Polaris Game Design
@polarisgamedesign.com
Solving the toughest problems in game design. Mostly a yearly weekend retreat for professional game designers. https://polarisgamedesign.com/
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Hello, Bluesky! If you love thinking, talking, and/or writing about game design, check out our starter pack! go.bsky.app/AsBK784 We're an organization committed to tackling the toughest problems in games and sharing what we learn with the world!
Game Design is Simple, Actually: "fun is basically about making progress on prediction" and the nature of good problems
www.raphkoster.com/2025/11/03/g... by the enlightening @raphkoster.bsky.social
www.raphkoster.com/2025/11/03/g... by the enlightening @raphkoster.bsky.social
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 u…
www.raphkoster.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Game Design is Simple, Actually: "fun is basically about making progress on prediction" and the nature of good problems
www.raphkoster.com/2025/11/03/g... by the enlightening @raphkoster.bsky.social
www.raphkoster.com/2025/11/03/g... by the enlightening @raphkoster.bsky.social
Reposted by Polaris Game Design
my bio on the other place was once "creating elaborate excuses for inherently enjoyable activities", so, like, I am definitely sympathetic to the idea that a thing games can do is provide a way to do a thing a player wanted to do before they saw the game
Weigh in nerds!
Do you find it helpful to discuss "player fantasies"? Does the term fill you with disgust? Do you have a good handle on what it means?
Do you find it helpful to discuss "player fantasies"? Does the term fill you with disgust? Do you have a good handle on what it means?
I am writing something about "fulfilling player fantasies" in games. I would appreciate any thoughts people have on the subject (positive or negative - is this a valuable concept?), talks or papers discussing or popularizing this sort of rhetoric, etc etc
November 7, 2025 at 12:34 AM
my bio on the other place was once "creating elaborate excuses for inherently enjoyable activities", so, like, I am definitely sympathetic to the idea that a thing games can do is provide a way to do a thing a player wanted to do before they saw the game
Reposted by Polaris Game Design
Player fantasies are one form of player contract. If only someone was writing a giant-ass paper on player contracts... @polarisgamedesign.com
Weigh in nerds!
Do you find it helpful to discuss "player fantasies"? Does the term fill you with disgust? Do you have a good handle on what it means?
Do you find it helpful to discuss "player fantasies"? Does the term fill you with disgust? Do you have a good handle on what it means?
I am writing something about "fulfilling player fantasies" in games. I would appreciate any thoughts people have on the subject (positive or negative - is this a valuable concept?), talks or papers discussing or popularizing this sort of rhetoric, etc etc
November 7, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Player fantasies are one form of player contract. If only someone was writing a giant-ass paper on player contracts... @polarisgamedesign.com
we are preparing a report aggregated from a survey of 165+ pro designers! each was asked "what 10 video games most influenced/inspired you personally?"
which individual title do you think will be at the top and why?
which individual title do you think will be at the top and why?
November 5, 2025 at 1:46 AM
we are preparing a report aggregated from a survey of 165+ pro designers! each was asked "what 10 video games most influenced/inspired you personally?"
which individual title do you think will be at the top and why?
which individual title do you think will be at the top and why?
some reading that we are told influences pro designers:
The Atrocity Exhibition - J. G. Ballard (x2)
The Simple Art of Murder
“Nudge” (2008)
Culture series - Iain M Banks
Force of Art - Krzysztof Ziarek
Artificial Hells - Claire Bishop
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
Here - Richard McGuire
The Atrocity Exhibition - J. G. Ballard (x2)
The Simple Art of Murder
“Nudge” (2008)
Culture series - Iain M Banks
Force of Art - Krzysztof Ziarek
Artificial Hells - Claire Bishop
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
Here - Richard McGuire
November 5, 2025 at 1:44 AM
some reading that we are told influences pro designers:
The Atrocity Exhibition - J. G. Ballard (x2)
The Simple Art of Murder
“Nudge” (2008)
Culture series - Iain M Banks
Force of Art - Krzysztof Ziarek
Artificial Hells - Claire Bishop
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
Here - Richard McGuire
The Atrocity Exhibition - J. G. Ballard (x2)
The Simple Art of Murder
“Nudge” (2008)
Culture series - Iain M Banks
Force of Art - Krzysztof Ziarek
Artificial Hells - Claire Bishop
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
Here - Richard McGuire
Hello, Bluesky! If you love thinking, talking, and/or writing about game design, check out our starter pack! go.bsky.app/AsBK784 We're an organization committed to tackling the toughest problems in games and sharing what we learn with the world!
