Designing Rewarding Power‑ups

Power‑ups create micro‑goals. The player stays because a small reward is always just one good move away.

• Shield: a clear “second chance”. Players experiment more, increasing skill.
• Slow‑time: turns chaos into clarity, ideal when difficulty spikes.
• Multipliers: reward streaks and focus. Time‑box them (10–20s) for drama.

Balance tip: spawn rates should follow a gentle curve—slightly rarer as the score climbs—to maintain tension without feeling unfair.