3 Layers of Game Design

Many studios design games backwards.

They start with:
• UI/UX
• Visual effects
• Animations
• Sound and music

But polish can’t save a weak game.

The real magic?
It starts at the core.

Great games are built from the inside out.

There are 3 layers you need to get right:

𝟭. 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 🕹️
This is the heart of your game.
• Fun mechanics
• Core loop
• Game feel
• Risk and reward
• Clear objectives

If this isn’t strong, nothing else matters.

𝟮. 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 🔄
Once the core works, build around it.
• Progression
• Difficulty curve
• Resource management
• Skills and upgrades
• Social features

This keeps players coming back.

𝟯. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 🎨
Now make it beautiful.
• Art style
• Narrative and lore
• World map
• Environment details
• Animations

This makes your game memorable.

So before you polish, stop and ask:
Is the core fun?