October 25, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Hello, Bluesky! If you love thinking, talking, and/or writing about game design, check out our starter pack! go.bsky.app/AsBK784 We're an organization committed to tackling the toughest problems in games and sharing what we learn with the world!
Reposted by Polaris Game Design
I have worked with Laura a ton and there's no one more dependable. Completely hilarious and professional. Can adapt to anything. When I see an impossible narrative obstacle down the tracks I try to get Laura hired so the train doesn't derail.
Learned that I am being laid off from Heart Machine, and will be leaving the studio later this month.
Do you need a contractor? I've got a track record of leading scope-friendly script revisions late in dev. I have also done a lot of consulting on new IPs and pitches/demos. Feel free to DM me!
Do you need a contractor? I've got a track record of leading scope-friendly script revisions late in dev. I have also done a lot of consulting on new IPs and pitches/demos. Feel free to DM me!
October 7, 2025 at 11:44 PM
I have worked with Laura a ton and there's no one more dependable. Completely hilarious and professional. Can adapt to anything. When I see an impossible narrative obstacle down the tracks I try to get Laura hired so the train doesn't derail.
Reposted by Polaris Game Design
Live now, it's Crimson C'Tuesdayyyy! Come hang out and let's do pixel art and look at photos of mushrooms and play games! www.twitch.tv/a_maplemystery
a_maplemystery - Twitch
Solo indie dev of The Crimson Diamond! I also stream EGA games, particularly EGA adventure games. Based in Toronto, Canada!
www.twitch.tv
October 7, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Live now, it's Crimson C'Tuesdayyyy! Come hang out and let's do pixel art and look at photos of mushrooms and play games! www.twitch.tv/a_maplemystery
Designers talk a lot abt the stories they want to tell through games. But what about the PLAYER's story? How can we empower players to tell THEIR unique play story to each other?
Let's amp up the "tellability"! Here's 7 design tools for player stories: polarisgamedesign.com/2022/a-toolk... (thread)
Let's amp up the "tellability"! Here's 7 design tools for player stories: polarisgamedesign.com/2022/a-toolk... (thread)
October 3, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Designers talk a lot abt the stories they want to tell through games. But what about the PLAYER's story? How can we empower players to tell THEIR unique play story to each other?
Let's amp up the "tellability"! Here's 7 design tools for player stories: polarisgamedesign.com/2022/a-toolk... (thread)
Let's amp up the "tellability"! Here's 7 design tools for player stories: polarisgamedesign.com/2022/a-toolk... (thread)
Welcome, new followers! We're a group of game designers trying to push our craft forward through deep thought, collaboration, and open minds. We think, we chat, we write, we experiment.
How do YOU explore and improve as a game designer, besides making games? (Reposts welcome)
How do YOU explore and improve as a game designer, besides making games? (Reposts welcome)
September 28, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Welcome, new followers! We're a group of game designers trying to push our craft forward through deep thought, collaboration, and open minds. We think, we chat, we write, we experiment.
How do YOU explore and improve as a game designer, besides making games? (Reposts welcome)
How do YOU explore and improve as a game designer, besides making games? (Reposts welcome)
Let's talk System Visualization! As designers, we often lean on visuals to help understand, communicate, or simply use a system. But which visuals???
This report (polarisgamedesign.com/2022/when-sp...) suggests we "PAUSE" and consider:
- Purpose
- Audience
- Usage
- Scope
- Emphasis
(Thread!)
