Games Deconstructed

@UCVW-tcQZOJLSiie0FdX7prQ - 5K subscribers

Hi there! I'm Simon, and I talk about how design decisions make similar games different, different games similar and, if I'm feeling especially ambitious, good games good. I might also tell you how knowledge of design elements can make you better at playing games. You can reach me at: [email protected] Hope you enjoy my videos and thanks for stopping by!

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How to Win the Sideboard War | Riftbound Fundamentals

How to Win the Sideboard War | Riftbound Fundamentals Games Deconstructed

4.3K views - 1 week ago

Riftbound Meta in Numbers - June 2026 (Post-Vancouver Era)

Riftbound Meta in Numbers - June 2026 (Post-Vancouver Era) Games Deconstructed

2.6K views - 3 weeks ago

Winning the Information Game | Riftbound Fundamentals

Winning the Information Game | Riftbound Fundamentals Games Deconstructed

4.6K views - 1 month ago

How Unleashed Changes Riftbound Deckbuilding, Statistically

How Unleashed Changes Riftbound Deckbuilding, Statistically Games Deconstructed

4.7K views - 1 month ago

Riftbound Meta in Numbers - May 2026 (Early Unleashed Era)

Riftbound Meta in Numbers - May 2026 (Early Unleashed Era) Games Deconstructed

4.5K views - 1 month ago

The Definitive Guide to Unleashed Set Mechanics | Riftbound

The Definitive Guide to Unleashed Set Mechanics | Riftbound Games Deconstructed

2.9K views - 2 months ago

Riftbound Meta in Numbers - April 2026 (Banlist Era)

Riftbound Meta in Numbers - April 2026 (Banlist Era) Games Deconstructed

2.6K views - 2 months ago

Riftbound's Purple Problem - Design and Player Psychology

Riftbound's Purple Problem - Design and Player Psychology Games Deconstructed

7.3K views - 3 months ago

Is There First Player Advantage in Riftbound Spiritforged, Scientifically?

Is There First Player Advantage in Riftbound Spiritforged, Scientifically? Games Deconstructed

6.2K views - 3 months ago

Riftbound Meta in Numbers - March 2026 (Post Bologna & Vegas)

Riftbound Meta in Numbers - March 2026 (Post Bologna & Vegas) Games Deconstructed

2.7K views - 3 months ago

Attending the Biggest Riftbound Tournament in Europe | Bologna Regional Tournament Report

Attending the Biggest Riftbound Tournament in Europe | Bologna Regional Tournament Report Games Deconstructed

1.7K views - 4 months ago

How Expensive Are Spiritforged Top Decks, Scientifically?

How Expensive Are Spiritforged Top Decks, Scientifically? Games Deconstructed

4.5K views - 4 months ago

Riftbound Meta in Numbers - February 2026 (Chinese Regional Era)

Riftbound Meta in Numbers - February 2026 (Chinese Regional Era) Games Deconstructed

6K views - 4 months ago

Which Spiritforged Pre-Rift Kit Has the Best Cards For Standard?

Which Spiritforged Pre-Rift Kit Has the Best Cards For Standard? Games Deconstructed

3K views - 5 months ago

This Spiritforged Mechanic Changes Riftbound

This Spiritforged Mechanic Changes Riftbound Games Deconstructed

3.4K views - 5 months ago

Riftbound Meta in Numbers - January 2026 (Draven Panic Era)

Riftbound Meta in Numbers - January 2026 (Draven Panic Era) Games Deconstructed

2K views - 5 months ago

What Are Good Stats In Riftbound, Mathematically?

What Are Good Stats In Riftbound, Mathematically? Games Deconstructed

3.1K views - 5 months ago

How Many 2 Drops Should You Play in Riftbound, Mathematically?

How Many 2 Drops Should You Play in Riftbound, Mathematically? Games Deconstructed

11K views - 6 months ago

Riftbound Meta in Numbers - December 2025 (Post-Houston)

Riftbound Meta in Numbers - December 2025 (Post-Houston) Games Deconstructed

4.5K views - 6 months ago

3 Decks You Should Play to Build Riftbound Skill

3 Decks You Should Play to Build Riftbound Skill Games Deconstructed

1.5K views - 6 months ago

Riftbound's Best Designed, Worst Explained Mechanic

Riftbound's Best Designed, Worst Explained Mechanic Games Deconstructed

7.6K views - 7 months ago

Is It Better to Go First in Riftbound, Scientifically?

Is It Better to Go First in Riftbound, Scientifically? Games Deconstructed

5.2K views - 7 months ago

How Do Top Riftbound Players Score Points, Mathematically?

How Do Top Riftbound Players Score Points, Mathematically? Games Deconstructed

17K views - 7 months ago

How Expensive Are Riftbound's Best Decks, Scientifically?

How Expensive Are Riftbound's Best Decks, Scientifically? Games Deconstructed

12K views - 8 months ago

The Genius Trick the MTG Manga Uses to Create Characters

The Genius Trick the MTG Manga Uses to Create Characters Games Deconstructed

862 views - 8 months ago

My Biggest Problem with MTG's Universes Beyond

My Biggest Problem with MTG's Universes Beyond Games Deconstructed

465 views - 9 months ago

Why These Card Games Don't Feel like Card Games

Why These Card Games Don't Feel like Card Games Games Deconstructed

808 views - 9 months ago

I Ran an 800+ Matches Pokemon TCG AI Tournament

I Ran an 800+ Matches Pokemon TCG AI Tournament Games Deconstructed

287 views - 10 months ago

Finding The 2nd Greatest Deck in All of Card Games

Finding The 2nd Greatest Deck in All of Card Games Games Deconstructed

602 views - 1 year ago

Is MTG Arena Rigged, Scientifically?

