Most game design tutorials I find are actually programming tutorials in disguise. They teach you how to code a specific mechanic but don't really teach game design principles. I want to learn about things like game balance, player psychology, level design, and narrative design. Are there any good game design tutorials that focus on the design aspects rather than just the implementation? I'm looking for resources that help you think like a game designer, not just a programmer.
Check out the YouTube channel 'Game Maker's Toolkit'. It's all about game design analysis rather than implementation. Mark Brown breaks down game mechanics, level design, and player psychology in a way that's accessible but deep. It won't teach you to code, but it will teach you to think like a game designer.
The book 'The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses' by Jesse Schell is fantastic for learning design thinking. It presents game design as a series of 'lenses' through which to view your game. It's not a tutorial in the traditional sense, but it will fundamentally change how you think about game design. Pair it with practical implementation tutorials for the best results.
I've been enjoying the 'Design Club' YouTube channel. They do deep dives into specific game mechanics and design patterns. What I like is that they often compare how different games implement the same mechanic, which helps you understand the design choices behind implementation details.
Try analyzing existing games as a learning exercise. Pick a game you like and try to reverse engineer its design. Why does this mechanic feel good? How does the tutorial level teach controls? How is difficulty balanced? This kind of critical analysis is more valuable than following tutorials because it develops your design intuition.