Crimson Frontier Dev Diary #001: Our Vision

Crimson Frontier is a dynamic top-down shooter that we want to immerse players in a world of corporate intrigue, mercenary brotherhood, and ruthless battles. Our goal is to craft a game where tense combat, tactical variety, and a atmospheric world all come together.

In this developer diary, we share our vision of the gameplay loop, how we’re shaping the core mechanics, and what kind of experience we want to deliver.

Gameplay Loop

Crimson Frontier revolves around combat mechanics, character progression, and story. You play as Adam Crimson — a battle-hardened mercenary caught in the middle of an interstellar corporate conflict. His journey consists of intense firefights, tactical decision-making, and a search for truth.

Core gameplay elements:

Combat and Tactical Interaction:

• Weapons: A diverse arsenal, from pistols to devastating lasers.
• Abilities: 10 active skills, including traps, support drones, defensive fields, and grenades.
• Defense: Armor, exosuits, and cover systems to survive the chaos.
• Resource Management: Limited ammo, scavenging supplies, and adapting tactics on the fly.

Exploration and Environments:

• A wide array of locations — from orbital space stations to the wastelands of the planet Xinor.
• Secrets and alternate paths that influence gameplay.
• Interaction with NPCs for context, worldbuilding, and side missions.

Character Progression:

• Experience and leveling up to unlock new abilities and equipment modifications.
• Respec options to shift strategies on the go.
• Strengthening relationships with allies for greater resources and combat support.

Narrative and Moral Choice:

• A world at war, where players must choose their allegiance.
• The ending shaped by player decisions — will Xinor be free or stripped bare?
• Adam Crimson’s evolution through interaction and consequence.

Our Vision of Gameplay

Developer’s Perspective

We want the player to feel like they are in living, breathing world — one full of danger and opportunity. Every fight should be intense and tactical, and every decision must carry some weight. The player isn’t just mowing down enemies; they’re navigating a battlefield where positioning, timing, and clever use of tools matter. We aim to strike a careful balance between action and exploration to keep the gameplay constantly evolving and engaging.

Our design principles:

• Aggressive yet tactical gameplay. We avoid simple button-mashing in favor of encounters that reward awareness and adaptability.
• Enemy variety. Each enemy faction requires different strategies: robots are predictable, bandits are cunning and cruel, mutants are erratic and dangerous.
• Freedom of approach. Focus on ranged or melee, set traps, or combine tactics — your style, your rules.
• World interaction. Hidden caches, environmental storytelling, and alternate objectives enrich every location.

Player’s Perspective

We want the gameplay to feel like you’re starring in an action film from 80s-90s — every fight a spectacle of explosions, chaos, and pure adrenaline. Here’s how we imagine the player’s thoughts:

“I’m a mercenary. The contract’s clear: complete the mission at all costs. Weapon’s loaded. Deep breath. And then — an ambush! A trap right at the start? Fine. Let’s play rough. Grab the first gun I see — a pistol. Later I’ll find something stronger. There it is — a heavy blaster. Now enemies explode in showers of sparks.
Found some armor. Now I feel nearly invincible. Time to test my loadout: trap and grenade. Drop the trap, lure the enemies, dash back, and toss the grenade. BOOM! Just limbs and twisted metal left behind. Gotta upgrade the trap — keep ’em stuck longer. First boss! Huge and brutal. First attempt — ouch. Second — better. Third — down he goes. Level up! Respec time. Drone and bazooka this time. Let’s change the game.
New zone. Endless dunes and wide horizons. Wait — a vehicle? I can drive? Yes! I’m tearing through the sand, laughing like a madman. Then suddenly — a sandworm erupts! Alright, big guy. Let’s dance.”

That level of immersion — that’s our goal. We want the player to feel like part of this world, not just passing through it.

Final thoughts

Crimson Frontier is a game we’d love to play ourselves — fast-paced action, tactical depth in a morally complex world. Our mission is to ensure every battle feels exciting, every decision carries weight, and every playthrough brings something new.

Welcome to Crimson Frontier. Your suicide mission begins now.