A few worlds that shaped how I think about play.

• Resident Evil 4 Tension, pacing, a touch of absurdity

  Resident Evil 4

  What it meant to me

  Completely linear, yet I always knew what to do next. The action feels great, and the tension rises and falls so well I could never put it down.

  How it shaped my design

  Clear guidance keeps players in the flow. I try to shape a curve of pressure and release, with difficulty that keeps pulling you forward.

• Portal 2 Puzzles that teach without a word

  Portal 2

  What it meant to me

  A brilliant portal mechanic inside a world that tells its own story. The Aperture labs say more than any cutscene could.

  How it shaped my design

  It teaches one idea step by step, then keeps building on it. I want my mechanics to be learned by playing, not by reading.

• Death Stranding Lonely, yet somehow connected

  Death Stranding

  What it meant to me

  A bold, strange setting that blends game and film seamlessly. Even walking and delivering grow straight out of its world.

  How it shaped my design

  Setting and mechanics should explain each other. When the rules of play come from the world, every step carries meaning.

• The Walking Dead Choices that stay with you

  The Walking Dead

  What it meant to me

  First I was Lee, protecting Clementine. Later I became Clementine and watched her grow up. Every character pulled me in.

  How it shaped my design

  Switching who the player is lets them live one relationship from both sides. Characters are what give choices their weight.

• The Last of Us Part I The quietest moments hit hardest

  The Last of Us Part I

  What it meant to me

  Another linear journey I still remember vividly. The bond between Joel and Ellie carries the whole story.

  How it shaped my design

  A linear structure lets every story beat be placed with care. The quiet moments between fights are where players bond with characters.

• Breath of the Wild Free to wander, free to wonder

  Breath of the Wild

  What it meant to me

  A fantasy world that feels real, because it is built on rules from our own. Everything in it, its people included, feels connected.

  How it shaped my design

  Fantasy works best when grounded in reality. If the world behaves the way players expect, they believe in it and want to explore.