🕹️ Game design isn't that complicated.

Players just need 4 things in order to have fun:

Purpose, motivation, agency, and clarity.

If a game isn't fun, one of those elements is lacking.

I've made a mental shift that has me blog a lot more lately.

The realization was simple.

Write to myself. Write for myself.

It's been great and I feel like I'm in a better headspace.

🕹️ I’m positive that if I never bought another video game for the rest of my life, there is enough in my library to last two lifetimes.

"No matter how good you get, you're always gonna think that you should be better than you are..."

- Dan Harmon

This rang true for me. It feels like vision is always ahead of execution.

I'm making a game about exploring a small mall

Can I make my first Steam game in one year?

I've always wanted to.

So, this year I started making a game about exploring a mall. In the game you buy gifts for friends, discover secrets, and meet other quirky shoppers.

I've worked in the game industry for over 10 years, but I've never released a Steam game on my own. It's been on my bucket list for a while, but never quite had the confidence to do it.

In some ways, I still don't.

Well, this year I chose to take a crack at it.

I'm not one of those indies who's trying to strike it rich or make my "dream" game. Gambling in Las Vegas would be a more efficient way to make money.

No, I just want to make something that is worth charging for.

A game that's small, focused, and delivers a fun experience worth the asking price.

I want to make small promises to my players, and then fulfill them. Plus a little extra.

Nothing more. Nothing less.

I started prototyping the game in January and hope to release in January 2026.

I'll let you know how it goes.

There's something that feels safe about a blog post.

It's cozy.

There's no algorithm to please.

It feels slower. Calmer. Thoughtful.

Friday nights in 2005:

  • Vanilla Coke
  • Digiorno Supreme Pizza
  • Battlefront 2 (PS2) with friends

Friday nights 2025:

  • Ginger tea
  • Intermittent fasting
  • An episode of Ugly Betty with wife

What Exactly Is a "Good" Game?

I've always struggled with the desire to make something that is considered "good"—and to do it consistently.

The problem is, "good" is subjective.

This led me to discover one of my toxic traits: I want the subjective to become objective. I'm always searching for a reproducible and systematic approach to the creative process. I like things to be clear and straightforward.

It's flawed thinking, but I believed that if I could define what a good game was, then I could deconstruct the process and make one consistently.

A definition eluded me for a long time, but I eventually stumbled upon one that I feel good about:

A game is only as good as the promises it keeps.

I came across this idea in one of the best blog posts I’ve read on game creation:

How to Make Good Small Games.

After reading it, I realized that a game gets to define its own terms of success. It does this by making promises to the player—and then keeping them.

A game should be judged by how well it keeps its promises. Does it deliver what it says it will?

Making a game that costs half a billion dollars and takes ten years to develop is a type of promise with high expectations. It’s a hard promise to keep. Alternatively, a 5-minute game with amateur art can still be good as long as it delivers on its promises—a much easier promise to keep.

So, I think I’ve found a good balance between a subjective and objective definition of what makes a good game:

A good game keeps its promises to the player.

The structure of a fun game is simple.

Give the player a clear objective.

Reward them for their effort.

Tell them when they've achieved something.

A Daily Routine For Unemployed Game Devs

🕹 Unemployed as a game developer? Here's how I'm staying on track and keeping my spirits up.

I've crafted a simple daily routine that's been essential for my mental well-being and productivity during this period.

  • Mornings: Create 🎨
  • Mid-days: Connect 📨
  • Afternoons: ​Contribute 🙌🏽

Unemployed Routine

CREATE: This is all about building skills and creative growth.

While the timing of my next opportunity is uncertain, I'm making the most of this time by exploring new technologies, building games, and honing my craft.

CONNECT: This phase is all about maximizing opportunities.

Whether it's reaching out to my network, applying for roles, or sharing my latest work, I'm just trying to keep the momentum going.

CONTRIBUTE: Giving back to the community is key.

Whether it's helping others in their job search, collaborating on indie projects, or participating in game jams, assisting others is how we're all going to get through this.

🌟 And here's one last bonus...

EVENINGS: Community​ Evenings are dedicated to recharging with loved ones. It's my time to unplug, rest, and cherish moments with friends and family.

I'd love to hear what strategies have been working for you as you navigate your job search.

🕹 One of the best parts about landing an interview in the game industry is that I get to play a bunch of the studio’s games as prep.

🕹 Last week I released Hell Dev.

  • Made in around 10 hours over the course of a month in my spare time.
  • It turned out “ok”
  • All-in-all it was a fun project that got me through my first week of unemployment

#gamedev community, I’d love to hear from you!

What’s the most fun you’ve ever had working on a game?

  • What were you working on?
  • What made it made such a fun experience?
  • When was the last time you felt like that?

🕹️ Game dev should be fun and creatively fulfilling!

If you feel burnt out or disillusioned, think about treating yourself to a small game project that’s just for you.

  • 🗓️ Make it in a month.
  • ⏱️ Work on it for 1-2 hours a week.
  • 🔥 Don’t crunch. Cut scope instead.
  • 😊 Make whatever brings you joy.

🎮 A massive problem in the game industry is morale.

Developers aren’t having a good time making games because we’re focused on trying to survive. This is not sustainable.

The industry needs happy and fulfilled developers to make great games for players to enjoy.

If you’re just starting out in game design, I recommend doubling down on making games that are easy to understand.

It’s a skill that will never go out of style.

It took me way too long to learn that clarity is fundamental to design and all good things arise from a clear and accessible experience.

My toddler’s activity of choice this morning was to randomly throw my shoes around the house… and after seeing how much fun he was having, I joined in.

The kid makes a good point. Throwing shoes is fun as hell.

As I become another game developer affected by layoffs, I’ve realized that I’m terrified of what’s next and what I want from a career in games.

The scariest thing is admitting to yourself what you actually want. Especially when it runs counter to everything you’ve told yourself and believed.