What is 1PGD?
The 1 Page Game Design (1PGD) Canvas is a framework for designing mobile games โ or any experience with game-like qualities โ on a single page. It was created by Nalin Sharma and first presented publicly in 2015.
The Canvas distils the key elements of a successful game into a visual one-page model. Starting from the Repeatable Scalable Mechanic (RSM) at the centre, it radiates outward through sensory design, player journey, emotional engagement, and commercial growth.
The Canvas v1.0 (2026 Update)
This Explorer presents Canvas v1.0 โ an update incorporating a decade of mobile games evolution since the original 2015 deck. Eight targeted improvements were made:
Sensory Frame โ Renamed from "Idea", with four explicit sub-zones (See, Control, Hear, Create)
Growth Ring โ Promoted acquisition/retention to a dedicated outer layer
Monetisation โ Added dedicated monetisation box next to Emotions
Ethics & Wellbeing โ Added as counterweight to dark-pattern risks
The 20 Games
Games were selected to cover every major mobile genre, with diversity across publishers, eras, and revenue/download evidence. Combined they represent over 47 billion downloads and $58 billion in revenue.
Licence
The 1PGD Canvas and Explorer content is available under Creative Commons Attribution โ No Derivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-ND 4.0).
You are free to share the canvas and Explorer for any purpose, including commercial workshops, provided you give attribution and do not create derivative works.
Download the Canvas
Download the 1PGD Canvas as a PDF to use in your own workshops, pitches, and design sessions.
โ Download Canvas PDF
Contact
Created by Nalin Sharma / Video Mind Games Ltd.
www.1pgd.com