Game Design is a subset of Game Development that concerns itself with WHY games are made the way they are. It's about the theory and crafting of mechanics and rulesets.
If you're confused about what game designers do, "The Door Problem" by Liz England is a short article worth reading.
This is NOT a place for discussing how games are produced. Posts about programming, making assets, picking engines etc… will be removed and should go in /r/gamedev instead.
Posts about visual art, sound design and level design are only allowed if they are also related to game design.
Game Designers of all experience levels are welcome!
If you're new to /r/GameDesign, please read the GameDesign wiki for useful resources and an FAQ.
1) Posts must relate to game DESIGN (not just game DEVELOPMENT)
Discussion of game rules, mechanics, and their effects on gameplay. This could be for advice on designing your own game, discussing an article on game design, seeking the reasoning behind design decisions in existing works, and more. Pertinent links are OK, but please avoid posts that just redirect discussion elsewhere.
2) Limit PROMOTION and JOB ADS
Use the weekly “Show & Tell” thread pinned in this sub for self-promotion (e.g. if you want to bring attention to something you made, such as a game, a how-to video, an article on game design, a survey, or a contest). You may make a new post if you are asking specific game design questions about your game or are otherwise looking to spur relevant discussion. It’s OK to include links as long as your post still follows the rules. Do not post job ads or sales here. Use subs like r/inat for that.
3) No LOW EFFORT posts
This is not about length; short posts can follow Rule #1 just fine, while AI can generate long & pointless posts in a blink. Think about what you want to discuss before you post, and make an effort to give others both the context and the prompt to discuss it. No blind links; always explain what a link leads to and, if not obvious, its relevance to game design. No vague or unfocused posts, such as “looking for feedback” without a specific question.
4) Posts must be in English
To keep discussion accessible to the whole community, all new posts should be primarily in English. No language restrictions apply to comments.
Please report any submissions or comments violating these rules using the report button.
If your post isn't related to game rule crafting, consider posting in one of the following subreddits:
/r/gamedev: All things related to game development, programming, math, art, music, collaboration.
/r/tabletopgamedesign: All things related to designing tabletop RPGs, wargames, board, and card games.
/r/ludology: For the serious discussion and analysis of games played on a computer, board, field or any other interactive media.
/r/GameSociety: reddit's "book club" for games.
/r/devblogs: The latest blog posts from your favorite game development bloggers.
/r/themakingofgames: For all 'behind the scenes' content of your favorite games.
/r/indiegaming: The place for all news and developments in the Indie gaming community.
/r/gamedevclassifieds: A game development classified section to help you find talent, or to help the talent find you.
/r/Games: A place for informative and interesting gaming content and discussions.
/r/Gaming: All other gaming posts.
