Blogs - LincloGames

Examples of Simple and Addicting Game Design

Game design is fascinating stuff. There are countless examples of games (both big and small) that are an absolute blast to play. Today we are going to talk about some of the small games. Not really a big surprise...considering those are the types of games we develop.

Addicting little games are interesting for a few different reasons. Usually they have a very simple game loop that is thoughtful and immersive. Often they are not content heavy...the experience is built around the core game loop (beating a high score or getting to the next level). Smaller games tend to appeal to (and are accessible to) a larger audience...due to the fact they are easy to understand and play.

Let's take a look at some great examples of small and addicting games...

Flappy Bird

Ah yes...Flappy Bird. Some might not like to see this game on the list. But it deserves recognition. One of the simplest video games ever made. All you do is tap the screen to make the bird elevate. Avoid hitting pipes as they scroll by and beat your high score. Hit a pipe, die, try again. The game loop is ridiculously simple...but the market doesn't lie. A whole lot of people have played this addicting little score chaser.

Screenshot of Flappy Bird game.

Tetris

It is no secret we love Tetris. This game franchise has legacy. It has been around a long time...and will be around (in some shape or form) for a lot longer. It is a little more complex than Flappy Bird...but not much (at least old school Tetris anyways). You must rotate and drop block pieces to clear lines. More points are rewarded as you clear more lines. Higher levels are reached when a certain number of lines are cleared and the blocks drop faster. If the screen fills up...it is game over. Simple, clever and addicting.

Screenshot of Tetris game.

Plants vs Zombies

Plants vs Zombies is easily the game with the largest scope on this list. There are quite a few different plant and zombie types in the game. There are also resources you have to pay attention to. But as 'complicated' as this game is compared to Flappy Bird and Tetris...it is surprisingly easy to play. The game loop at its core is quite simple. Keep the zombies from reaching the other side of the screen. This task is made easier by the intuitive UI design. Moving through the menus and windows is simple. Collecting and placing game elements is a breeze...never hindering the gameplay. Without a doubt one of the most fun and accessible tower defense games ever made.

Screenshot of Plants vs Zombies game.

Flappy Bird, Tetris and Plants vs Zombies are all examples of simple and addicting game design. These games prove that sometimes 'less is more'...when you spend the time to make the 'less' really, really good. Success for each one of these games comes down to the core game loop...not the amount of content. They are all great games to study if you are thinking about building a smaller game product.

Hopefully you enjoyed this post. Let us know if you have any questions or comments. Sign up to our email list (below) for future updates. Thanks for reading!

Be sure to check out our latest game Martian Law on Steam (PC).

Build the Game You Want to Build

Starting a new game project is exciting. The creative juices are flowing. But what type of game should you build? There are so many different game genres out there to choose from.

We think the answer is pretty simple. Build the game you want to build. It doesn't really matter what kind of game it is. But why? Well...glad you asked...

Motivation

Game development is not for the weak. It is a time-consuming process. Sometimes things chug along smoothly...sometimes you hit a bug that takes a week (or longer) to fix. It is just the way it goes. When you are building a game you want to build...motivation is higher. Instead of getting frustrated or bored working on a game you don't really care about (and then heading off to watch more Netflix)...you will persevere. You navigate the hard times and long development cycle because you want to finish the game.

Quality

It is always inspiring to see the level of quality many indie games are able to achieve. Often these games are built by solo developers or small teams. How does this happen? Well...it is definitely not by accident. Developers pour their heart and soul into projects they believe in. They work harder, push themselves a little bit more. More polish, more iteration. Everything must be as good as it can be. And the extra hard work shines through in the quality of the end product.

Screenshot of Hyper Light Drifter game.

Passion

Got a game idea that gets you amped up? A game idea you cannot get out of your head? Awesome. Build that game. Passion is so important...and when you build the game you want to build it usually comes along for the ride. You must pour yourself into all aspects of the project during development. Building a game is going to require a lot of effort, energy and focus. You will be able to dig a little deeper if you are passionate about what you are creating.

Screenshot of Minecraft game.

So there you have it. When you build the game you want to build...motivation, quality and passion will be your companions. Good thing too...because these factors can help take any game (no matter what it is) to the next level.

Hopefully you enjoyed this post. Let us know if you have any questions or comments. Thanks for reading!

Be sure to check out our latest game Martian Law on Steam (PC).

The Rise of Indie Games

The AAA games of today are huge productions. They are bigger and better than ever. Blockbuster games feature stunning graphics, deep game systems, elaborate storylines and multiplayer modes. Large studios are using technology to build the most immersive video game experiences the world has ever seen.

As new AAA games continue to push the limits of what is possible in gaming...many indie games are finding success as well. Indie games are often created by smaller development teams with smaller budgets. Even though indie teams lack the resources of AAA studios...they are making more of an impact in the industry than ever before.

So how do these indie games manage to compete with the large AAA studios for a piece of the gaming pie? Here is our take...

Going Retro

Indie games are taking notes from classic games of the past. This is evident in the pixel art styles and classic game design choices they use. Many players connect with this nostalgia. AAA studios have the resources to build massive games. Most indie studios do not. But they can create great game experiences by taking what was successful in retro games...and putting their own spin on it.

Screenshot from Shovel Knight game.

Less is More

Many indie studios are keeping the game design tight and focused. Sometimes less is more. Most indie games have a much smaller scope than AAA titles. Instead of focusing on building out massive amounts of content and systems...they can spend more time iterating and polishing a smaller product. Not a bad approach when you have less resources.

Creativity

Indie studios are constantly taking chances. Unique game mechanics and art styles are common in indie games. By doing things different than most AAA games...indie developers have an interesting advantage. They can build something cool, something different. They can build the game they want to build.

Screenshot from Papers, Please game.

Indie games are making an impact by keeping it retro, keeping the design tight and being creative. One of the benefits of being small is that you have more control over the project. Not necessarily a bad thing...and a lot of indie studios are finding success.

It has been fascinating watching the rise of indie games over the years. AAA games will continue to amaze...but it has been wonderful seeing the positive contributions indie games are making in the industry.

Hopefully you enjoyed this post. Let us know if you have any questions or comments. Thanks for reading!

Be sure to check out our latest game Martian Law on Steam (PC).