K–6TechNest
Puzzle Game Logic
Problem-solving in games
Lars
OtisBefore you start
- Age band
- K–6
- Time
- 20–40 minutes
- Quest type
- Hanging Out
- Guardian
- Maris · Davis
- Materials needed
- Graph Paper Notebook
- The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses
- USB Game Controller
Why this skill rocks
It's like being a detective for games! You learn how to crack codes and solve tricky problems, making you super smart at figuring things out in any challenge.
2034Where this could take you
By 2034, you could be designing the next big Olympic-themed video game, creating complex escape rooms for visitors, or even developing new tech to solve real-world problems. Your brain will build worlds!
What You'll Need
Optional materials for this quest.
Graph Paper Notebook
RequiredPerfect for sketching puzzle layouts, mapping game states, and planning level designs by hand before coding anything. Grid paper makes it way easier to design spatial puzzles.
The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses
RequiredJesse Schell's book is the puzzle designer's bible. It breaks down why games feel fun using 100+ different "lenses" — perspectives you can apply to any mechanic you build. Readable, practical, genuinely useful.
USB Game Controller
Testing your puzzle game with a real controller gives you a totally different feel than keyboard-only. Catches design problems you'd never notice otherwise, and makes playtesting with friends way more natural.