Game Design Framework

Game design

by davila7 · MIT license · ★ 32,299 on GitHub

Game design principles. GDD structure, balancing, player psychology, progression.

---
name: game-design
description: Game design principles. GDD structure, balancing, player psychology, progression.
allowed-tools: Read, Glob, Grep
---

# Game Design Principles

> Design thinking for engaging games.

---

## 1. Core Loop Design

### The 30-Second Test

```
Every game needs a fun 30-second loop:

Overview

Game design principles. GDD structure, balancing, player psychology, progression.

Manual install (npx, ZIP)

Claude Codenpx skills add davila7/claude-code-templates --skill game-design -g -a claude-code

Claude Code (degit)

npx degit davila7/claude-code-templates/cli-tool/components/skills/creative-design/game-development/game-design#main ~/.claude/skills/game-design

Claude.ai / desktopZip the folder and upload it under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.

Codex, Cursor, other agentsPoint them at SKILL.md. The other files are plain text.

Connects with Agent Alley MCP · agentalley.io/mcp

Files included

SKILL.md2.6 KB

Read SKILL.md here

davila7/main1 file shown

SKILL.md2.6 KB

Browse every file on GitHub↗

SKILL.md

Show the full text130 lines

game-design/SKILL.md130 lines · 2.6 KB

PreviewCode

Outline

RawView on GitHub

Game Design Principles

Design thinking for engaging games.

1. Core Loop Design

The 30-Second Test

Every game needs a fun 30-second loop:
1. ACTION → Player does something
2. FEEDBACK → Game responds
3. REWARD → Player feels good
4. REPEAT

Loop Examples

Genre	Core Loop
Platformer	Run → Jump → Land → Collect
Shooter	Aim → Shoot → Kill → Loot
Puzzle	Observe → Think → Solve → Advance
RPG	Explore → Fight → Level → Gear

2. Game Design Document (GDD)

Essential Sections

Section	Content
Pitch	One-sentence description
Core Loop	30-second gameplay
Mechanics	How systems work
Progression	How player advances
Art Style	Visual direction
Audio	Sound direction

Principles

Keep it living (update regularly)
Visuals help communicate
Less is more (start small)

3. Player Psychology

Motivation Types

Type	Driven By
Achiever	Goals, completion
Explorer	Discovery, secrets
Socializer	Interaction, community
Killer	Competition, dominance

Reward Schedules

Schedule	Effect	Use
Fixed	Predictable	Milestone rewards
Variable	Addictive	Loot drops
Ratio	Effort-based	Grind games

4. Difficulty Balancing

Flow State

Too Hard → Frustration → Quit
Too Easy → Boredom → Quit
Just Right → Flow → Engagement

Balancing Strategies

Strategy	How
Dynamic	Adjust to player skill
Selection	Let player choose
Accessibility	Options for all

5. Progression Design

Progression Types

Type	Example
Skill	Player gets better
Power	Character gets stronger
Content	New areas unlock
Story	Narrative advances

Pacing Principles

Early wins (hook quickly)
Gradually increase challenge
Rest beats between intensity
Meaningful choices

6. Anti-Patterns

❌ Don't	✅ Do
Design in isolation	Playtest constantly
Polish before fun	Prototype first
Force one way to play	Allow player expression
Punish excessively	Reward progress

Remember: Fun is discovered through iteration, not designed on paper.

1	---
2	name: game-design
3	description: Game design principles. GDD structure, balancing, player psychology, progression.
4	allowed-tools: Read, Glob, Grep
5	---
6
7	# Game Design Principles
8
9	> Design thinking for engaging games.
10
11	---
12
13	## 1. Core Loop Design
14
15	### The 30-Second Test
16
17	```
18	Every game needs a fun 30-second loop:
19	1. ACTION → Player does something
20	2. FEEDBACK → Game responds
21	3. REWARD → Player feels good
22	4. REPEAT
23	```
24
25	### Loop Examples
26
27	\| Genre \| Core Loop \|
28	\|-------\|-----------\|
29	\| Platformer \| Run → Jump → Land → Collect \|
30	\| Shooter \| Aim → Shoot → Kill → Loot \|
31	\| Puzzle \| Observe → Think → Solve → Advance \|
32	\| RPG \| Explore → Fight → Level → Gear \|
33
34	---
35
36	## 2. Game Design Document (GDD)
37
38	### Essential Sections
39
40	\| Section \| Content \|
41	\|---------\|---------\|
42	\| Pitch \| One-sentence description \|
43	\| Core Loop \| 30-second gameplay \|
44	\| Mechanics \| How systems work \|
45	\| Progression \| How player advances \|
46	\| Art Style \| Visual direction \|
47	\| Audio \| Sound direction \|
48
49	### Principles
50
51	- Keep it living (update regularly)
52	- Visuals help communicate
53	- Less is more (start small)
54
55	---
56
57	## 3. Player Psychology
58
59	### Motivation Types
60
61	\| Type \| Driven By \|
62	\|------\|-----------\|
63	\| Achiever \| Goals, completion \|
64	\| Explorer \| Discovery, secrets \|
65	\| Socializer \| Interaction, community \|
66	\| Killer \| Competition, dominance \|
67
68	### Reward Schedules
69
70	\| Schedule \| Effect \| Use \|
71	\|----------\|--------\|-----\|
72	\| Fixed \| Predictable \| Milestone rewards \|
73	\| Variable \| Addictive \| Loot drops \|
74	\| Ratio \| Effort-based \| Grind games \|
75
76	---
77
78	## 4. Difficulty Balancing
79
80	### Flow State
81
82	```
83	Too Hard → Frustration → Quit
84	Too Easy → Boredom → Quit
85	Just Right → Flow → Engagement
86	```
87
88	### Balancing Strategies
89
90	\| Strategy \| How \|
91	\|----------\|-----\|
92	\| Dynamic \| Adjust to player skill \|
93	\| Selection \| Let player choose \|
94	\| Accessibility \| Options for all \|
95
96	---
97
98	## 5. Progression Design
99
100	### Progression Types
101
102	\| Type \| Example \|
103	\|------\|---------\|
104	\| Skill \| Player gets better \|
105	\| Power \| Character gets stronger \|
106	\| Content \| New areas unlock \|
107	\| Story \| Narrative advances \|
108
109	### Pacing Principles
110
111	- Early wins (hook quickly)
112	- Gradually increase challenge
113	- Rest beats between intensity
114	- Meaningful choices
115
116	---
117
118	## 6. Anti-Patterns
119
120	\| ❌ Don't \| ✅ Do \|
121	\|----------\|-------\|
122	\| Design in isolation \| Playtest constantly \|
123	\| Polish before fun \| Prototype first \|
124	\| Force one way to play \| Allow player expression \|
125	\| Punish excessively \| Reward progress \|
126
127	---
128
129	> Remember: Fun is discovered through iteration, not designed on paper.
130