Super Mario
Nintendo's long-running platformer series, aimed at families and newcomers.
Where Super Mario comes up1 episode or test
- Kept easy
- Families and newcomers play it
- Everyone can reach the final boss
- Tricky coins
- Tough bonus levels
- Secret post-game world
- Extra challenges for veterans
One game serves both audiences without boring hardcore players
From Mark Brown on modern Mario
What was said about Super Mario
Modern Mario keeps the main path easy and layers optional challenge on top. Families and newcomers can reach the final boss, while veterans get tricky coins, tough bonus levels, a secret post-game world and extra challenges. One game serves both audiences without boring the hardcore players.
These optional challenges work as invisible difficulty settings. Insomniac took a similar approach in Spider-Man 2 with a harder swinging option. Mark Brown's takeaway: "options and bonus content can be used to make a game appealing to those who are more hardcore than the target audience."
10 Game Design Lessons from 10 Years of GMTK
Modern Mario makes the final boss easy to reach, while veterans get tricky coins, tough bonus levels, a secret post-game world and extra challenges. This shows optional hard content serving players beyond the target audience.
Modern Mario keeps the main path easy and layers optional challenge on top. Families and newcomers can reach the final boss, while veterans get tricky coins, tough bonus levels, a secret post-game world and extra challenges. One game serves both audiences without boring the hardcore players.
These optional challenges work as invisible difficulty settings. Insomniac took a similar approach in Spider-Man 2 with a harder swinging option. Mark Brown's takeaway: "options and bonus content can be used to make a game appealing to those who are more hardcore than the target audience."
More in Games
GamesNintendo
A Zelda adventure where Princess Zelda copies objects and monsters as echoes to solve puzzles and fight.
GamesThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Nintendo's long-running action-adventure series about Link exploring Hyrule, solving puzzles and fighting Ganon.
GamesDead Space
A major video game publisher and the guest's employer.
G
29 sources · 94 tipsMind Over Magnet
A puzzle platformer where you escape a factory using a magnet and a magnetic field.
GamesFar Cry 2
An open world action game where you recruit and play any of London's citizens.
GamesGod of War
A combat-focused action adventure game from Santa Monica Studio with Norse mythology and light puzzles.
Mind Over Magnet
Mark Brown's first game, a puzzle game he made while learning Unity.
GamesDishonored
A first-person stealth action game from Arkane with supernatural powers and the Clockwork Mansion level.