Super Stuck on Game Design

Community Community & Industry Discussion
1

Hey Guys!

Around a week ago, I realized that I was super duper stuck on what exactly to do about my game. Specifically, what mechanics do I implement to make the puzzles… puzzles?
So I decided that I would take a break, which happened to overlap with me going on vacation for a week.
Well, the week has passed. And now, as I sit at my computer, I feel this infinite stress of 0 ideas flowing through my mind… I have no idea what to do.
I’m not sure how any of you could help me, tbh I just want to tell someone about this problem.

Here’s what I have so far.

So. You, a hero, is venturing out to the end of the world to relight the sun. You have a magical staff that allows you to pick of objects/interact with stuff.
The game is adventure/puzzle.

So far, all I have is the super simple “place box on button” mechanic, as well as switches. These inputs allow drawbridges and platforms to let you go on through the dungeon.
I am focusing on having no combat and no monsters, kinda like Portal.

If any of you have any ideas AT ALL, please please please share them! I am in a world of destress!

Thanks so much!

Example:

Screenshot_43.png
Screenshot_43.png794×420 231 KB

2

Have you fleshed out what exactly the heroes powers and abilities are? Once you know that, you can figured out how to push the limits and use them in the odd corner case. To solve your puzzles

3

Would it be better to figure out powers, then puzzles… or puzzles, then powers? Currently all I have is “pick up objects”, which I think is causing all the trouble…

Sadly, I am a programmer; not a designer. I ain’t very creative, mostly logical. :(((

4

My best advice, try to take it little bit by little bit. Add new features when you need them to push things farther. All Good Game Design is made of iteration.

5

You can do it either way, but I’ve more success and more compelling gameplay by first outline what it is exactly that can and cant be done and using that to craft the puzzles to my characters. Craft puzzles for the player. Not the player for the puzzle.

This also stops me from falling into the trap of my char magically gaining new powers simply to get past a certain level/puzzle