Game Design
Practical advice for game creators, developers, and admins. Includes everything from considerations of game mechanics to player retention.
Latest posts
NukeFire MUD: a co-op text game inspired by pop culture
Hiro and Mo talk about building NukeFire from shared roots, keeping ahead of hungry players, and why the remort system is the game.
Inside Cryosphere: the satirical sci-fi space MUD
Long-time developer Morwen shares the origins of Cryosphere, the design decisions that shaped the game, and what's coming next.
Lumen et Umbra: re-imagining a world between light and shadow
Learn how Simone, AKA Niymiae, rebuilt the Italian game Lumen et Umbra from its Diku roots into a one-of-a-kind hack-n-slash MUD with ARPG influences.
Too many MUDs, not enough players?
We've all heard it, but is it true? And does that mean it's a lost cause to make a new MUD in 2025? Andruid shares her two cents.
GoMud: a lightweight engine for building text-based worlds
Volte6, creator of GoMud, talks about the new engine, what it's like to make a project open-source, and lessons learned along the way.
Federation 2 Community Edition: from hauling cargo to shaping the galaxy
Federation 2: Community Edition is a player-run revival of a space trading MUD. Jonathan (“Cosmo”) shares how it came back from the brink - and why it's still special 30+ years later.
LociTerm MUD client and the legacy of The Last Outpost
Discover how RahjIII built LociTerm - an accessible, browser-based MUD client - to keep The Last Outpost and other games playable on any device.
A picture worth a thousand rooms: the Worldmap project by Hades_Kane and Grieffels
Discover how Hades_Kane and Grieffels built a worldmap system that lets you quickly make areas from PNG files. Includes screen reader support!
3 Years of Writing Games: a look back
Compelling insights and key takeaways from the first year of interviews in a single post.
Text-based adventure games: from Zork to AI Dungeon
Learn about the history and evolution of text-based adventure games, from the classic Zork to the modern AI Dungeon platform.
How long should room descriptions be when building a MU*?
New MU* creators and builders often want to know how long their room descriptions should be. Find out in this post.
Making a MUD vs. creating a game: is there a difference?
So you're making a MUD: does that also make you a Game Creator? Is there a difference? Find out in this installment of Ask Andruid.
Shattered MU: beyond monsters and magic
Tat, creator of Shattered MU (a post-apoc game), talks about the importance of community and shares her guidelines for game design.
AresMUSH: the next-gen server platform
Faraday talks about why she created AresMUSH, as well as some of the core tenets that went into its development.
MU* Accessibility Week: 6 ways to take part
It's MU* Accessibility Week! Whether you're a staffer or player, there are ways to get involved and make a difference. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Evennia: a modern way to create MU*s
Learn about Evennia, the Python MU* creation system, from Griatch, the developer who's been working on the project for more than a decade.
The Network: only the finest quality programming
Clockwork, mastermind behind The Network MU, shares lessons learned from years of creating and running online roleplaying games.
Striking a balance: simulation vs. storytelling in text-based roleplaying games
Guest author Brandon Cross offers advice for MUD developers on how to use storytelling vs. simulation to create a more immersive game.
How game design drives investment, stakes, and conflict in roleplay-intensive (RPI) MUDs
Within the text-based gaming community, RPIs have a reputation for being toxic cesspools, but it doesn't have to be that way.
Silent Heaven: a supernatural horror MU*
Silent Heaven is a supernatural horror MU* known for its emphasis on story and its relatively non-toxic RP community.
![Data Privacy Week: 10 tips for safer gaming [2026]](https://writing-games.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Data-Privacy-Week_Featured.webp)
Data Privacy Week: 10 tips for safer gaming [2026]
It's Data Privacy Week! Learn why you should care and what you can do to protect yourself and your communities online.
MU* Staff Appreciation Day: 9 ways to say thanks
December 1st is MU* Staff Appreciation Day! Don't forget to say thank you to the hard-working staffers who make your favorite pastime possible.
Celebrating International MUD Day: 8 ideas
Learn what International MUD Day is and what it's all about. Plus, get ideas for celebrating the holiday with your friends.
EmpireMUD: a player-driven city-builder
Khufu shares his experiences building a screen reader-friendly map for his long-running map-based game: EmpireMUD.