Game duplicates

Item 3.6 of the Game Requirements

The game must not be a complete or partial copy of another game from the catalog, nor should it replicate another game by the same developer. If the published game is a sequel or another part of one of the games, it is accepted as separate only if there is a complete overhaul of the setting and/or game mechanics. In other cases, it is necessary to update the previous game by adding new content.

When assessing games for uniqueness, moderation takes into account four parameters:

Parameter	Description	Examples*
Core mechanics (main game mechanics)	Answers the question "How to play?" This is what the player does most often, and what determines how the game feels and works. If the game is completely identical, but differs only in mechanics, and the mechanics themselves do not create a feeling of an absolutely new gaming experience (clicker, puzzles, merge-falling, chat, test, etc.) — this is not considered a sufficient difference. If the game has additional mechanics and they significantly affect the gaming experience — this change relates to content. If they have little effect — they are not considered at all. Adding secondary mechanics or slightly modifying them is considered an insignificant change in the game if the gameplay has not changed in essence.	Platformers. Shooters. Puzzles. Card games. Stealth games. Simulators.
Content (game content, gaming experience)	Answers the questions "What's in it?", "What am I interacting with?", "What is the game filled with?" Everything that creates the gaming experience. The totality of all game elements that a player can interact with or see, hear, study, receive, experience. For new parts of the game, moderation looks at how different the content and game conditions are (content can set secondary mechanics: new character abilities, new traps, plot, etc.), and whether the volume of this content is sufficient to consider it new.	Plot and lore. Characters and their abilities. Locations, game levels, game field. Game elements: match-three pieces, items for merging, board cards, etc. Meta-gameplay: Additional progress beyond the core mechanics, for example, the development of a city or location. The presence of mechanics that affect the main content: development and acquisition of characters, weapons, bonuses in the game, battle passes (seasons). Retention mechanics: daily tasks, leagues, temporary activities, etc.
Design	Answers the question "How does it look?" Responsible for the image, atmosphere, and visual perception of the game world. Main parameters: Style (realism, cartoonish, pixel art, etc.). Technique and detail (2D, 3D, hand-drawn textures and photorealistic models, variety of models, etc.). Palette and atmosphere (predominant colors, while, for example, changing the level background is not considered sufficient).	Cuphead — retro cartoon style of the 30s. Journey — minimalism, light desert palette. Limbo — monochrome, shadows, anxious atmosphere. Borderlands — comic drawing with a clear outline. Genshin Impact — anime style, soft colors.
UI and UX	Answers the question "What and how does the player see and press?" UI — control and information elements that allow the player to receive information and control the game. UX — responsible for the player's convenience when interacting with the game. This is everything through which the user interacts with the game: Graphic design of windows and buttons. Ways to control the game. Auxiliary game tools. Transitions between windows.	Buttons and their placement. Menus, lists, inventory. Health, score, timer, hints, cursor. Map, quest log. Icons, loading screens.

* Examples are given for illustration and are not limited to those listed.

Moderation principle

To check if a game is a duplicate, use the table below:

🔴 — the parameter matches.
🟢 — the parameter differs sufficiently.

Duplicate

Not duplicate

Duplicate

Not duplicate

Mechanics

🔴

🟢

Content

🔴

🟢

🔴

🟢

Design

🔴

🟢

🔴

🟢

🔴

🟢

🔴

🟢

UI and UX

🔴

🟢

🔴

🟢

🔴

🟢

🔴

🟢

🔴

🟢

🔴

🟢

🔴

🟢

Download the scheme (PNG, 38.7 KB)

Alert

If a game is recognized as a duplicate, it:

will not pass moderation;
will not be allowed for further checks;
will be removed from publication.

Duplicates

Full duplicates

If games match on all parameters, they will not pass moderation.

Game 1	Game 2

🔴 Core mechanics match: you need to dodge attacks. 🔴 Content differs insignificantly and does not create a new gaming experience: only the characters and location have changed. 🔴 Design matches. 🔴 UI and UX match.

🔴 Core mechanics match: you need to throw knives at the right time. 🔴 Content differs insignificantly: the background and target skin have been changed. 🔴 Design matches. 🔴 UI and UX match.

🔴 Core mechanics match: GTA analog. 🔴 Content seems different at first glance, but upon closer inspection, the differences are insignificant. Only the location (the city has been slightly reworked, but the same assets were used) and the character (the character model is different, but it's a simple reskin, there are no other abilities, it doesn't create new gameplay possibilities) have changed. 🔴 Design matches. 🔴 UI and UX have been changed insignificantly (only the colors have changed).

🔴 Core mechanics match. 🔴 Content differs insignificantly: the skins of characters and falling items have changed. 🔴 Design matches. 🔴 UI and UX match.

🔴 Core mechanics match: merging. 🔴 Content differs insignificantly and does not create a new gaming experience: only the game elements (pieces) have changed, while the style has hardly changed. 🔴 Design matches. 🔴 UI and UX match.

Partial duplicates

If the content of the games does not differ qualitatively, the projects are considered duplicates and will not pass moderation.

Game 1	Game 2

🔴 Core mechanics match: you need to roll a ball and stop at the right time, avoiding obstacles. 🔴 Content differs insignificantly: only the levels have changed. 🔴 Design matches. 🟢 UI and UX differ: the interface has been reworked, and there are also differences in the main menu.

🔴 Core mechanics match: solitaire. 🔴 Content differs insignificantly: only the game elements (card backs, backgrounds) have been changed. 🔴 Design matches. 🟢 UI and UX differ: the interface has been reworked (buttons and font have been changed).

🟢 Core mechanics differ: the solitaires are different, each with its own rules. 🔴 Content matches. 🔴 Design matches. 🔴 UI and UX match.

Not duplicates

If the games and their content are significantly reworked, they will pass moderation.

Game 1	Game 2

🔴 Core mechanics match: shooter. 🟢 Content has been significantly reworked: the lore, locations, game elements (weapons, items, buildings) have changed. 🔴 Design matches. 🟢 UI and UX differ: the interface has been reworked, and there are also differences in the main menu.

🔴 Core mechanics match: physics puzzle. 🟢 Content differs: the characters and their abilities, levels, game elements (bonuses) have changed. 🟢 Design differs: different models. 🟢 UI and UX differ: different interface.

🔴 Core mechanics match: sandbox. 🟢 Content differs: locations, maps, lore, game elements (clothing, blocks, weapons) have changed. 🔴 Design matches: pixel art. 🔴 UI and UX have been changed insignificantly (only the colors have changed).

🟢 Core mechanics differ: platformer and billiards. 🟢 Content differs: different games. 🟢 Design differs: different games. 🔴 UI and UX match: identical buttons.

🟢 Core mechanics differ: basketball and volleyball. 🟢 Content differs: game elements (balls, bonuses), lore, locations have changed. 🔴 Design matches. 🔴 UI and UX match.

🔴 Core mechanics match: rhythm game. 🟢 Content differs: characters, locations, plot, and levels have changed. 🔴 Design matches. 🔴 UI and UX match.

🟢 Core mechanics differ: On the left, players throw swords, characters run automatically, picking up swords for repeated throws. On the right, players throw axes (there is only one attempt: the second axe appears only when both players miss), while the characters are static. 🟢 Content differs: characters (their abilities), locations, game elements have changed. 🔴 Design matches. 🔴 UI and UX match.

Contact moderation

If you believe your game is not a copy of another game and was unfairly removed from publication or not admitted to it by mistake — fill out the form below.

The Quality Control Service of moderation will re-examine the decision and restore the game if it was unjustly blocked.

Open the form

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