Crafting Scope

Core Game Definition

Crafting games encompass extremely wide variety of game types and themes. The common thread involves building, creating, and resource management systems.

Common Theme Elements

Restoration Projects: Starting with broken-down towns, farms, or houses that require repair
Recipe Systems: Combining ingredients to create new items
Resource Gathering: Collecting materials from the environment
Basic Housing Systems: Building or improving structures and living spaces

User Experience Design

Core Player Journey

The crafting experience follows this progression:

Player begins with a broken-down home, farm, or significant structure needing repair
Must gather various resources scattered throughout the game world
Use collected resources to create tools and complete recipes
Gradually build up and improve their starting area through crafted improvements

Resource Collection

Environmental Resources: Rocks, foliage, trees, debris scattered throughout levels
Material Variety: Different resource types support different crafting recipes
Accessibility: Resources should be discoverable and reachable by players

Movement Requirements

Crafting games typically use simple, accessible movement:

Walk: Basic navigation for resource gathering
Run: Faster traversal between collection points
Jump: Basic navigation for reaching elevated resources

Level Design Framework

Starting Area Design

Player Spawn: Broken-down home, town, or building requiring restoration
Resource Distribution: Materials scattered throughout accessible areas
Progression Visibility: Clear indication of what improvements are possible

World Layout

Resource Accessibility: Areas filled with gatherable materials (rocks, plants, debris)
Nearby Town: Social hub for quests, missions, or objectives
Exploration Incentives: Hidden or special resources in more distant locations

Environmental Themes

Crafting games offer tremendous creative freedom for themes:

Traditional Settings: Broken-down homes, farms, or rural communities
Restoration Projects: Important statues, museums, or stores needing repair
Creative Variations: Sci-fi moon bases for talking meteorites, fantasy workshops, magical laboratories

Crafting System Components

Recipe Management

Ingredient Lists: Clear requirements for each craftable item
Resource Tracking: Players can see what materials they have and need
Recipe Discovery: New recipes may be unlocked through progression or exploration

Tool Creation

Progressive Tools: Basic tools enable gathering better resources
Specialization: Different tools for different resource types
Upgrade Paths: Tools can be improved over time with better materials

Building Systems

Construction Projects: From simple repairs to complex structures
Material Requirements: Different projects need specific resource combinations
Functional Improvements: Built items provide gameplay benefits or unlock new areas

Design Considerations

Player Motivation

Clear Goals: Players should understand what they’re building toward
Visible Progress: Improvements should be immediately apparent in the game world
Achievement Recognition: Completing projects should feel rewarding

Resource Balance

Availability: Ensure all necessary resources can be obtained
Variety: Different activities should require different material types
Scarcity Management: Some resources may be rarer to create meaningful choices

The crafting genre emphasizes creativity, progression, and the satisfaction of building something meaningful from gathered components. Success depends on creating clear goals while allowing player creativity in achieving them.