Theme is what gets players interested in your game. It’s the “why.” The theme is the background story. It provides the context to what the players need to accomplish. It’s how players understand the relationship between the components, mechanics, and how they should act in game.
Contents
Start Here
The Who, What, When, Where & How of Thematic Execution
What Makes a Good Theme (Video)
Maintain Theme from Beginning to End
Thoughts on Designing Word Building Games
Story
Storytelling for better board-games
Crafting Games with Immersive Narratives
Theme and Mechanics
Where to Start: Mechanics or Theme?
Theme Is More Important Than Mechanics
Mechanics Are More Important Than Theme
Mechanics and Theme: The Best of Friends!
Theme VS Mechanics: The False Dichotomy
What Comes First: Theme or Mechanic?
Avoiding the trap of Theme Vs. Mechanics
Translating the Controlling Idea Into Theme and Mechanics
Theme As a Mechanism for Discouraging Optimization
More Reading
Skin Deep: A Game’s Relationship with Theming