game design is a second order design problem

This note last modified July 28, 2026

Game designers cannot control the experience, they can only control rules that they hope provide the experience they want to present. Kinda like how an architect can design a building and encourage people to use it in a certain way, but can’t directly force a certain use.

this is why emergent play is a thing.

second order design subverts educational goals

second order design means that games aren't art

Backlinks

  • play centric design
    • Talks about game design is a second order design problem and playtest early and often

  • ReActivism Case Study
    • game design is a second order design problem

logo