Practical Game Design

Less is more

You should always be on the lookout for features that could be cut from your game. There are three main properties you can look for in features that might make them good candidates for removal from a game:

• Unintuitive mechanics: Unintuitive mechanics are always a warning. If players struggle to understand why or how a mechanic works, it might be a good idea to remove it altogether or to strip it down to a much simpler version.
• Mechanics that don't really appeal to the audience: Mechanics that don't appeal your audience are a common mistake. A complex crafting system in a casual match-3 game might not be a great idea. Make sure that every mechanic will reinforce and support your design pillars.
• Unnecessary features: What might ...