Designing Game Loops

"Designing Game Loops" is an introductory class that explores how designers structure experiences into loops. Whether you’re interested in video games, tabletop games, mobile apps, or other interactive experiences, this class breaks down what makes them engaging, meaningful, and fun. No prior design or development experience is required.

The course examines how game loops can be used to structure games and ease balancing processes. Students learn how rules shape behaviour, how systems interact over time, and how choices create emergent outcomes. Through analysis of actual examples, we explore why some designs feel compelling while others fall flat.

A major focus of the class is user-centred design. Students will learn to think from the user’s perspective, considering motivation, challenge, feedback, accessibility, and emotional impact.

The class also includes a few practice tasks for everyone to join in on or spectate as examples.

By the end of the class, students will understand the fundamental principles to apply loops to their projects, be able to analyse objects and features with a critical designer’s eye, and confidently communicate their own game ideas. This class is ideal for aspiring designers and anyone else interested in how interactions work under the hood.

This class is part of a set called "Game Design for Game Developers".