Genre Design Patterns

This skill should be used when the user asks about "RPG design", "platformer design", "roguelike", "roguelite", "metroidvania", "action game", "puzzle game", "adventure game", "genre conventions", "genre patterns", "what makes a good [genre]", or needs genre-specific design guidance.

majiayu000 Updated Sep 9, 2026 567 repo stars

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Genre Design Patterns

Quick-reference patterns for common game genres. Use as starting points—the best games often blend genres.

How to Use This Skill

Identify your primary genre
Review its core pillars
Check essential elements
Consider which secondary genres to blend
Use templates as starting framework

Platformer

Core Pillars

Precise movement and jumping
Obstacle navigation
Timing challenges

Essential Elements

Element	Purpose
Responsive controls	Feel good, predictable
Clear platforms	Readable jump targets
Fair hazards	Visible before dangerous
Checkpoints	Reduce frustration
Collectibles	Exploration reward

Design Template

PLATFORMER DESIGN

Movement feel: [ ] Floaty [ ] Tight [ ] Momentum-based
Jump type: [ ] Fixed [ ] Variable height [ ] Double/multi
Core gimmick: _______________
Level structure: [ ] Linear [ ] Hub [ ] World map
Death penalty: _______________

Action RPG

Core Pillars

Real-time combat
Character progression
Loot/equipment

Essential Elements

Element	Purpose
Satisfying combat	Core loop engagement
Meaningful stats	Progression feeling
Build variety	Player expression
Loot drops	Reward and excitement
Enemies that teach	Skill development

Design Template

ACTION RPG DESIGN

Combat style: [ ] Hack-slash [ ] Souls-like [ ] Character action
Stat impact: [ ] Heavy (numbers matter) [ ] Light (skill matters more)
Build system: [ ] Class-based [ ] Skill tree [ ] Equipment-based
Loot rarity tiers: _______________
Core loop: Kill → Loot → Upgrade → Kill stronger

Roguelike / Roguelite

Core Pillars

Procedural generation
Permadeath or run-based play
Progressive mastery

Essential Elements

Element	Purpose
Run variety	Each attempt feels fresh
Fair randomness	Bad luck doesn't doom run
Quick restart	Minimize frustration
Meta-progression	Long-term goals (roguelite)
Build diversity	Many viable paths

Design Template

ROGUELIKE DESIGN

Permadeath: [ ] Full [ ] Roguelite (meta-progression)
Run length: _____ minutes target
Seed-based: [ ] Yes [ ] No (important for replays/multiplayer)
Unlock system: _______________
Core randomization: [ ] Levels [ ] Items [ ] Enemies [ ] All

See replayability-engineering for deeper roguelike patterns.

Metroidvania

Core Pillars

Interconnected world
Ability-gated exploration
Backtracking with new powers

Essential Elements

Element	Purpose
Satisfying movement	Traversal is constant
Clear ability gates	Know what you need
Rewarding backtracking	Old areas have new value
Map system	Navigation in complex space
Sequence-breaking (optional)	Reward mastery

Design Template

METROIDVANIA DESIGN

World size: _____ screens/rooms
Key abilities: _______________
Gate types: [ ] Ability [ ] Item [ ] Skill
Map reveal: [ ] Auto [ ] Manual [ ] Exploration-based
Shortcut system: _______________

Puzzle

Core Pillars

Problem-solving
"Aha" moments
Clear rules, emergent complexity

Essential Elements

Element	Purpose
Teachable rules	Player understands system
Fair solutions	No guessing required
Escalating complexity	Difficulty progression
Hints (optional)	Accessibility
Undo/reset	Experimentation

Design Template

PUZZLE DESIGN

Core mechanic: _______________
Complexity source: [ ] More elements [ ] Tighter constraints [ ] Combinations
Puzzle count: _____
Hint system: [ ] None [ ] Optional [ ] Progressive
Success feedback: _______________

Adventure / Narrative

Core Pillars

Story-driven
Exploration and discovery
Character interaction

Essential Elements

Element	Purpose
Compelling narrative	Drives player forward
Interesting characters	Emotional investment
Meaningful choices	Player agency
Environmental storytelling	World feels alive
Clear objectives	Direction when needed

Design Template

ADVENTURE DESIGN

Story structure: [ ] Linear [ ] Branching [ ] Open
Player character: [ ] Defined [ ] Blank slate [ ] Customizable
Dialogue system: [ ] Simple [ ] Branching [ ] Full RPG
Choice impact: [ ] Flavor [ ] Story [ ] Endings
Core mystery/goal: _______________

Genre Blending

Popular Combinations

Blend	Examples	Key Tension
Roguelike + Platformer	Dead Cells style	Tight controls + Randomness
RPG + Puzzle	Puzzle RPGs	Stats + Pure logic
Action + Narrative	Action-adventure	Pacing gameplay vs story
Platformer + Metroidvania	Most metroidvanias	Linear flow vs backtracking

Blending Checklist

Primary genre is clear
Secondary adds value, not confusion
Core loops don't conflict
Player expectations are set early

Additional Resources

Reference Files

references/rpg-patterns.md — Detailed RPG design
references/platformer-patterns.md — Platformer design deep dive
references/roguelike-patterns.md — Roguelike essentials
references/metroidvania-patterns.md — Metroidvania design

Related Skills

replayability-engineering — For roguelike/lite design
core-loop-design — Genre-specific loops
narrative-design — Story-focused genres

