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Game Design Books

Showing 1-50 of 1,864
The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses (Paperback)
by (shelved 396 times as game-design)
avg rating 4.39 — 3,499 ratings — published 2008
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A Theory Of Fun For Game Design A Theory Of Fun For Game Design (Paperback)
by (shelved 285 times as game-design)
avg rating 3.90 — 3,535 ratings — published 2004
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Rules of Play: Game Design Fundamentals (Mit Press) Rules of Play: Game Design Fundamentals (Mit Press)
by (shelved 206 times as game-design)
avg rating 3.99 — 1,032 ratings — published 2003
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Level Up!: The Guide to Great Video Game Design Level Up!: The Guide to Great Video Game Design (Paperback)
by (shelved 161 times as game-design)
avg rating 4.08 — 1,162 ratings — published 2010
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Game Design Workshop: A Playcentric Approach to Creating Innovative Games Game Design Workshop: A Playcentric Approach to Creating Innovative Games (Paperback)
by (shelved 151 times as game-design)
avg rating 4.11 — 520 ratings — published 2008
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Game Feel (Morgan Kaufmann Game Design Books) Game Feel (Morgan Kaufmann Game Design Books)
by (shelved 145 times as game-design)
avg rating 3.90 — 394 ratings — published 2008
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Challenges for Game Designers Challenges for Game Designers (Paperback)
by (shelved 109 times as game-design)
avg rating 3.99 — 312 ratings — published 2008
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Designing Games: A Guide to Engineering Experiences Designing Games: A Guide to Engineering Experiences (Paperback)
by (shelved 103 times as game-design)
avg rating 4.48 — 549 ratings — published 2013
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Reality is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World Reality is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World (Paperback)
by (shelved 96 times as game-design)
avg rating 3.79 — 8,414 ratings — published 2010
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Game Mechanics: Advanced Game Design Game Mechanics: Advanced Game Design (Paperback)
by (shelved 86 times as game-design)
avg rating 4.11 — 188 ratings — published 2012
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The Design of Everyday Things The Design of Everyday Things (Paperback)
by (shelved 85 times as game-design)
avg rating 4.15 — 49,302 ratings — published 1988
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Blood, Sweat, and Pixels Blood, Sweat, and Pixels (Kindle Edition)
by (shelved 78 times as game-design)
avg rating 4.20 — 25,647 ratings — published 2017
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Characteristics of Games Characteristics of Games (Hardcover)
by (shelved 72 times as game-design)
avg rating 4.11 — 252 ratings — published 2012
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Homo Ludens: A Study of the Play Element in Culture Homo Ludens: A Study of the Play Element in Culture (Paperback)
by (shelved 67 times as game-design)
avg rating 3.98 — 3,154 ratings — published 1938
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The Kobold Guide to Board Game Design The Kobold Guide to Board Game Design (Paperback)
by (shelved 61 times as game-design)
avg rating 4.06 — 647 ratings — published 2011
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Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience (Paperback)
by (shelved 52 times as game-design)
avg rating 4.10 — 91,574 ratings — published 1990
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An Architectural Approach to Level Design An Architectural Approach to Level Design (Paperback)
by (shelved 50 times as game-design)
avg rating 4.29 — 139 ratings — published 2014
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Game Programming Patterns Game Programming Patterns (Paperback)
by (shelved 47 times as game-design)
avg rating 4.49 — 1,625 ratings — published 2011
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Designing Virtual Worlds Designing Virtual Worlds (Paperback)
by (shelved 47 times as game-design)
avg rating 4.02 — 177 ratings — published 2003
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The Gamer's Brain: How Neuroscience and UX Can Impact Video Game Design The Gamer's Brain: How Neuroscience and UX Can Impact Video Game Design (Hardcover)
by (shelved 46 times as game-design)
avg rating 4.30 — 242 ratings — published
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Fundamentals of Game Design Fundamentals of Game Design (Paperback)
by (shelved 44 times as game-design)
avg rating 3.89 — 171 ratings — published 2006
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Uncertainty in Games (Playful Thinking) Uncertainty in Games (Playful Thinking)
by (shelved 42 times as game-design)
avg rating 3.53 — 374 ratings — published 2013
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A Game Design Vocabulary: Exploring the Foundational Principles Behind Good Game Design (Game Design/Usability) A Game Design Vocabulary: Exploring the Foundational Principles Behind Good Game Design (Game Design/Usability)
by (shelved 41 times as game-design)
avg rating 3.94 — 137 ratings — published 2013
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Advanced Game Design: A Systems Approach Advanced Game Design: A Systems Approach (Paperback)
by (shelved 40 times as game-design)
avg rating 4.26 — 95 ratings — published
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Video Game Storytelling: What Every Developer Needs to Know about Narrative Techniques Video Game Storytelling: What Every Developer Needs to Know about Narrative Techniques (Paperback)
by (shelved 38 times as game-design)
avg rating 3.99 — 515 ratings — published 2014
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How Games Move Us: Emotion by Design (Playful Thinking) How Games Move Us: Emotion by Design (Playful Thinking)
by (shelved 35 times as game-design)
avg rating 3.58 — 500 ratings — published 2016
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100 Principles of Game Design 100 Principles of Game Design (CD-ROM)
by (shelved 35 times as game-design)
avg rating 4.11 — 44 ratings — published 2012