This report (polarisgamedesign.com/2022/when-sp...) suggests we "PAUSE" and consider:
- Purpose
- Audience
- Usage
- Scope
- Emphasis
(Thread!)
When Spreadsheets Aren’t Enough: A Framework for Approaching System Visualization
Visualization techniques can help us design and maintain game rules and systems, communicate these internally (across the development team), and effectively convey them to external stakeholders (such ...
polarisgamedesign.com
September 27, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Let's talk System Visualization! As designers, we often lean on visuals to help understand, communicate, or simply use a system. But which visuals???
This report (polarisgamedesign.com/2022/when-sp...) suggests we "PAUSE" and consider:
- Purpose
- Audience
- Usage
- Scope
- Emphasis
(Thread!)
This report (polarisgamedesign.com/2022/when-sp...) suggests we "PAUSE" and consider:
- Purpose
- Audience
- Usage
- Scope
- Emphasis
(Thread!)
History in the making! A Polaris co-director's game is up for its first playtest, check it out:
🔥 Our first alpha playtest is LIVE on Steam right now! 🔥
Until October 3rd you can sign up to try the game early and give us valuable feedback!
👉 Request access on Steam now! ❤️
store.steampowered.com/app/3977340/...
#Playtest #IndieGame #Roguelike #FightingGame #Steam
Until October 3rd you can sign up to try the game early and give us valuable feedback!
👉 Request access on Steam now! ❤️
store.steampowered.com/app/3977340/...
#Playtest #IndieGame #Roguelike #FightingGame #Steam
Poly Fighter on Steam
Poly Fighter is a single-player roguelike fighting game. Learn new moves from every opponent you defeat to build your fighter’s unique style. Battle through tense retro-arcade duels with beginner-frie...
store.steampowered.com
September 26, 2025 at 2:27 PM
History in the making! A Polaris co-director's game is up for its first playtest, check it out:
Consume Me won the Independent Games Festival Grand Prize this year. To learn more about autobiography, narrative, visual art, and game design, please play it, as it's out today! Thanks to @qdork.bsky.social for your contribution to our art form! store.steampowered.com/app/2359120/...
Save 10% on Consume Me on Steam
did you feel stupid, fat, lazy, and ugly in high school? well i did...but at least i made a life-simulation RPG about it!
store.steampowered.com
September 24, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Consume Me won the Independent Games Festival Grand Prize this year. To learn more about autobiography, narrative, visual art, and game design, please play it, as it's out today! Thanks to @qdork.bsky.social for your contribution to our art form! store.steampowered.com/app/2359120/...
Reposted by Polaris Game Design
Roguelike celebration — loveliest community, most inspired virtual conference space, greatest juxtaposition of in-field and out-of-field topics
if you haven't been, come this year! October 25-26 🎲💫
if you have, welcome back! see you there
if you haven't been, come this year! October 25-26 🎲💫
if you have, welcome back! see you there
September 23, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Roguelike celebration — loveliest community, most inspired virtual conference space, greatest juxtaposition of in-field and out-of-field topics
if you haven't been, come this year! October 25-26 🎲💫
if you have, welcome back! see you there
if you haven't been, come this year! October 25-26 🎲💫
if you have, welcome back! see you there
Reposted by Polaris Game Design
this year I'll call out the back-to-back Day 1 pairing of Cole Wehrle and Jeff Lait. Games are awash with brilliant people but even among the field, Cole & Jeff stand out as design thinkers I'm breaking down doors to listen to
September 23, 2025 at 5:19 PM
this year I'll call out the back-to-back Day 1 pairing of Cole Wehrle and Jeff Lait. Games are awash with brilliant people but even among the field, Cole & Jeff stand out as design thinkers I'm breaking down doors to listen to
Roguelike Celebration is one of the best game design events every year, with talks on systems, generation, and innovation. This year they have speakers like Michael Brough and Tyriq Plummer, and in the past have featured various Polaris alums.
