What is a Mind Map?

A mind map is a visual brainstorming tool used to expand, connect, and organize ideas around a central concept. It’s nonlinear, fast, and system-friendly — making it ideal for early stages of game design, where exploration matters more than structure.

Think of it as a cognitive sandbox — where ideas grow into systems.

1️⃣ Definition

A mind map is a radial diagram that starts from a central node and branches outward into related concepts. It helps designers visualize relationships between mechanics, systems, or story components — before locking them into documents.

📍Mind maps are thinking tools, not specs. Use them to explore before you explain.

2️⃣ Why Mind Maps Matter in Game Design

Function	Benefit
Early ideation	Generate many ideas quickly, without hierarchy
System mapping	See how mechanics or content layers interconnect
Narrative planning	Visualize branching paths or emotional arcs
Feature breakdown	Turn abstract goals into actionable parts
Team alignment	Share the big picture before diving into details

📍A good mind map feels like zooming out on the whole game — and seeing how everything connects.

3️⃣ Core Structure

Element	Role
Central Node	Main theme or system (e.g. “Combat”, “Hub World”, “Player Progression”)
Branches	Major categories or subsystems (e.g. “Ranged”, “Melee”, “AI”)
Sub-branches	Specific mechanics, verbs, or content (e.g. “stamina cost”, “weapon tiers”)
Connections	Lines between nodes that highlight dependencies or synergy
Icons / Tags	Visual shorthand for priority, genre, risk, cost, etc.

📍Use branches for verbs, not nouns — “craft”, not “crafting table”.

4️⃣ Use Cases in Game Design

Game Concept Exploration

Central Node: Post-apocalyptic Hospital Survival

Branches: Exploration, Factions, Infection, Resources
Sub-branches: Procedural rooms, hunger loop, oxygen control

Mechanics Breakdown

Central Node: Combat

Melee → stamina, parry, weapon weight
Ranged → reload delay, ammo scarcity
AI → patrol zones, alert escalation

Narrative Structure

Central Node: Player Journey

Chapters → Characters → Emotional beats
Branches → Moral choices, flashbacks, twists

LiveOps Planning

Central Node: Event Calendar

Monthly Beats → XP boost, seasonal cosmetics, leaderboard resets

📍Mind maps are especially powerful when one node belongs to several systems — that’s where emergent design lives.

5️⃣ Tools for Building Mind Maps

Tool	Strength
Miro / Whimsical	Collaborative, clean, fast visual editing
MindMeister / XMind	Specialized for mind mapping logic
Figma (with plugins)	UI + structure in one space
Notion / Obsidian	Text-based maps with bidirectional linking
Whiteboard or paper	Great for solo or team ideation sprints

✅ Mind Map Design Checklist

Is the central node a system, theme, or goal, not a category?

Are branches verbs or actions, not just objects?

Do connections reveal dependencies or design loops?

Is it readable across disciplines (design, writing, tech)?

Can it evolve into a spec, flowchart, or feature doc later?

📍You don’t ship the mind map. You use it to find what’s worth shipping.

Summary

Term	Mind Map
What it is	A radial diagram used to explore and connect design ideas
Why it matters	Supports nonlinear thinking, system planning, and team clarity
What it’s used for	Concepts, mechanics, narrative arcs, LiveOps planning
Design goal	Enable creative expansion and systemic visualization

📍A mind map is the first shape your game takes — before the grid, before the prototype, before the doc. It’s where chaos meets structure — and turns into design.