Great games run on three loops: micro, macro, and meta. A tight micro loop drives the feeling, a fitting macro loop shapes the journey, and a memorable meta loop gives it meaning.
Article: Designing with Loops: Why Your Game Isn’t Working Yet – The Design Lab Blog
While the MDA framework guides a game's tone and design decisions, the gameplay loop framework defines how the game plays, minute to minute. It suggests we think of a game as three loops that turn together.
The micro loop is the second-to-second core action the players repeat. It is the jump, the shot, the swap. Players spend about 60% of their playtime here. The designer must tune movement, inputs, timing, juice, and feedback until it leads to the mood they expected the players to feel.
The macro loop is the session-to-session objectives structure that unfolds over time. It delivers motivation and growth for the next hour. It can either be opening paths with upgrades, deepening choices through equipment enhancement, or resetting the session while progress remains in the player's knowledge.
The meta loop is the story, world, art, and identity that make actions matter. This layer creates most of the emotional impact and often carries the pitch.
Loops define how the game plays. When a project feels stuck, fix the loops before you add more content. Each loop must be satisfying in its own right while contributing to the larger goals.