Explore deep analysis of in-game economies, player progression, crafting loops, and design balance.
Whether you’re prototyping your first game or tuning a live service system, BlogSE delivers insight you can use.
Start ReadingBlogSE is a blog for people who build games — and who think in systems. We publish in-depth breakdowns of gameplay mechanics, virtual economies, and progression models, all supported by theory, case studies, and practical tools. This isn’t a surface-level blog — it’s where designers go to study what makes systems work (or fail). Built for indie developers, balancing leads, and curious players who want to understand game architecture.
Currency design: soft vs. hard economies
XP scaling & reward pacing
Loot tables & drop balancing
Crafting logic and material sinks
Retention and engagement loops
Monetization architecture
Sandbox progression & tech trees
Player segmentation & economic segmentation
Designing Dual Currencies: Fairness vs. Friction
Why Your Tech Tree Isn’t Working
Crafting Systems That Actually Matter
The Lifecycle of a Loot Drop
Progression Systems: Linear, Spiral, or Hybrid?
We’ve reverse-engineered the systems behind some of the most successful (and flawed) games in the industry. Learn how live service games maintain balance — or how one sandbox mechanic broke an entire meta.
“Stardew Valley’s Item Sink System”
“Warframe’s Resource Loop Efficiency”
“The Fail State in Fallout 76’s Market”
“How Clash Royale Tuned Pacing in Real-Time PvP”
We offer free and premium downloads to help you apply what you read. Use our editable templates and system calculators in your own workflow Available Now:
Progression Curve Sheet (.xlsx)
Soft Currency Simulation Template
Retention Loop Map Generator
Quest Economy Tracker (F2P model)
We sit down with system designers, monetization analysts, and UX strategists from across the industry. These conversations go beyond “how” into the “why” behind every loop. Highlights:
Monetization without Exploitation – a fireside Q&A
Scaling Sandbox Design at Small Studios
Balancing for Fun vs. Revenue
Sandbox games promise freedom — but require the tightest systems. Our dedicated series looks at how to balance freedom with depth.
Emergent gameplay vs. systems entropy
The problem of resource inflation
How constraints unlock creativity
Get one email per month featuring our newest articles, upcoming tools, and exclusive design insights. No fluff, just frameworks.
Nico H. – Indie DeveloperAs a solo developer, balancing my in-game economy was overwhelming until I found BlogSE. Their breakdown of soft and hard currency systems gave me a framework I could apply immediately. I especially appreciated the spreadsheet templates — they weren’t just theory, they were usable tools. After implementing their retention loop model, my average session time increased noticeably. This is the kind of resource that bridges the gap between passion and polish.
Sasha V. – Senior Systems Designer (Mobile F2P)I’ve worked in mobile free-to-play games for years, and I rarely see content that speaks my language. BlogSE delivers analysis with real systems thinking. Their post on reward pacing vs. psychological friction made me rethink part of our daily login structure. It’s not just smart — it’s applied and structured like internal design docs. I’ve bookmarked at least five of their articles for my design team
Eli R. – Producer on an Early Access RPGWe were getting hammered by feedback about our crafting system being useless, and I stumbled on BlogSE’s article about resource sinks. It was like reading a diagnosis of our exact problem. I brought it into a team meeting, and we redesigned two systems by the end of the week. The results were immediate — players noticed. It’s rare to find a blog that can directly influence production like that.
Marina D. – UX & Progression ConsultantMost blogs either oversimplify or get lost in theory. BlogSE threads the needle by presenting clear diagrams, detailed breakdowns, and system logic that respects player psychology. Their content on milestone-based progression helped a client of mine rethink their reward cadence without increasing grind. If you're serious about designing experiences players come back to, this blog is a goldmine.
Luis P. – Game Design InstructorI’ve started assigning BlogSE articles to my game design students. The clarity of structure, relevance to real-world projects, and insight into live ops systems make it perfect for educational use. It helps my students think in terms of structure and systems, not just aesthetics or ideas. One of them used a sandbox design breakdown from BlogSE as the basis of their final project. That says everything.
Kay T. – Aspiring Live Ops DesignerAs someone trying to move into live operations, I’ve found BlogSE incredibly useful. Their layered approach to monetization mechanics helped me understand how revenue goals and player trust can coexist. The dev interviews also gave me perspective on how teams think through systems holistically. It’s now my go-to resource when building documentation for mock projects and applying for design internships.
Want to collaborate, pitch an article, or inquire about partnerships? Reach out anytime. We’re open to guest writers, professional interviews, and resource exchanges.
BlogSE is operated by BlogSE Systems Analysis LLC
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