Roguelike Radio Roguelike Radio ep 167: Designing for Mastery, with Josh Ge
Aug 22, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Josh Ge, known as Kyzrati, reflects on a decade of developing Cogmind. He shares insights into mastering game design amidst intense industry competition. The conversation dives into the evolution of roguelike gaming, balancing complexity for both veterans and newcomers. Josh analyzes player engagement trends and the significance of mastery through innovative mechanics. He also discusses design challenges and community dynamics, emphasizing how player feedback shapes the gaming experience.
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Decade Of Ongoing Development
- Josh Ge has worked on CogMind full-time for about a decade and kept expanding it rather than finishing it quickly.
- He recently added the game's 10th ending and streams gameplay while interacting with the community.
Meta-First Design Approach
- Designing for mastery requires thinking about the meta and balancing systems, not isolated features.
- Josh focused on widening the game with alternative and extended endings rather than making runs longer.
Mix RNG With Predictable Landmarks
- Provide predictable elements alongside RNG so skilled players can plan and exercise meta knowledge.
- Use partially fixed locations to let players prepare for and exploit repeatable opportunities.