More Post by: Matthew Dogherby

Design by Subtraction: What Fumito Ueda Teaches Game Designers About Restraint
Design by Subtraction: What Fumito Ueda Teaches Game Designers About Restraint
Matthew Dogherby Aug 13, 2026

Fumito Ueda built a cult career by removing things. Learn how the creator of Ico,…

What Are the 3 Layers of Game Design? A Studio’s Guide
What Are the 3 Layers of Game Design? A Studio’s Guide
Matthew Dogherby Aug 8, 2026

Every game is built on three layers: core design, system design, and content design. Most…

Challenge Action Reward Loop: The Game Design Secret Behind Player Retention
Challenge Action Reward Loop: The Game Design Secret Behind Player Retention
Matthew Dogherby Jun 25, 2026

What keeps a player awake at 2 a.m. promising themselves “just one more run”? It’s…

Layers of Engagement in Games: The 4-Layer Framework That Separates Good Games…
Layers of Engagement in Games: The 4-Layer Framework That Separates Good Games…
Matthew Dogherby Jun 24, 2026

Most games nail the first layer. Few build all four. Here’s the framework top game…

emergent gameplay mechanics: How to Design Mechanics That Create Stories Players Want…
emergent gameplay mechanics: How to Design Mechanics That Create Stories Players Want…
Matthew Dogherby Jun 11, 2026

Some of the best moments in games aren’t written in your script.They happen when a…

environmental storytelling game design: Show the Story, Don’t Explain It
environmental storytelling game design: Show the Story, Don’t Explain It
Matthew Dogherby Jun 8, 2026

Master environmental storytelling in game design — the narrative technique that turns a room into…

Why Game Feel Design Is the Missing Link Between Working Mechanics and…
Why Game Feel Design Is the Missing Link Between Working Mechanics and…
Matthew Dogherby Jun 5, 2026

Game feel design is what separates a mechanic that works from a mechanic that matters.…

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