!! TRIGGER WARNING: Body Dysmorphia and Self-Harm!! Inspired by a prose piece I wrote a few months ago. Context / Purpose: This piece demonstrates character-driven narrative, environmental storytelling, and branching choice structure. It could be adapted for a visual novel or narrative-driven game, where player decisions affect Ashley’s emotional state, dialogue options, and perception of her environment. Character Profile: Ashley Age 22 Traits Creative, introspective, strugg

Ashley’s room was a reflection of her inner turmoil, a small sanctuary tucked away in a modest apartment. The walls were painted a muted shade of lavender, once vibrant but now dulled by time and neglect. Posters of her favourite artists hung crookedly, their colours faded, much like her spirit. A cluttered desk overflowed with half-finished sketches and paint tubes, remnants of a creativity that felt stifled under the weight of her insecurities. The room was dimly lit, with

A breakdown of the core gameplay loop, difficulty loops and progression systems, Meta features and LiveOps, IAP Monetisation, Ad Strategy and some of their best and worst practices. If you’ve ever wanted to feel productive while actually procrastinating, Royal Match is your game. You’re not just matching candies or tiles here, you’re restoring a literal castle. Because apparently, nothing says “emotional fulfilment” like fixing fictional furniture one level at a time. At its

!! Spoilers Ahead !! Tell Me Why is a narrative adventure game developed by Dontnod Entertainment, known for their previous works like "Life is Strange." The game was released on August 27, 2020, and is available on Microsoft Windows and Xbox platforms. It falls into the narrative adventure genre, targeting players who appreciate story-driven experiences. It appeals primarily to casual gamers and fans of interactive storytelling, particularly those interested in LGBTQ+ themes

I love you now, I loved you then, I shall love you later. In every lifetime, I have loved you, and I will continue to. We were probably lovers since before the beginning of everything. When the Big Bang happened and the universe tore itself into being, maybe we were two tiny pieces of the same explosion. Maybe we drifted towards each other when planets began to form and die, when stars burned out and new ones took their place. We were probably lovers when the first fish appea

TW: The following content includes instances and references suggesting topics like Self-harm and Suicide, which can be triggering to certain audiences. Reader discretion is advised. Trapped in a clouded room, Wondering about impending doom. My thoughts start to flicker, As I drowned pills with liquor. At 3 a.m., Nia sat alone in her room, starkly contrasting the bustling city beyond her window. The concrete jungle sprawled out before her, an endless horizon of jagged steel an

Free-to-play games are sneaky little creatures. They lure you in with “hey, it’s free!” and before you know it, you’ve either sold your soul for skins, cursed RNG boards, or spent your 3rd coffee break trying to merge 18 screws into a watering can. Let’s talk about three very different beasts of the F2P jungle that I have been hooked on for quite some time: Valorant, Candy Crush, and Merge Mansion and break them down by Monetisation, Retention, Mechanics, and Gameplay. Game 1

Player retention is like keeping a party alive in your favourite F2P casual game. You want players to keep coming back for more fun, excitement, and rewards. The key? Smart retention features and an understanding of what makes players tick. Let’s dive into the world of player retention, where psychology meets game design magic! Player Psychology: The Magic Behind Retention What makes players stay? It’s all about psychology. Let’s break it down: Habit Formation: Have you ever

Free-to-play (F2P) mobile casual games are all about balance, like walking a tightrope between giving players tons of fun while gently nudging them towards making purchases. But how do you make sure that players are excited to spend without feeling like they’re being pressured? The answer: sales! Designing a sale is more than just slapping on a discount. It’s about tuning into the psychology of your players, pricing things just right, and tying your deals to moments that make

As a game designer who has been working on social slot games for 3 years, I learn something new every day. I often find myself captivated by the intricate world of slot machines; these seemingly simple devices are a fascinating blend of psychology, technology, and art. They are designed not just to entertain but to create an immersive experience that keeps players returning for more. In this blog, I’ll explore the basics of slot machines, delve into the psychology behind play

I recently completed a Narrative Design Udemy course . The course had a great set of assignments and I decided to add a few here as a...

Hack Your Friends is a game that teaches about password security and how publicly shared social media profiles can be a way to hack your...

A few days ago, a question was asked on a server. The question was "What made you gravitate towards gaming?" I wondered, why not write a blog about this! This is something very close to my heart. My mum introduced me to Super Mario when I was around 6-7 years old. She got a home console because she loved playing Super Mario. Slowly I started exploring retro games like contra and then Prince of Persia (the original pixel one). Then I moved to PS2 played a bunch of games on it

Life in a pandemic is one of my most favourite project that I have been a part of. Let me dive into the story behind this idea. A friend...

Valorant is a 5v5 tactical shooter and online multiplayer game. The game has various characters to play as. Each character has its own 4...

!Spoilers Ahead! Choosing one game over 100s of games is a really hard task. I would just like to start with a few of my favourite games...