The 50th edition of our Hidden Gems of Game Design series is now live! Big thanks to @gwbycer.bsky.social, @launchcannon.bsky.social, CJ Wilson, and Terence A for their contributions. This edition features: Addams Family Values, Wipeout 3, DoDonPachi, Carmageddon, and Chicken Little.

Hidden Gems of Game Design Vol 50

Unearthing Addams Family Values, Wipeout 3, DoDonPachi, Carmageddon, and Chicken Little

superjumpmagazine.com

"It is a story about life and demonstrates our connection to the universe using its medium to showcase what we all instinctively do and feel." Story by Geordi Ferguson. #Cocoon #IndieGames #Art

Cocoon: Metamorphosis and Renewal

Tracking instinct and ancient beliefs through a journey of our planet's great keepers

superjumpmagazine.com

"Fantasy was a niche interest there until the 1980s. When it was ready for the big stage, Japanese developers ignored some of the well-established tropes of the fantasy genre to create something distinctive." Story by @stephlepht.bsky.social. #RPG #GamingHistory

The Unusual Rise of Fantasy RPGs in Japan

Unlike in the West, developers in Japan had to unearth a new love for a niche genre

superjumpmagazine.com

"Every kill shot ends one tragedy, only to begin another — with ramifications far beyond the confines of the mansion’s forest fortress." Story by Adam Meadows. #ResidentEvil #Horror

The Untold Tragedies of Classic Resident Evil

Its true horror lies at the edge of our imagination, beyond zombies and monsters

superjumpmagazine.com

SUPERJUMP Monthly is back (belatedly!) This month we bring you #Pokemon TCG tips, discuss the rise of digital third spaces, and so much more. ➡️ https://www.superjumpmagazine.com/building-a-competitive-pokemon-tcg-deck-digital-third-spaces-and-musings-on-yakuza/

Building a Competitive Pokemon TCG Deck, Digital Third Spaces, and Musings on Yakuza

June 2026 edition

superjumpmagazine.com

Here's what our team at SUPERJUMP is playing! Story by Bryan Finck, Rachel Alm, Alexander Joy, Ben Rowan, and Nathan Kelly. ➡️ https://www.superjumpmagazine.com/now-playing-at-superjump-issue-42/

Now Playing at SUPERJUMP, Issue 42

What are you playing?

superjumpmagazine.com

"The freedom, collectability, and preservation of the medium are at stake." Story by Brandon R. Chinn. ➡️ https://www.superjumpmagazine.com/we-need-physical-video-games/

We Need Physical Video Games

Physical means more than just a disc or cartridge

superjumpmagazine.com

SUPERJUMP@superjumpmagazine.com · 4mo ago

"Every piece of art is recontextualized through every person engaging with it" Story by Guilherme Alves ➡️ https://www.superjumpmagazine.com/shadow-labyrinth-wont-be-consumed/

How a century of corporate DNA shapes Nintendo and Sony's differing approaches to physical media today. Story by Shun Takata. ➡️ https://www.superjumpmagazine.com/the-ghost-of-shoshinkai/

Sony Ends Discs in 2028. Why Nintendo Won't Follow.

How a century of corporate DNA shapes Nintendo and Sony's differing approaches to physical media today

superjumpmagazine.com

"A little bit of time, effort, and luck provides the opportunity for a story to grow." Story by PJ Walerysiak. ➡️ https://www.superjumpmagazine.com/rolling-a-natural-one-shot/

Rolling a Natural One-Shot

Roll the dice

superjumpmagazine.com

The LONGING is an idle game that can be so much more. Story by Gentle Zacharias. ➡️ https://www.superjumpmagazine.com/i-love-your-longing/

I Love Your Longing

The pleasures of being alone

superjumpmagazine.com

"This odd little GBC cartridge represents one of handheld gaming’s most unintentionally fascinating packages." Story by Alexander Joy. ➡️ https://www.superjumpmagazine.com/discovering-the-strangest-high-score-system-in-gaming/

Discovering the Strangest High Score System in Gaming

Unintentional art in a clear cartridge

superjumpmagazine.com

"You certainly won’t regret blitzing through this blocky adventure." Review by Benjamin Macready. ➡️ https://www.superjumpmagazine.com/demon-lord-just-a-block-review/

Demon Lord: Just a Block Review

It's your chance to be the villain and get revenge on the heroes

superjumpmagazine.com

"Going fast doesn’t mean missing life; it means helping others enjoy it." Story by Priya Sridhar. ➡️ https://www.superjumpmagazine.com/growing-up-with-sonic-the-hedgehog/

Growing Up With Sonic the Hedgehog

Taking stock of The Blue Blur's life

superjumpmagazine.com

The conclusion to Shin Takata's epic series on the #Nintendo DNA, its transformative power, and ongoing legacy. ➡️ https://www.superjumpmagazine.com/the-100-yen-democracy-the-gift-of-courage/

The 100-Yen Democracy: What Mario Gave Us

A single coin, a red hat, and the courage to try one more time

superjumpmagazine.com

A solo game developer explores what elegance means to their craft. Story by Thomas Dimnet. ➡️ https://www.superjumpmagazine.com/what-does-elegance-mean-in-game-design/

What Does Elegance Mean in Game Design?

