Summary: Many video games these days boast having a dynamic soundtrack, but that usually just means the score kicks into a high tempo beat when you start shooting. Mark Brown shares some more inventive uses of adaptive audio.

Summary: In this video, I look at "versatile verbs" - player actions that can have multiple uses, depending on how you perform them - in a number of excellent games.

Summary: In part two, we look at Dead Space's major sequel and how Redwood Shores (now named Visceral Games) started to shift the focus of the franchise away from horror - and towards action.

Summary: Donkey Kong Country - Tropical Freeze is platforming level design at its best. By taking Nintendo’s level design philosophy to the next level, Retro Studios made a handful of incredible stages that all modern platformers should be judged against.

Summary: The rise of games inspired by Dark Souls has led some to suggest that Dark Souls invented a whole new genre of games. In this video, lets look at the ramifications of turning a game into a genre.

Summary: Check out all the games here - https -//itch.io/jam/gmtk-jam/entries Links to the top 20 - Roaring Streets https -//cottontrek.itch.io/roaring-st... Vintage Flashlight https -//dylsdestiny.itch.io/vintage-f... A Slime’s Quest for Freedom https -//hrgames.itch.io/a-slimes-ques... AAAAA!!! https -//bynine.itch.io/aaaaa Geflect https -//gaziter.itch.io/geflectgame Magnetic https -//prodigalson.itch.io/magnetic Orbital Punch https -//indepth-gaming.itch.io/orbita... _Barrage_ https -//kano-stuff.itch.io/-barrage- Delta https -//culturebosh.itch.io/delta Plover Parent https -//albatrosssoup.itch.io/plover-... Oeufwakening https -//quentindelvallet.itch.io/oeuf... Stuck Recoil https -//matheuscunegato.itch.io/stuck... ODA https -//sicerat.itch.io/oda Void https -//nicmagnier.itch.io/void HOPSHOT https -//bearishmushroom.itch.io/hopshot A Tale of Wind and Sea https -//tobiasbruch.itch.io/a-tale-of... powerCore https -//sanjeev.itch.io/powercore Lockstep https -//aioob.itch.io/lockstep Resize https -//zorro-svardendahl.itch.io/resize SuperFunkyLightShow https -//ostsenior.itch.io/superfunkyl...

Summary: Everyone who has played Ori and the Blind Forest will remember the Ginso Tree. In this video, I break the level down - beat by beat - to show you why it's so special.

Summary: Detective video games promise to turn us into Sherlock Holmes - but why do so many of them bungle the execution? In this video I mine ancient DOS games, forgotten mobile apps, quirky indie titles, and games that aren’t even about solving crimes, for good murder mystery mechanics.

Summary: Game Boy classic Metroid 2 has been completely remade by two different teams. So how did AM2R and Samus Return update the gameplay of this retro title, and how did they capture that original game’s tone?

Summary: A designer’s job often involves making sure players are experiencing the game in the most fun or interesting way. In this video, I look at examples of games that have tried to achieve this - sometimes with success, and sometimes with controversy.

Summary: In my last video, I talk about how XCOM 2 encouraged players to speed up, by using turn timers. Here's three games that take a different approach to the same topic.

Summary: Cuphead is a master class in boss attacks. Let's look at the game’s patterns, phases, telegraphing, predictability, and more. This video shows off bosses from the game’s first three areas.

Summary: Super Mario Odyssey’s success can be traced back to the design philosophies we’ve discussed on earlier episodes of Game Maker’s Toolkit. Let’s look at how these different ideas have been put into practice, in Mario’s latest game.

Summary: 2017 saw an abundance of great levels, chapters, maps, areas, and sequences. Let's recap the year, by looking at the best stages from the past 12 months.

Summary: This year’s most inventive game was Snake Pass - a squirmy interactive toy that came together thanks to some smart design decisions, and a dash of good luck.

Summary: Playing Pyre over Christmas got me thinking about feedback loops - the reward structures in games that can reinforce or balance out winners and losers. In this episode I’ll explain what this all means, and talk about the design of Pyre’s positive and negative loops.

Summary: Let’s take a break from Nintendo’s level design - and look at how Ubisoft explored a single mechanic through an entire world’s worth of levels in Rayman Legends.

Summary: From Breath of the Wild to Watch Dogs 2, we’re seeing a boom in so-called “systemic games”. What does that mean, how do they work, and what makes them tick?

Summary: Developer intention can often come at the expense of accessibility and player preference. In this video, I look at some recent games that have found a middle ground.

Summary: Puzzles can be one of the most complex things in game design. In this video, I break down some great conundrums from favourite games, and share some knowledge from sharp puzzle designers, to find out what makes a good puzzle.

