Core Gameplay is King

Core Gameplay is King

𝟭. 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 🎮
• Choose one crisp verb players will repeat nonstop
• Make it feel fast, tactile, and satisfying even when nothing happens
• Start simple, then layer timing and combos later

𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀:
• Super Mario – jump / throw / capture
• Call of Duty – aim / shoot / slide
• Royal Match – swap / match / decorate

𝟮. 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝗼𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀 ⚔️
• Obstacles give your verb meaning
• Calibrate difficulty to stay in the flow zone
• Telegraph danger clearly – no cheap surprises
• Mix soft walls (time, resources) with hard walls (bosses, skill checks)

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀 👹
• Time pressure
• Enemy swarm
• Limited lives
• Precision jumps
• Environmental hazards
• Hidden info
• Boss patterns

𝟯. 𝗟𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 🥇

• Short-term (seconds–minutes): instant rewards
👉 Coins, XP, hit flashes

• Mid-term (sessions–days): visible growth
👉 Unlocks, new tools, new chapters

• Long-term (weeks–months): mastery
👉 Meta goals, rankings, narrative arcs

𝟰. 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗽 🔁
• Act → Obstacle → Feedback → Reward → Upgrade
• Then repeat, but stronger

𝟱. 𝗣𝗿𝗼 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀
• Fun is king – boring actions can’t be saved
• Don’t explain, show. First 30 minutes must prove the loop
• Add juice: screen shake, hit sounds, knockback
• Playtest early and often. Don’t tune before testing
• Spike the difficulty, then give relief: classic rise-fall
• Cut anything that doesn’t serve the core verb or goals

If the action feels great, you’re on the right track.
Everything else is bonus.