game elements

This note last modified May 22, 2026

Building blocks or features shared by a variety of games.

e.g. point systems, customizable avatars, even the abstract notion of “time pressure” is common across a variety of games.

publications
- Games can transform players, guiding them to think about complex topics such as their beliefs, their identity, or the world they live in. Games are also incredibly complex. My thesis breaks down games, looking at individual elements that promote transformation, with the goal of helping designers understand which elements may be useful for their context.
Reflective Elements In Mass-Market Games-Gandhi
- Which games / game elements do players count as successful or unsuccessful at being reflective?