The Art of Game Design Analysis

Practical tips for assessing game design

Recently, on one of my game developer podcasts, I discussed the question of analyzing game design. Reflecting on that conversation made me think about the fact that despite how far the industry has come, there still seems to be a lack of emphasis on game design analysis. So, I decided to write this piece; it’ll be an opportunity to peer behind the curtain and consider how to analyze gameplay and, importantly, the lessons that can be drawn. from considering games in this way.

Before I go any further, it’s important to point out what I’m not discussing here. I’m not referring to storytelling or its constituent parts (writing, character design, and narrative) — these might be essential elements when it comes to games, but they aren’t the focus of this piece. When discussing the subjective quality of a game, it’s easy — and understandable — to refer to the story, given how significantly that can resonate with the player. However, we should split this out as a separate topic, because it lies beyond the scope of a gameplay-specific conversation.

With all of that said, let’s break it down. When I think about analysing gameplay, I tend to break my analysis into three distinct areas:

• Playability
• Core gameplay loop