Sign up: www.roguelike.club/event2025.html
Sign up: www.roguelike.club/event2025.html
Roguelike Celebration - Event 2025
www.roguelike.club
September 24, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Roguelike Celebration is one of the best game design events every year, with talks on systems, generation, and innovation. This year they have speakers like Michael Brough and Tyriq Plummer, and in the past have featured various Polaris alums.
Sign up: www.roguelike.club/event2025.html
Sign up: www.roguelike.club/event2025.html
Sometimes your game has strong themes. Sometimes strong mechanics. But... why not both???
3 new design tools for connecting theme + mechanics:
- Tone Bridge
- Consonance & Dissonance
- Thematic Excursions
read the paper: polarisgamedesign.com/2022/practic...
(thread of highlights follows)
3 new design tools for connecting theme + mechanics:
- Tone Bridge
- Consonance & Dissonance
- Thematic Excursions
read the paper: polarisgamedesign.com/2022/practic...
(thread of highlights follows)
September 21, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Sometimes your game has strong themes. Sometimes strong mechanics. But... why not both???
3 new design tools for connecting theme + mechanics:
- Tone Bridge
- Consonance & Dissonance
- Thematic Excursions
read the paper: polarisgamedesign.com/2022/practic...
(thread of highlights follows)
3 new design tools for connecting theme + mechanics:
- Tone Bridge
- Consonance & Dissonance
- Thematic Excursions
read the paper: polarisgamedesign.com/2022/practic...
(thread of highlights follows)
Reposted by Polaris Game Design
September's Crimson Gazette is out now! www.thecrimsondiamond.com/CrimsonGazet... ✨I'm being interviewed by #GDoC2025 TODAY!✨, my @narrascope.org talk is up on IFTF's Youtube channel, @adventuregamegeek.bsky.social bakes thumbprint cookies, Mini-Maple Mystery art, & more! Read all about it! 📰
September 18, 2025 at 5:41 PM
September's Crimson Gazette is out now! www.thecrimsondiamond.com/CrimsonGazet... ✨I'm being interviewed by #GDoC2025 TODAY!✨, my @narrascope.org talk is up on IFTF's Youtube channel, @adventuregamegeek.bsky.social bakes thumbprint cookies, Mini-Maple Mystery art, & more! Read all about it! 📰
Reposted by Polaris Game Design
A reminder for anyone into urban worldbuilding 👇
This November I'll be teaching a @d6learning.bsky.social course/workshop on the creation of text-only, interactive cities using @inkle.co's ink scripting language.
Find out more here ⇢ www.d6learning.com/course/text-...
Find out more here ⇢ www.d6learning.com/course/text-...
September 18, 2025 at 1:07 PM
A reminder for anyone into urban worldbuilding 👇
Reposted by Polaris Game Design
this is for science*: tell me about a time when you experienced loss in a game, and were genuinely bummed out for awhile. did you come back from it?
no mockery or comparisons or arguments please, just curious the kinds of moments that folks think of.
*or art, you know how game design goes
no mockery or comparisons or arguments please, just curious the kinds of moments that folks think of.
*or art, you know how game design goes
September 17, 2025 at 9:00 PM
this is for science*: tell me about a time when you experienced loss in a game, and were genuinely bummed out for awhile. did you come back from it?
no mockery or comparisons or arguments please, just curious the kinds of moments that folks think of.
*or art, you know how game design goes
no mockery or comparisons or arguments please, just curious the kinds of moments that folks think of.
