Next Steps After Mechanics and Logic

You now know how to spot, analyze, and design game mechanics. Here is where to go next.

If you want to keep designing

• Play more games with designer eyes. Pick any game you enjoy and ask: what mechanics does it have? When did I learn each one? How did the game teach me?
• GDD (Game Design Document): Write up your mechanic introduction design from today. Add a basic story, a character, and a full level sketch.
• Board games and card games also have mechanics. Design a simple card game with one interesting rule.

If you want to start building

• Godot (free, beginner-friendly): Great for 2D platformers. The Game Engine Tools workshop covers the basics.
• Scratch: Drag-and-drop game building. Good for prototyping mechanic ideas quickly.
• GDevelop: No-code game engine with event-based logic. Good middle step between Scratch and Godot.

If you want to go deeper on design

• Mark Brown / Game Maker’s Toolkit (YouTube): Deep dives into specific games and design patterns. “Boss Keys” series is great for Metroidvania fans.

Mechanics to explore and prototype

• Wall jump — how do you teach the player to press toward the wall?
• Grapple hook — how do you show where you can latch?
• Time rewind — what can’t be rewound? (enemy deaths? your own death?)
• Dialogue choices — do they actually change the story?
• Crafting — what makes a crafting system feel satisfying vs. overwhelming?