.aaai.org/index.php/AI...
Read here: ojs.aaai.org/index.php/AI...
November 14, 2025 at 6:17 PM
New Paper: Game Design is Generative Design. Designing a procedural generator and designing a game share a lot of skills, problems and philosophies, even if we think of them as distinct. I try to connect them here, for good!
Read here: ojs.aaai.org/index.php/AI...
Read here: ojs.aaai.org/index.php/AI...
Explaining Silksong's Misleading Damage System
YouTube video by Rusty.
youtu.be
November 11, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Reposted by Designhead Dungeon
Game design is simple, actually. Except when it isn't. Here are the 12 things you need to know.
Game design is simple, actually
So, let’s just walk through the whole thing, end to end. Here’s a twelve-step program for understanding game design. One: Fun There are a lot of things people call “fun.” But most of them are not useful for getting better at making games, which is usually why people read articles like this. The fun of a bit of confetti exploding in front of you, and the fun of excruciating pain and risk to life and limb as you free climb a cliff are just not usefully paired together.
www.raphkoster.com
November 3, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Game design is simple, actually. Except when it isn't. Here are the 12 things you need to know.
Reposted by Designhead Dungeon
New on GMTK - let's talk about the power of prototyping - youtu.be/8tHJgtbj6rs
What's the Point of Prototyping?
YouTube video by Game Maker's Toolkit
youtu.be
November 5, 2025 at 4:29 PM
New on GMTK - let's talk about the power of prototyping - youtu.be/8tHJgtbj6rs
@oskarstalberg.bsky.social’s excellent presentation on efficient and flexible tile-based procedural generation:
#gamedev
#gamedesign
#gamedev
#gamedesign
SGC21- Oskar Stålberg - Beyond Townscapers
YouTube video by Sweden Game Arena
youtu.be
November 2, 2025 at 6:30 PM
@oskarstalberg.bsky.social’s excellent presentation on efficient and flexible tile-based procedural generation:
#gamedev
#gamedesign
#gamedev
#gamedesign
Reposted by Designhead Dungeon
It is time to shout about fun in a car park // What is Fun? A Game Design Introduction
youtu.be/56ENqlUST9U
youtu.be/56ENqlUST9U
What is Fun? A Game Design Introduction
YouTube video by Indie Game Clinic
youtu.be
October 31, 2025 at 1:26 PM
It is time to shout about fun in a car park // What is Fun? A Game Design Introduction
youtu.be/56ENqlUST9U
youtu.be/56ENqlUST9U
Reposted by Designhead Dungeon
"Return of the Obra Dinn" is seven years old this week.
For this not-particularly-special anniversary, here's a re-cammed and narrated timelapse of (nearly) all character creation, object modeling, scene posing, and general 3D work for Obra Dinn from 2015 to 2018:
youtu.be/90vqCKEEj3s
For this not-particularly-special anniversary, here's a re-cammed and narrated timelapse of (nearly) all character creation, object modeling, scene posing, and general 3D work for Obra Dinn from 2015 to 2018:
youtu.be/90vqCKEEj3s
Return of the Obra Dinn - Narrated Modeling Mega Timelapse
YouTube video by Lucas Pope
youtu.be
October 21, 2025 at 5:01 PM
"Return of the Obra Dinn" is seven years old this week.
For this not-particularly-special anniversary, here's a re-cammed and narrated timelapse of (nearly) all character creation, object modeling, scene posing, and general 3D work for Obra Dinn from 2015 to 2018:
youtu.be/90vqCKEEj3s
For this not-particularly-special anniversary, here's a re-cammed and narrated timelapse of (nearly) all character creation, object modeling, scene posing, and general 3D work for Obra Dinn from 2015 to 2018:
youtu.be/90vqCKEEj3s
Old but always makes me smile. Appreciate your testers:
#gamedev
#gamedev
Dev vs. Tester: Guess who’s got the edge in this epic meme showdown? 💻
YouTube video by codemug
youtube.com
September 28, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Old but always makes me smile. Appreciate your testers:
#gamedev
#gamedev
Reposted by Designhead Dungeon
I love mock-ups so much. It was my first job in the game industry, and it's still what I love doing the most. You learn so much from making these, throwing out ideas quickly, finding opportunities and ideas, at no risk and low cost.
#gamedesign #gamedev
#gamedesign #gamedev
September 23, 2025 at 10:56 PM
I love mock-ups so much. It was my first job in the game industry, and it's still what I love doing the most. You learn so much from making these, throwing out ideas quickly, finding opportunities and ideas, at no risk and low cost.
#gamedesign #gamedev
#gamedesign #gamedev
Reposted by Designhead Dungeon
September 1, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Reposted by Designhead Dungeon
🚨NEW DOC ALERT🕹️
The Making of Wolfenstein
We revisit the team at MachineGames to discuss the design and development of their Wolfenstein series. From narrative design to combat and everything in between.
WATCH HERE: youtu.be/E189QG28rnE
The Making of Wolfenstein
We revisit the team at MachineGames to discuss the design and development of their Wolfenstein series. From narrative design to combat and everything in between.
WATCH HERE: youtu.be/E189QG28rnE
The Making of Wolfenstein - Noclip Documentary
YouTube video by /noclip
youtu.be
September 5, 2025 at 4:18 PM
🚨NEW DOC ALERT🕹️
The Making of Wolfenstein
We revisit the team at MachineGames to discuss the design and development of their Wolfenstein series. From narrative design to combat and everything in between.
WATCH HERE: youtu.be/E189QG28rnE
The Making of Wolfenstein
We revisit the team at MachineGames to discuss the design and development of their Wolfenstein series. From narrative design to combat and everything in between.
WATCH HERE: youtu.be/E189QG28rnE
Reposted by Designhead Dungeon
This convo I had highlights the difference in what "respect your time" means in games.
A lot of players want to trade time for in-game progress. It's purely transactional: 1 hour = 1 progress
But I want to feel like my actions matter i.e. what I do with time creates progress, not time itself.
A lot of players want to trade time for in-game progress. It's purely transactional: 1 hour = 1 progress
But I want to feel like my actions matter i.e. what I do with time creates progress, not time itself.
September 5, 2025 at 6:52 PM
This convo I had highlights the difference in what "respect your time" means in games.
A lot of players want to trade time for in-game progress. It's purely transactional: 1 hour = 1 progress
But I want to feel like my actions matter i.e. what I do with time creates progress, not time itself.
A lot of players want to trade time for in-game progress. It's purely transactional: 1 hour = 1 progress
But I want to feel like my actions matter i.e. what I do with time creates progress, not time itself.
Reposted by Designhead Dungeon
Design Dive returns to @aiandgames.com for this short but fun analysis of narrative design in Donkey Kong Bananza.
Pauline's emotional journey is the real heart of the game's story. With the narrative team relying on a game AI bark systems that react to player progress.
youtu.be/DyGYxtJL_GM?...
Pauline's emotional journey is the real heart of the game's story. With the narrative team relying on a game AI bark systems that react to player progress.
youtu.be/DyGYxtJL_GM?...
Donkey Kong Bananza's Simplest Design Trick | Design Dive
YouTube video by AI and Games
youtu.be
August 29, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Design Dive returns to @aiandgames.com for this short but fun analysis of narrative design in Donkey Kong Bananza.
Pauline's emotional journey is the real heart of the game's story. With the narrative team relying on a game AI bark systems that react to player progress.
youtu.be/DyGYxtJL_GM?...
Pauline's emotional journey is the real heart of the game's story. With the narrative team relying on a game AI bark systems that react to player progress.
youtu.be/DyGYxtJL_GM?...