---name: genre-design-patternsdescription: This skill should be used when the user asks about "RPG design", "platformer design", "roguelike", "roguelite", "metroidvania", "action game", "puzzle game", "adventure game", "genre conventions", "genre patterns", "what makes a good [genre]", or needs genre-specific design guidance.--- # Genre Design Patterns Quick-reference patterns for common game genres. Use as starting points—the best games often blend genres. ## How to Use This Skill 1. Identify your primary genre 2. Review its core pillars 3. Check essential elements 4. Consider which secondary genres to blend 5. Use templates as starting framework --- ## Platformer ### Core Pillars - Precise movement and jumping - Obstacle navigation - Timing challenges ### Essential Elements | Element | Purpose | |---------|---------| | Responsive controls | Feel good, predictable | | Clear platforms | Readable jump targets | | Fair hazards | Visible before dangerous | | Checkpoints | Reduce frustration | | Collectibles | Exploration reward | ### Design Template ``` PLATFORMER DESIGN Movement feel: [ ] Floaty [ ] Tight [ ] Momentum-based Jump type: [ ] Fixed [ ] Variable height [ ] Double/multi Core gimmick: _______________ Level structure: [ ] Linear [ ] Hub [ ] World map Death penalty: _______________ ``` --- ## Action RPG ### Core Pillars - Real-time combat - Character progression - Loot/equipment ### Essential Elements | Element | Purpose | |---------|---------| | Satisfying combat | Core loop engagement | | Meaningful stats | Progression feeling | | Build variety | Player expression | | Loot drops | Reward and excitement | | Enemies that teach | Skill development | ### Design Template ``` ACTION RPG DESIGN Combat style: [ ] Hack-slash [ ] Souls-like [ ] Character action Stat impact: [ ] Heavy (numbers matter) [ ] Light (skill matters more) Build system: [ ] Class-based [ ] Skill tree [ ] Equipment-based Loot rarity tiers: _______________ Core loop: Kill → Loot → Upgrade → Kill stronger ``` --- ## Roguelike / Roguelite ### Core Pillars - Procedural generation - Permadeath or run-based play - Progressive mastery ### Essential Elements | Element | Purpose | |---------|---------| | Run variety | Each attempt feels fresh | | Fair randomness | Bad luck doesn't doom run | | Quick restart | Minimize frustration | | Meta-progression | Long-term goals (roguelite) | | Build diversity | Many viable paths | ### Design Template ``` ROGUELIKE DESIGN Permadeath: [ ] Full [ ] Roguelite (meta-progression) Run length: _____ minutes target Seed-based: [ ] Yes [ ] No (important for replays/multiplayer) Unlock system: _______________ Core randomization: [ ] Levels [ ] Items [ ] Enemies [ ] All ``` See **`replayability-engineering`** for deeper roguelike patterns. --- ## Metroidvania ### Core Pillars - Interconnected world - Ability-gated exploration - Backtracking with new powers ### Essential Elements | Element | Purpose | |---------|---------| | Satisfying movement | Traversal is constant | | Clear ability gates | Know what you need | | Rewarding backtracking | Old areas have new value | | Map system | Navigation in complex space | | Sequence-breaking (optional) | Reward mastery | ### Design Template ``` METROIDVANIA DESIGN World size: _____ screens/rooms Key abilities: _______________ Gate types: [ ] Ability [ ] Item [ ] Skill Map reveal: [ ] Auto [ ] Manual [ ] Exploration-based Shortcut system: _______________ ``` --- ## Puzzle ### Core Pillars - Problem-solving - "Aha" moments - Clear rules, emergent complexity ### Essential Elements | Element | Purpose | |---------|---------| | Teachable rules | Player understands system | | Fair solutions | No guessing required | | Escalating complexity | Difficulty progression | | Hints (optional) | Accessibility | | Undo/reset | Experimentation | ### Design Template ``` PUZZLE DESIGN Core mechanic: _______________ Complexity source: [ ] More elements [ ] Tighter constraints [ ] Combinations Puzzle count: _____ Hint system: [ ] None [ ] Optional [ ] Progressive Success feedback: _______________ ``` --- ## Adventure / Narrative ### Core Pillars - Story-driven - Exploration and discovery - Character interaction ### Essential Elements | Element | Purpose | |---------|---------| | Compelling narrative | Drives player forward | | Interesting characters | Emotional investment | | Meaningful choices | Player agency | | Environmental storytelling | World feels alive | | Clear objectives | Direction when needed | ### Design Template ``` ADVENTURE DESIGN Story structure: [ ] Linear [ ] Branching [ ] Open Player character: [ ] Defined [ ] Blank slate [ ] Customizable Dialogue system: [ ] Simple [ ] Branching [ ] Full RPG Choice impact: [ ] Flavor [ ] Story [ ] Endings Core mystery/goal: _______________ ``` --- ## Genre Blending ### Popular Combinations | Blend | Examples | Key Tension | |-------|----------|-------------| | Roguelike + Platformer | Dead Cells style | Tight controls + Randomness | | RPG + Puzzle | Puzzle RPGs | Stats + Pure logic | | Action + Narrative | Action-adventure | Pacing gameplay vs story | | Platformer + Metroidvania | Most metroidvanias | Linear flow vs backtracking | ### Blending Checklist - [ ] Primary genre is clear - [ ] Secondary adds value, not confusion - [ ] Core loops don't conflict - [ ] Player expectations are set early --- ## Additional Resources ### Reference Files - **`references/rpg-patterns.md`** — Detailed RPG design - **`references/platformer-patterns.md`** — Platformer design deep dive - **`references/roguelike-patterns.md`** — Roguelike essentials - **`references/metroidvania-patterns.md`** — Metroidvania design ### Related Skills - **`replayability-engineering`** — For roguelike/lite design - **`core-loop-design`** — Genre-specific loops - **`narrative-design`** — Story-focused genres

majiayu000/claude-skill-registry-data/tree/main/gaming/genre-patterns commit 0ea8c18cc7

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npx skillmds@latest add majiayu000/genre-design-patterns