2026-07-07 · designer-study
Inside Zach Gage's Philosophy — Rebuilding Games You Already Know
A study of Zach Gage (SpellTower, Really Bad Chess, Good Sudoku, Puzzmo) drawn strictly from his own interviews: the design philosophy of rebuilding familiar classics; the graphic-design ‘three reads’ and hands-on prototyping; his habit of diving into genres he dislikes; his ethics against infinite engagement and his handling of chance; and influences from his mother's newspaper to Spelunky to Sid Meier as a foil. It closes with one paragraph reading him as a conceptual artist who left the gallery.