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Game Development vocabulary · Gameplay & Game Design

Game mechanic

Meaning in game development, with examples

/ˈɡeɪm məˌkænɪk/nounCore term

In game development, game mechanic means: A single rule or action that a game is built around, such as jumping, crafting, stealth or a cover system. Several mechanics together make up the gameplay.

In Turkish: oyun mekaniği, mekanik

How it is used

Designers usually just say mechanic or mechanics. You introduce, prototype, polish, cut or combine mechanics, and a pitch often starts with the core mechanic.

Example sentences

  1. The core game mechanic is simple: you can rewind time by five seconds.

  2. Let's cut the fishing mechanic; it doesn't fit the rest of the game.

Common collocations

  • core mechanic
  • introduce a mechanic
  • polish a mechanic
  • combat mechanics
  • cut a mechanic
  • gameplayWhat the player actually does in a game and how it feels: the actions, rules, challenges and choices, as opposed to the story or the graphics.
  • core loopThe main set of actions a player repeats again and again in a game, for example explore, fight, collect loot and upgrade, then explore again.
  • prototypeA quick, rough version of a game or feature made to test whether an idea is fun or works, before the team spends time on final art and polish.
  • balanceTo adjust numbers and rules, such as damage, costs and cooldowns, so that no weapon, character or strategy is too strong or too weak compared with the others.

More terms: Gameplay & Game Design

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