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A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction (Center for Environmental Structure Series) A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction (Center for Environmental Structure Series)
by (shelved 35 times as game-design)
avg rating 4.42 — 5,571 ratings — published 1977
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Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created an Empire and Transformed Pop Culture Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created an Empire and Transformed Pop Culture (Paperback)
by (shelved 35 times as game-design)
avg rating 4.30 — 20,724 ratings — published 2003
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Building Blocks of Tabletop Game Design: An Encyclopedia of Mechanisms Building Blocks of Tabletop Game Design: An Encyclopedia of Mechanisms (Paperback)
by (shelved 32 times as game-design)
avg rating 4.48 — 128 ratings — published 2019
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Spelunky (Boss Fight Books, #11) Spelunky (Boss Fight Books, #11)
by (shelved 32 times as game-design)
avg rating 4.43 — 1,775 ratings — published 2015
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The Ultimate Guide to Video Game Writing and Design The Ultimate Guide to Video Game Writing and Design (Paperback)
by (shelved 32 times as game-design)
avg rating 3.60 — 344 ratings — published 2006
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Persuasive Games: The Expressive Power of Videogames Persuasive Games: The Expressive Power of Videogames (Hardcover)
by (shelved 32 times as game-design)
avg rating 3.84 — 364 ratings — published 2007
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Chris Crawford on Game Design Chris Crawford on Game Design (Paperback)
by (shelved 31 times as game-design)
avg rating 3.75 — 187 ratings — published 2003
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The Game Narrative Toolbox (Focal Press Game Design Workshops) The Game Narrative Toolbox (Focal Press Game Design Workshops)
by (shelved 30 times as game-design)
avg rating 3.99 — 105 ratings — published 2015
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The Well-Played Game: A Player's Philosophy The Well-Played Game: A Player's Philosophy (Hardcover)
by (shelved 30 times as game-design)
avg rating 4.02 — 174 ratings — published 1978
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Man, Play and Games Man, Play and Games (Paperback)
by (shelved 29 times as game-design)
avg rating 3.86 — 570 ratings — published 1958
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Educational Game Design Fundamentals: A Journey to Creating Intrinsically Motivating Learning Experiences Educational Game Design Fundamentals: A Journey to Creating Intrinsically Motivating Learning Experiences (Paperback)
by (shelved 28 times as game-design)
avg rating 4.33 — 46 ratings — published
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Think Like A Game Designer: The Step-by-Step Guide to Unlocking Your Creative Potential Think Like A Game Designer: The Step-by-Step Guide to Unlocking Your Creative Potential (Kindle Edition)
by (shelved 28 times as game-design)
avg rating 3.98 — 196 ratings — published 2018
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Level Design: Concept, Theory, and Practice Level Design: Concept, Theory, and Practice (Paperback)
by (shelved 28 times as game-design)
avg rating 3.72 — 54 ratings — published 2009
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Extra Lives: Why Video Games Matter Extra Lives: Why Video Games Matter (Hardcover)
by (shelved 28 times as game-design)
avg rating 3.52 — 3,736 ratings — published 2010
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Half-Real: Video Games Between Real Rules and Fictional Worlds Half-Real: Video Games Between Real Rules and Fictional Worlds (Hardcover)
by (shelved 28 times as game-design)
avg rating 3.88 — 374 ratings — published 2005
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The Grasshopper: Games, Life and Utopia The Grasshopper: Games, Life and Utopia (Paperback)
by (shelved 27 times as game-design)
avg rating 4.07 — 621 ratings — published 1978
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The Game Design Reader: A Rules of Play Anthology (Mit Press) The Game Design Reader: A Rules of Play Anthology (Mit Press)
by (shelved 26 times as game-design)
avg rating 4.06 — 135 ratings — published 2005
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What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy (Paperback)
by (shelved 25 times as game-design)
avg rating 3.90 — 1,376 ratings — published 2003
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Character Development and Storytelling for Games (Game Development Series) Character Development and Storytelling for Games (Game Development Series)
by (shelved 24 times as game-design)
avg rating 3.64 — 87 ratings — published 2004
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Emotional Design: Why We Love (or Hate) Everyday Things Emotional Design: Why We Love (or Hate) Everyday Things
by (shelved 23 times as game-design)
avg rating 3.95 — 5,613 ratings — published 2003
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Introduction to Game Design, Prototyping, and Development: From Concept to Playable Game with Unity and C# Introduction to Game Design, Prototyping, and Development: From Concept to Playable Game with Unity and C# (Paperback)
by (shelved 22 times as game-design)
avg rating 4.28 — 112 ratings — published 2014
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Sid Meier's Memoir!: A Life in Computer Games Sid Meier's Memoir!: A Life in Computer Games (Hardcover)
by (shelved 22 times as game-design)
avg rating 4.18 — 3,846 ratings — published 2020
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Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art (Paperback)
by (shelved 22 times as game-design)
avg rating 4.00 — 135,022 ratings — published 1993
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“The pinnacle of game design craft is combining perfect mechanics and compelling fiction into one seamless system of meaning.”
Tynan Sylvester, Designing Games: A Guide to Engineering Experiences

“Humor. Two unconnected things are suddenly united by a paradigm
shift. It is hard to describe, but we all know it when it happens.
Weirdly, it causes us to make a barking noise.”
Jesse Schell, The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses

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The following shelves are listed as duplicates of this shelf:
gamedesign