*or art, you know how game design goes
Tune in to Game Devs of Color Expo for game design topics:
Design Leadership (today, 12:35pm EST): by @noorjamin.bsky.social
Game Literacy (tmw, 5:20pm EST): by @designermonicat.bsky.social
Plus others about production, sensitivity, mental health.. get your ticket: www.gamedevsofcolor.org
Design Leadership (today, 12:35pm EST): by @noorjamin.bsky.social
Game Literacy (tmw, 5:20pm EST): by @designermonicat.bsky.social
Plus others about production, sensitivity, mental health.. get your ticket: www.gamedevsofcolor.org
Game Devs of Color Expo | Sep 16–19, 2025
Amplifying the creative power held by people of color in games.
www.gamedevsofcolor.org
September 17, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Tune in to Game Devs of Color Expo for game design topics:
Design Leadership (today, 12:35pm EST): by @noorjamin.bsky.social
Game Literacy (tmw, 5:20pm EST): by @designermonicat.bsky.social
Plus others about production, sensitivity, mental health.. get your ticket: www.gamedevsofcolor.org
Design Leadership (today, 12:35pm EST): by @noorjamin.bsky.social
Game Literacy (tmw, 5:20pm EST): by @designermonicat.bsky.social
Plus others about production, sensitivity, mental health.. get your ticket: www.gamedevsofcolor.org
Game Devs of Color Expo starts today!
You can still grab a ticket if you want to tune in, and learn from a great group of industry leaders!
www.gamedevsofcolor.org
You can still grab a ticket if you want to tune in, and learn from a great group of industry leaders!
www.gamedevsofcolor.org
Sessions | Game Devs of Color Expo
Speakers from around the world have gathered to share their vast knowledge across a range of topics including gripping game design, marketing deep dives, satisfying sound design, and much more.
www.gamedevsofcolor.org
September 16, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Game Devs of Color Expo starts today!
You can still grab a ticket if you want to tune in, and learn from a great group of industry leaders!
www.gamedevsofcolor.org
You can still grab a ticket if you want to tune in, and learn from a great group of industry leaders!
www.gamedevsofcolor.org
Reposted by Polaris Game Design
There's something amazing about game designers at the peak of their careers taking time to share advanced techniques. Because they care. Because they know in their hearts that we are in this together.
Playful Narrative: A Toolbox for Story-Rich Mechanics explores ways to more deeply integrate narrative into game mechanics, or, as the work group said, to enhance the experience of “playing” with story.
Playful Narrative: A Toolbox for Story-Rich Mechanics
The relationship between game mechanics and storytelling in games is an avenue of interactive storytelling with a great depth of potential to create meaningful, reciprocal relationships. The "Playful ...
polarisgamedesign.com
September 15, 2025 at 5:09 PM
There's something amazing about game designers at the peak of their careers taking time to share advanced techniques. Because they care. Because they know in their hearts that we are in this together.
Playful Narrative: A Toolbox for Story-Rich Mechanics explores ways to more deeply integrate narrative into game mechanics, or, as the work group said, to enhance the experience of “playing” with story.
Playful Narrative: A Toolbox for Story-Rich Mechanics
The relationship between game mechanics and storytelling in games is an avenue of interactive storytelling with a great depth of potential to create meaningful, reciprocal relationships. The "Playful ...
polarisgamedesign.com
September 15, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Playful Narrative: A Toolbox for Story-Rich Mechanics explores ways to more deeply integrate narrative into game mechanics, or, as the work group said, to enhance the experience of “playing” with story.
It's interesting that Polaris game design papers thus far have often gravitated towards "pro-social" (mechanical) as a useful design terminology, whether it's designs around groups or individuals, rather than Cozy or Wholesome (aesthetic).
"[T]his preoccupation with individual agency over interdependent, communal agency is pervasive in a popular genre of games that often claims to center the latter: Wholesome or Cozy games."
@phoenixsimms.bsky.social muses on communal care in videogames:
@phoenixsimms.bsky.social muses on communal care in videogames:
Co-opting Co-op - Unwinnable
The narratives of care that feel the most impactful are happening in game genres that aren’t explicitly labelling themselves as being “wholesome."
unwinnable.com
September 12, 2025 at 1:33 PM
It's interesting that Polaris game design papers thus far have often gravitated towards "pro-social" (mechanical) as a useful design terminology, whether it's designs around groups or individuals, rather than Cozy or Wholesome (aesthetic).