Exploring elegance in game design

superjumpmagazine.com

Our team is back with more hidden gems. In this edition, we feature Tache Noire, KIBORG: Arena, Crazy Taxi: Catch a Ride, and The Island of Doctor Morose. Story by Josh Bycer, Ben Rowan, Anonymous, and Priya Sridhar. ➡️ https://www.superjumpmagazine.com/hidden-gems-of-game-design-vol-49/

Hidden Gems of Game Design Vol 49

Unearthing Tache Noire, KIBORG: Arena, Crazy Taxi: Catch a Ride, and The Island of Doctor Morose.

superjumpmagazine.com

Ubisoft's pursuit of ubiquity for its IP has harmed the player's experience, as Star Wars Outlaws sadly demonstrates. Story by Jack Bray. ➡️ https://www.superjumpmagazine.com/star-wars-outlaws-and-the-ubisoft-problem/

Star Wars Outlaws and the Ubisoft Problem

Villainy of another sort

superjumpmagazine.com

Learn how to get started with the randomizer challenges in the original Jak & Daxter game. Story by Nathan Kelly. ➡️ https://www.superjumpmagazine.com/jak-daxter-randomized/

Jak & Daxter: Randomized

Living a random life

superjumpmagazine.com

"Dumpster Baby shows the liberation that Bandit finds in his community." Story by Priya Sridhar. ➡️ https://www.superjumpmagazine.com/dumpster-baby-finding-hope-in-community/

Dumpster Baby - Finding Hope in Community

Get by with a little help from your friends

superjumpmagazine.com

"Today, more than ever, it's important to figure out how to establish yourself and your studio beyond just your games." Story by Josh Bycer. ➡️ https://www.superjumpmagazine.com/american-mcgee-on-plushie-dreadful-dreadful-land-and-building-a-brand/

American McGee Interview: Dreadful Land, Plushie Dreadful

From Plushie Dreadful to Dreadful Land — how a developer's aesthetic became a business

superjumpmagazine.com

How indie developers can avoid ruining their game before it's even released. Story by Josh Bycer. ➡️ https://www.superjumpmagazine.com/50-ways-to-ruin-your-indie-game-and-how-to-avoid-them/

50 Ways to Ruin Your Indie Game — Avoid These Mistakes

Fifty hard-won lessons from years of watching indie games stumble — and the pitfalls you can sidestep on your way to launch

superjumpmagazine.com

Will you find your next gaming obsession among the titles we're playing this month? Story by Bryan Finck, Jahan Khan, Jake Lang, Ben Rowan, and Nathan Kelly. ➡️ https://www.superjumpmagazine.com/now-playing-at-superjump-issue-41/

Now Playing at SUPERJUMP, Issue 41

What are you playing?

superjumpmagazine.com

"Pokémon is at its best when it invites you to rediscover its world." Story by Jahanzeb Khan. ➡️ https://www.superjumpmagazine.com/renewing-the-novelty-of-pokemon/

Renewing the Novelty of Pokémon

Exploring The Pokemon Company's roster of unique games that brought new perspectives to the series

superjumpmagazine.com

"With hundreds of moves, complex motion inputs, and countless layers of strategical depth filled with knowledge checks, it can be hard for new players to even develop the basic understanding needed in these games to start having fun." #GameDesign #FightingGames Story by Adrian Ma.

Is the Execution Barrier of Fighting Games Too High?

Why newcomers struggle with the fighting games and how we can make them more accessible

superjumpmagazine.com

"Choice-driven games are, by their nature, bold and ambitious. When done right, they reward their players with the feeling of a story that is truly theirs." Story by @catbussell.bsky.social.

Endings in Choice-Driven Games: How to Get Them Right

Every path has its destination, but some roads are more rewarding than others

superjumpmagazine.com

The Among Us TV pilot pays homage to the game and the murder mystery genre. Story by Priya Sridhar. ➡️ https://www.superjumpmagazine.com/among-us-animated-pilot-shows-a-capitalist-nightmare/

Among Us Animated Pilot Shows a Capitalist Nightmare

Whodunit?

superjumpmagazine.com

"If there's one thing I've taken from all this, it's that finishing something changes how you see yourself as a maker." Story by Thomas Dimnet. ➡️ https://www.superjumpmagazine.com/a-view-from-the-other-side-of-the-screen/

A View from the Other Side of the Screen

A game development journey

superjumpmagazine.com

"On Mario as everyman, the "It's You" philosophy at the heart of Nintendo, and a warning about what gradual passing of gaming democracy." Story by Shun Takata. ➡️ https://www.superjumpmagazine.com/the-100-yen-democracy-part-ii-the-hero-with-a-thousand-faces/

The 100-Yen Democracy: The Hero with a Thousand Faces

On Mario as everyman, the "It's You" philosophy at the heart of Nintendo, and a warning about what gradual passing of gaming democracy

superjumpmagazine.com

Profiling game designer and composer Laura Shigihara. Story by Priya Sridhar. ➡️ https://www.superjumpmagazine.com/the-musical-magic-of-laura-shigihara/

Laura Shigihara: The Composer Who Breaks Hearts

I'm with you in the dark

superjumpmagazine.com