EP10: Return of the Obra Dinn - Games Every Designer Should Play

Welcome to Episode 10 of 'Games Every Designer Should Play,' the podcast that explores the world of game design by analysing some of the greatest games of all time. Join experienced Game Design lecturers Stuart Lilford, Adrian Mills, and David Grant as they dive into Return of the Obra Dinn—a genre-defying deduction game that puts players in the role of a 19th-century insurance investigator aboard a ghost ship.

Spoiler alert for The Game! 🚨 We STRONGLY advise you to play before listening.

In this episode, we talk about Return of the Obra Dinn's distinctive and effective soundtrack, how the game’s tight constraints (from visuals to location to mechanics) actually enhance creativity, and how the deductive gameplay allows for multiple valid paths to a solution. We also explored how the game masterfully manufactures “aha!” moments—rewarding players not through traditional level progression, but through the satisfaction of piecing together a mystery on their own.

On the critical side, we questioned whether the story itself delivers a meaningful emotional payoff, and debated whether the non-linear structure enhances or weakens the overall narrative impact. Does the fragmented timeline add intrigue, or does it distance the player from the characters and events?

Featuring feedback from listeners and the verdict: Is Return of the Obra Dinn a must-play for every designer?

📧 Email us your comments or questions on the game discussed in the next episode at [e-mail] 

It's Adrian's turn to choose the game we must play for the next episode. Will it be beloved by all or could it be controversial? You'll have to listen to the end to find out! 👀

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=== CREDITS ===

Music by Vasil Trofimov from Pixabay.

Sound Effects by floraphonic from Pixabay.