Summary: Why do some games keep us rapt and entertained until the closing credits, while others fizzle out and end up on our pile of shame? Let’s look at some key ways developers can keep players interested (without being evil about it)

Summary: One of my most requested video topics is combat systems. So let’s look at everything from Bayonetta and Yakuza, to Batman and God of War, to break down the essential elements of a good melee combat system.

Summary: Arcade classics were all about high scores and personal bests - but can scores still be relevant when mixed with more modern game design? Let’s find out!

Summary: Kratos has used the same type of weapon for the last six God of War games. Now he’s using something completely different - the versatile, tactical, satisfying, and enjoyable new Leviathan Axe. In this video I look at what makes this weapon interesting, and how Sony Santa Monica came to design it.

Summary: In the manual for Elder Scrolls 2, Bethesda encouraged players to avoid reloading a save game after making mistakes. So why should gamers follow this advice, and how can designers help them play past their screw ups?

Summary: The new Spider-Man game on PS4 is being praised for making you feel like Spider-Man. But what does that actually mean, and what does it mean for web-swinging?

Summary: Video games are for everyone. But disabled people can be left out if developers don’t consider their needs. In this series of videos, I’ll be sharing guidelines and best practices for making games more accessible to a wide range of disabilities. This time, I’m looking at design choices and menu options that will affect those who have motor, mobility, or physical disabilities.

Summary: After looking at level design in Mario, Donkey Kong, and Rayman, it’s time to see how the blue bomber’s stages work - by taking a look at the levels in Mega Man 11.

Summary: Skill trees, upgrade systems, ability trees - call them what you want, they have become an integral part of modern day game design. So let’s look at how these things work, where they fall down, and what we can do to build better skill trees.

Summary: The most fascinating game of 2018 looks like a relic from the early days of Mac gaming, comes from the dude who made Papers, Please, and is the best detective game I’ve played so far.

Summary: Stealth games were few and far between for much of gaming’s history - until the year 1998 when three huge stealth games came out in the same year. In this video, I’ll explore the conventions that these games established, and ask why ’98 was the year stealth games got serious.

Summary: One of the biggest decisions for any developer making a roguelike, is whether or not to add persistent upgrades. Should every run be the same, like Spelunky? Or should your character get more powerful over time, like Rogue Legacy? Let’s look at the pros and cons of both approaches.

Summary: I have been obsessed with a card battling roguelike called Slay the Spire. And a big reason for that is how the game uses synergies. What are they, and why are they so cool? Let’s find out.

Summary: Halo 3 - ODST was a bold move for Bungie. A non-linear and open world Halo game, with a melancholic vibe and without Master Chief. In some ways it was wonderfully clever, in other ways it fell on its face. Let’s explore the highs and lows of this forgotten game.

Summary: Choosing a camera for a 3D game is a huge challenge, because cameras can serve gameplay and aesthetic goals at the same time. What happens when these goals clash?

Summary: Making a strong trailer for your game can be a huge challenge, so I’ve collected a bunch of tips and best practices from the industry’s top trailer makers.

Summary: 2019 has already seen the release of four post apocalyptic open world games - but 4A's Metro Exodus is by far the most immersive. So what does that phrase actually mean, and what design decisions help create that feeling?

Summary: Making your very first Super Mario Maker 2 stage is a daunting prospect. What parts should you use? How should you lay them out? How do you pace your level, and make a fair challenge? To help you clear this hurdle, here are ten steps you can follow to get your first level made, published, and open for feedback.

Summary: Certain RPGs make the tantalising promise that you can skip combat altogether, by talking your way past the bad guys. But how can we turn this into genuinely interesting gameplay? Warning - This video contains story spoilers for Mass Effect (1) and Life is Strange (Episode 2), and also features content related to suicide.

Summary: Celeste is one of the most satisfying platformers released in recent memory. And a big part of that is due to the tight and responsive controls of the game’s main character - Madeline. In this video, let’s look at how designers Matt Thorson and Noel Berry made the hero of Celeste feel so good to play.

Summary: The third GMTK Game Jam has come to a close. In this video, I look at my favourite games from among the 2,600 projects that were uploaded.

Summary: There’s a handful of games where time is taken very seriously. In this video, I look at the design, challenges, and opportunities of what we might call “clockwork games”.

Summary: It's been 5 years since I started Game Maker's Toolkit. Let's take a moment to look back at what's happened in the last half decade...

Summary: One year on from my “Designing for Disability” series, let’s take a look at 50 of the year’s biggest games to see how the industry is tackling accessibility in 2019.

Summary: Every year, I celebrate one game that went above and beyond in terms of innovation, invention, and imagination. From Her Story to Snake Pass to Return of the Obra Dinn, these games have stunned us with their unique ideas and excellent execution. This year, the award goes to...