Games That Are Too Cool For Their Own Good

Mewgenics is a great game, but it shares a twenty-five year old design problem with some of the greatest and most long-lived games of all time - it's filled with interesting, cool ideas that spark our imaginations... but that aren't very fun. What's the deal with that? Well, The Architect has an interesting answer - as it turns out creating a sense of depth in games is a little harder than it would appear, and many games that seem to be dominated by a few big, exciting ideas have accidently made things much harder for themselves, and fixing this issue is going to require going back to basics on the fundamentals of good design. Follow the channel on Bluesky!: https://bsky.app/profile/architectofg... Support the channel on Patreon!   / architectofgames   Check out Button Boys!:    / @buttonboyspodcast   You Saw: Magic The Gathering: Legends - 2021 Magic The Gathering: Arena - 2019 Super Mario Odyssey - 2017 Factorio - 2020 Slay The Spire 2 - Early Access Mewgenics - 2026 The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe - 2022 Mario Kart World - 2025 Across The Obelisk - 2021 FBC: Firebreak - 2025 Crimson Desert - 2026 Fallout 76 - 2018 High on Life - 2022 Far Far West - Not Out Yet Paper Mario: Sticker Star Factorio - 2020 Subnautica - 2018 Baba is you - 2019 Antichamber - 2013 Balan Wonderworld - 2021 Pokémon: Sword - 2019 Devil May Cry 5 - 2019 Indiana Jones and the great circle - 2024 Deadlock - Early Access It Takes Two - 2021 Yakuza 0 - 2015 Kingdom Hearts - 2002 Satisfactory - 2024 The Finals - 2023 Blue Prince - 2025 Void Stranger - 2023 Sonic Frontiers - 2022 Watchdogs Legion - 2020 Horsey Game - 2026 Alan Wake - 2026 StarCraft 2 - 2010 Portal 2 - 2011 Dishonored 2 - 2016 Hellcard - 2024 Griftlands - 2021 Dawncaster - 2026 Astrea: Six Sided Oracle - 2023 Slice and Dice - 2021 Noita - 2020 Dominion - 2008 Invisible Inc - 2015 Xenonauts 2 - 2026 Unicorn Overlord - 2024 XCOM 2 - 2016 Fire Emblem: Three Houses - 2019 Darkest Dungeon - 2016 Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance - 2005 Spelunky 2 - 2020 Sid Meir's Civilization 7 - 2025 Endless legend 2 - Early Access Overwatch - 2016 Dota 2 - 2013 Deadlock - Early Access Pizza Tower - 2023 Celeste - 2018 Super Mario Galaxy 2 - 2010 A Hat In Time - 2017 Psychonauts 2 - 2021 A Short Hike - 2019 Demon Tides - 2026 Big Hops - 2026 Castlevania - 1986 Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection - 2021 Screamer - 2026 Forza Horizon 5 - 2021 Dirt Rally 2 - 2019 F Zero GX - 2003 Dr Robotnik's Ring Racers - 2024 The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - 2023 Deus Ex: Mankind Divided - 2016 Prey - 2017 HITMAN: World of Assassination - 2016 Deathloop - 2021 CTRL ALT EGO - 2022 Rhell: Warped Worlds and troubled times - 2026 Super Smash Bros Ultimate - 2018 RESIDENT EVIL 4 REMAKE - 2023 Horizon Zero Dawn - 2017 The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim - 2011 Monster Hunter Wilds - 2025 Monster Hunter: Generations Ultimate - 2015 Final Fantasy 14 - 2013 Baldur's Gate 3 - 2023 Into The Breach - 2018 Street Fighter 5 - 2016 Counter Strike 2 - 2023 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - 2017 Ghost of Yotei - 2025 Hi-Fi Rush - 2023 Outer Wilds - 2019 Tunic - 2022 Stardew Valley - 2016 Genshin Impact - 2020 Zenless Zone Zero - 2024 Deep Rock Galactic - 2020 Fallout 4 - 2015 Fallout 3 - 2008 Teardown - 2022 Super Smash Bros Melee - 2001 Rocket League - 2015 Street Fighter 6 - 2023 Street Fighter 2 - 1991 Evolve - 2015 Heroes of the Storm - 2015 StarCraft - 1998 The Hex - 2018 Minecraft - 2011 Neon White - 2022 Final Fantasy 7 Remake - 2020 Warcraft 3 - 2002 Doom - 1993 Super Mario 64 - 1996 Superliminal - 2019 Hozy - 2026