Eric Lang (Blood Rage, Rising Sun) on what makes games stick: Great games aren’t just systems—they’re rituals.
👉 Design for player psychology, not just mechanics
👉 Lean into conflict to create emotion
👉 Collaborate with complementary strengths
justingarydesign.substack.com/p/eric-lang-...
Stop relying on willpower. Design your environment instead.
• Effortless (clear path)
• Efficient (fewer distractions)
• Enjoyable (something you want to do)
Small changes = big results.
Be the UX designer of your life.
justingarydesign.substack.com/p/ui-ux-desi...
Theme gives your game identity.
Mechanics make it work.
Great design happens when the two align.
Quick tips:
• If you’re stuck, try a new theme — it can unlock better mechanics
• Don’t overcommit early — let theme evolve with gameplay
• Always Be Exploring (ABE) new ideas
I signed up to build homes in Mexico, but he biggest thing that changed was me.
Gratitude replaced complaints.
Perspective replaced routine.
Action replaced restlessness.
You don’t need experience to make a difference.
You just need to show up. ❤️
justingarydesign.substack.com/p/change-liv...
Don’t just celebrate results — celebrate inputs.
Results are often outside your control.
Inputs are the things you do every day:
✔️ Showing up
✔️ Making thoughtful decisions
✔️ Learning from mistakes
When you celebrate inputs, you create momentum. Small daily wins stack up into big outcomes.
NEW PODCAST ALERT!
Drew shares how his background in UX shapes his approach to game design, what makes solo games uniquely powerful, and how community, structure, and relentless iteration can turn creative ambition into a sustainable career.
justingarydesign.substack.com/p/drew-corki...
One of the most important lessons in game design:
Make the player’s instinct the correct choice.
Fix the incentives so the fun choice is also a smart one.
We dive deeper into this inside Design Lab. 👇
justingarydesign.substack.com/p/design-for...
If you want to level up your game design skills, I just saved you a massive amount of time.
I spent 50+ hours going back through our first 50 podcast episodes to pull out the single best piece of advice from each one.
If you only listen to one episode, make it this one.
Link in Comments!
If you want to level up your game design skills, I just saved you a massive amount of time.
I spent 50+ hours going back through our first 50 podcast episodes to pull out the single best piece of advice from each one.
If you only listen to one episode, make it this one.
Today I want to give you a clearer look at what’s actually inside the brand-new Design Lab program, which launches next week on March 17th.
Check it out 👇
justingarydesign.substack.com/p/from-stude...
Playtests are one of the most important parts of game design. But without a clear feedback loop, you can spend months tweaking a design and still feel like you’re going in circles.
I wrote about this challenge and what designers can do about it.
justingarydesign.substack.com/p/opening-th...
After 20 years working in the industry, publishing games, building teams, running crowdfunds, and mentoring designers, I’m excited to bring you the newest iteration of the Think Like A Game Designer course.
justingarydesign.substack.com/p/opening-th...
When I first started designing games, I thought complexity was impressive. Over time, I realized that what I wanted wasn’t complexity, but depth.
Here's the break down on what elegance is and how we achieve it: justingarydesign.substack.com/p/designing-...
Eric Lang is one of the most influential designers in modern tabletop gaming. If you’re interested in designing for tension, identity, and memorable moments, this conversation offers a masterclass from one of the industry’s most distinctive voices.
justingarydesign.substack.com/p/eric-lang-...
Hard to believe how far the Think Like a Game Designer Podcast has come—next week is Episode 100 🎙️
I pulled together 10 insights that kept coming up again and again—ideas I keep returning to and expect to carry with me for years.
👉 justingarydesign.substack.com/p/10-lessons...
In this episode, Theresa Duringer shares insights on what makes a great digital adaptation, why performance and UX are inseparable from game design, and how to bridge the gap between physical and digital play without losing what makes tabletop special.
justingarydesign.substack.com/p/theresa-du...
Industry veteran Jaimie Wolanski (Catan, Ticket to Ride, Exploding Kittens) joins me on the podcast to share tough truths about retail, building teams you trust, and knowing when to let go.
👉 Listen now: justingarydesign.substack.com/p/jaimie-wol...
AI is reshaping creative work—but the real question is how we use it responsibly.
Read my take on hybrid human–AI design and creative ethics 👇
justingarydesign.substack.com/p/the-ethics...
I interviewed game design legend Vlaada Chvátil 🎲
(Codenames, Through the Ages)
We talk about why great games don’t need marketing, how designing for joy fuels longevity, and what makes collaboration actually work.
👉 Listen now justingarydesign.substack.com/p/vlaada-chv...
Want a simple way to level up next year?
Do an Energy Audit:
✨ Top 3 energizers
💀 Top 3 drains
Protect what fuels you. Batch/Automate/Delegate what doesn’t.
justingarydesign.substack.com/p/energy-is-...
#Productivity #SelfGrowth #CreativeWork #FocusTime #EnergyManagement
Exploding Kittens CEO Carly McGinnis joins the podcast! 🎙️
From Hollywood hustle to leading a global game company with 25M+ games sold, Carly shares how she scales teams, navigates creative chaos, and builds a culture that brings big ideas to life.
justingarydesign.substack.com/p/carly-mcgi...
⏳ Why Deadlines Aren’t the Enemy — They’re Your Secret Weapon
👉 Read the article here and try setting your next milestone today:
justingarydesign.substack.com/p/deadlines-...
Great games follow a clear order of operations:
1️⃣ Engine Design – Find the fun.
2️⃣ Engine Development – Build the structure.
3️⃣ Component Design – Define each piece.
4️⃣ Component Development – Balance the details.
5️⃣ Polish – Make it shine.
justingarydesign.substack.com/p/leveraging...
This is a great post. I say this all the time to my boys about hockey. I don't worry about the goals. You put in the effort, and the goals will come.*
(*or the opposite, in the case of the goalie)
I've been listening to "Think Like A Game Designer", insightful game designer interviews by @justingary.bsky.social .
Every so often I find myself writing down quotes, which I'll be sharing in this thread:
🎲✂️
Thank you so much!
I recommend listening to this fantastic episode of the "Think Like A Game Designer Podcast"; tons of insightful comments on balancing, Root, and much, much more! Thank you very much @colewehrle.bsky.social and @justingary.bsky.social justingarydesign.substack.com/p/cole-wehrl...
