Scratching an Itch

Ivan Zivanovic
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The psychology of game design, one itch.io game at a time. I play indie games I actually like and explain why they're fun. I'm a psychologist and a game designer, so I also point out what you can use in your own games. Episodes are about 10 minutes. zivanovic.substack.com

  1. Jun 19

    #30 Satisfaction escalation

    Idle Breakout by Kodiqi is an idle version of the classic breakout. It’s a fun game although there isn’t much to learn, which goes a little against Raph Koster’s theory of fun. Still, I spent a considerable amount of time playing even after “mastering” all there is to the game (circa 30 minutes). This game builds on something fundamental: a tight action-outcome loop with guaranteed success, something inherently satisfying; in this case, click to break bricks. So we keep repeating it until it gets boring, and then try to find new ways to escalate the satisfying thing in the hopes of creating the same satisfaction. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit zivanovic.substack.com

  2. Jun 10

    #29 Nethack

    Nethack is one of the defining roguelikes. I talk a bit about what it is really about from a subjective experience and compare it a bit to Hades, one the current roguelike poster-children. One of the differences, which I think is very important, is how they represent progress between runs: Nethack doesn’t represent it at all, whereas Hades has both upgrades for your character as well as narrative elements that get elaborated as you play the game. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit zivanovic.substack.com

    #29 Nethack

  3. May 29

    #28 Doki Doki Literature Club

    Doki Doki Literature Club by Team Salvato is perhaps the most famous visual novel dating sim game out there because there’s a big twist. I liked both the dating sim AND the twist! The dating aspect is operationalized as poem-writing, where you have to show that you understand the girl you want to get closer to by picking the words she would like. I thought that was really neat. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit zivanovic.substack.com

  4. Mar 30

    #27 How a puzzle game became a roguelike

    Dice of Dusk by Kultisti is a puzzle roguelike game. It has random generated puzzles, progression, and builds! It also has a timer to create pressure, and one thing I forgot to mention in the episode is that this has another amazing side effect: “easy” levels become challenging in that you are trying to solve them as fast as possible to bank time for future stages. Good design serves two purposes at once. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit zivanovic.substack.com

  5. Mar 29

    #26 Star Realms vs Ascension

    Star Realms has player life; Ascension has a victory point pool. Both games have the core mechanic of buying cards from the center row to build your deck in a play session. However, they feel completely different. Yesterday, I talked about how that decision for the victory condition changed mechanics, and today I’m using the theory of constructed emotion to explain how that changes perception and therefore emotional experiences. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit zivanovic.substack.com

    #26 Star Realms vs Ascension

  6. Mar 28

    #25 Star Realms

    Star Realms by White Wizard Games is a deckbuilding game just like Ascension. However, unlike Ascension, Star Realms is a confrontational game, where the goal is to deplete the other player’s authority. This results in some huge mechanical and emotional differences for the same core mechanic. In this first of a two part series, I talk about the mechanical changes the win-condition results in. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit zivanovic.substack.com

  7. Mar 27

    #24 Why is drafting so fun?

    Draftula by Jose Pacio is a tile-placing and drafting game. It’s a very fun game that made me realize why drafting has become a widely adopted progression mechanic for games. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit zivanovic.substack.com

  8. Mar 26

    #23 Ascension: Deckbuilding Game

    Ascension by Stoneblade Entertainment is one of the seminal deckbuilding games. I’ve played it a lot recently and in this episode I talk about why I like the honor point pool and how I think it allows for adjustable challenge. I also briefly talk about why I think this game can easily become “a daily ritual game”. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit zivanovic.substack.com

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About

The psychology of game design, one itch.io game at a time. I play indie games I actually like and explain why they're fun. I'm a psychologist and a game designer, so I also point out what you can use in your own games. Episodes are about 10 minutes. zivanovic.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Ivan Zivanovic
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Ivan
  • Show Website
    Scratching an Itch