Game Designer & Systems Expert
Hi, I'm Denis. I design games and balance systems.
From games with pebbles on the beach to balancing economies for millions of players — I help studios create fair, engaging, and deeply satisfying game experiences.
About Me
From MENSA member to Lead Game Designer
I'm the founder of Ananas, a small team of four creating balanced game systems. With a mathematics background and experience leading design on projects like OctoWars (500+ unique cards), I bring analytical precision to creative game design.
My first published game, Sneaky Snakes, is now sold in hundreds of stores across Croatia. I also work with clients like FabuLingua, applying gamification to language learning for kids.
What I Do
Game Design & Systems Expertise
Power balance
Adjust mechanics, stats, and progression curves to ensure competitive integrity and enjoyable pacing. Identify exploits, flatten difficulty spikes, and define meta boundaries.
Meta Engineering
Analyze dominant strategies, counterplay, and system interactions to define a healthy meta. Support diverse playstyles while preventing stagnation or overcentralization in high-level play.
Progression Systems
Design leveling, skill trees, unlocks, and pacing to match the game’s tone and player expectations. Balance grind, rewards, and variety across short and long sessions
Economy Design
Define how players earn, spend, and value resources. Balance sinks and sources to support multiple playstyles, progression goals, and monetization (if applicable).
And more...
Explore additional expertise areas →.
Client Feedback
What People Say
"Great! Denis is highly knowledgeable about game economy calculations. He executes his tasks efficiently and provides clear explanations for every aspect of his work."
" "Great! Denis is highly knowledgeable about game economy calculations. He executes his tasks efficiently and provides clear explanations for every aspect of his work.", "
"Denis is just amazing to work with. He is very smart, has good ideas and is critical but curious and open minded"
" His clear communication and deep understanding of game design principles made the collaboration a seamless and highly productive experience. He is highly personable, has a great personality, and is very easy to work with."
From the Blog
Game Design Insights
Test
Jul 2025test
The Tragedy of the Commons – Game Design Lessons from a Shared Pond
Jul 2025Explores how the tragedy of the commons can be used in game design to create tension between personal gain and collective survival. Through shared resource systems, games can simulate environmental collapse, ethical dilemmas, and emergent player behavior with long-term consequences
Quick Skill Checks – Making Small Actions Feel Big
Jul 2025Explores how quick skill checks—short, timing-based interactions—can turn simple in-game actions into engaging moments. Often used in fishing, crafting, or stealth, these mechanics add tension, reward mastery, and keep gameplay interactive without adding complexity. Learn how developers use brief button presses and minimal UI to make small actions feel meaningful.
Zero-Player Games: When Systems Play Themselves
Jul 2025Explore the fascinating world of zero-player games—games that run entirely on their own without player input. This post dives into how these systems-driven experiences like Conway’s Game of Life and Cookie Clicker function, why they’re engaging, and what makes them stand out in game design. From emergent storytelling to meditative simulation, discover how 0PGs turn observation into a form of play.
Portfolio
Recent Projects
🎮 FabuLingua
LiveLanguage Learning Adventure for Kids. Story-driven mobile learning game that teaches Spanish to children through interactive adventures, mini-games, and reward-based progression.
🎮 Taliara’s Rise
DevelopmentA narrative-driven, midcore board strategy game where players roll mystical dice to expand territory, unlock story arcs, and compete across faction-based realms.
🏀 Scorestars
LiveDigital Basketball Fantasy x Collectible Card Platform
🥾 Stompers
Live-Competitive step tracking game where daily movement becomes a social leaderboard battle.
Let's Work Together
Need balanced game systems that players love?
Whether you're building a new game from scratch or need to fix an existing economy, I can help. From card games to apps, I bring mathematical precision and creative design thinking.