Is MTG Arena Rigged, Scientifically? Games Deconstructed

13K views - 1 year ago

Cards That Don't Die | Card Game Design

Cards That Don't Die | Card Game Design Games Deconstructed

1K views - 1 year ago

How Free-To-Play is Hearthstone, Scientifically?

How Free-To-Play is Hearthstone, Scientifically? Games Deconstructed

4K views - 1 year ago

How Free-To-Play is MTG Arena, Scientifically?

How Free-To-Play is MTG Arena, Scientifically? Games Deconstructed

41K views - 1 year ago

My Favourite Mechanic in Altered TCG

My Favourite Mechanic in Altered TCG Games Deconstructed

502 views - 1 year ago

Finding the Strongest Deck in All of Card Games

Finding the Strongest Deck in All of Card Games Games Deconstructed

53K views - 1 year ago

Why Is Mill Unfun? | Card Game Design Video Essay

Why Is Mill Unfun? | Card Game Design Video Essay Games Deconstructed

5.2K views - 1 year ago

Turn Enemies Into Cards In This Roguelike Deckbuilder | Blue Hunter

Turn Enemies Into Cards In This Roguelike Deckbuilder | Blue Hunter Games Deconstructed

216 views - 1 year ago

Magic The Gathering has a radicalization problem

Magic The Gathering has a radicalization problem Games Deconstructed

4.8K views - 1 year ago

The Grave Dangers of Graveyard Mechanics

The Grave Dangers of Graveyard Mechanics Games Deconstructed

1.2K views - 1 year ago

The Scale of MTGs Nadu Problem (in stats and data)

The Scale of MTGs Nadu Problem (in stats and data) Games Deconstructed

2.2K views - 1 year ago

Best Mechanic in Marvel's Midnight Suns

Best Mechanic in Marvel's Midnight Suns Games Deconstructed

408 views - 1 year ago

The Last Video On Power Creep You'll Watch

The Last Video On Power Creep You'll Watch Games Deconstructed

1.8K views - 2 years ago

The Best Mechanic in ScreenPlay CCG

The Best Mechanic in ScreenPlay CCG Games Deconstructed

1.2K views - 2 years ago

Are Random Effects Unfun? | Ft. Balatro

Are Random Effects Unfun? | Ft. Balatro Games Deconstructed

1.7K views - 2 years ago

Why Difficulty Divides Players

Why Difficulty Divides Players Games Deconstructed

528 views - 2 years ago

The Best Mechanic in Inscryption

The Best Mechanic in Inscryption Games Deconstructed

3.4K views - 2 years ago

Mechanics Exploration Games | ft. Book of Hours

Mechanics Exploration Games | ft. Book of Hours Games Deconstructed

1.3K views - 2 years ago

Cards with Weird Power and Toughness

Cards with Weird Power and Toughness Games Deconstructed

2.7K views - 2 years ago

You Too Can Analyze MTG Cards

You Too Can Analyze MTG Cards Games Deconstructed

407 views - 2 years ago

Are Cards Getting More Complex?

Are Cards Getting More Complex? Games Deconstructed

6.3K views - 2 years ago

The Platonic Ideal of an RPG Module (ft. One Night Strahd)

The Platonic Ideal of an RPG Module (ft. One Night Strahd) Games Deconstructed

725 views - 2 years ago

This Game Mechanic Makes You (Feel) Smart

This Game Mechanic Makes You (Feel) Smart Games Deconstructed

822 views - 2 years ago

Polish Man Perplexed by Card Game (Krzyżacy: Knights of the Cross)

Polish Man Perplexed by Card Game (Krzyżacy: Knights of the Cross) Games Deconstructed

253 views - 2 years ago

Hard or Soft? Are Magic Systems in Gaming Either? ft. Cultist Simulator

Hard or Soft? Are Magic Systems in Gaming Either? ft. Cultist Simulator Games Deconstructed

16K views - 2 years ago

Can Turn Based Games Be Fast Paced? (ft. Inkbound)

Can Turn Based Games Be Fast Paced? (ft. Inkbound) Games Deconstructed

896 views - 3 years ago

4 Indie Games That Stayed With Me

4 Indie Games That Stayed With Me Games Deconstructed

168 views - 3 years ago

What are Cozy Mysteries? | 5 Minute Genres

What are Cozy Mysteries? | 5 Minute Genres Games Deconstructed

329 views - 3 years ago

Unfun or Unavoidable: Removal Cards

Unfun or Unavoidable: Removal Cards Games Deconstructed

5.2K views - 3 years ago

Rethinking the Detective Experience in Video Games

Rethinking the Detective Experience in Video Games Games Deconstructed

2.6K views - 3 years ago

Capepunk Explained in 5 MINUTES | 5 Minute Genres

Capepunk Explained in 5 MINUTES | 5 Minute Genres Games Deconstructed

766 views - 3 years ago