Actually, although the proof may be against these, pretty much all my rules are not very popular:
- NPCs are hard to get right, include less of them but make them worth it.
- Story comes after puzzles. That’s how my cookie crumbles.
- DEFINITELY make the game cruel. It’s more interesting that way.
- Randomisation? Obviously! Otherwise it becomes a follow-the-walkthrough-if-you-get-stuck kind of game with no brain involved. I usually end up becoming that kind of person.
… Hmm, that’s all of my rules for games really.