With so much emphasis placed on graphics, it’s hard to think about anything else when shopping for a new game. As soon as we fire up our console, PC, or mobile device to play a new game, many of us are thinking about whether the graphics will live up to the hype. While there’s no question that graphics are important to a game, we should remember that the earliest video games were highly enjoyable, despite having very basic visuals. As counterintuitive as it may seem, graphics don’t make or break a game, and they certainly don’t guarantee you’ll have a good time playing it. Instead, a game’s core design elements must excel for a game to be truly great; here, we look at why.
Replayability and Player Freedom
When it comes down to it, gaming is supposed to be fun. One hallmark of a fun game is that gamers return to it again and again. Many casino games meet that description. Whether that means spinning the reels on a platform like wildz.com or hosting a poker night at home, these games have stood the test of time for good reason — no two playthroughs are the same. If you think back to some of your favorite titles, there’s a good chance they’re highly replayable.
Games that give players the freedom to make decisions also tend to keep players engaged over the long term. For example, Chrono Trigger features 13 different endings based on the choices a player makes during the game. Many players return to the title because they want to experience all of the endings. When developers design games in this way, they almost guarantee players will come back for more.
Engaging Gameplay Mechanics
You probably don’t spend much time thinking about a game’s mechanics when playing a title, and that’s exactly what makes a game great. On the other hand, if you’re having trouble mastering a game’s controls, pacing, or in-game systems, you’ll quickly realize just how important they are. The best games are intuitive. While there may be a learning curve, it makes sense and after a few playthroughs you understand how the game works.
Game mechanics are more than controls, though; they’re the rules and systems that define how you interact with a title. In gaming, Shigeru Miyamoto is a game designer known for prioritizing gameplay over storytelling. He does this because he believes that a game is defined by its controls, sound, rhythm, and pacing, even more so than the story. Titles like Super Mario Bros. combine innovative mechanics with intuitive controls and well-balanced challenges to create a rewarding gameplay experience.
Strong Storytelling and World-Building
When a game has an engrossing storyline, it draws a player in and makes them want to continue to play. That’s why games that emphasize the story and have basic graphics still experience a lot of success. One example is the Professor Layton series where the mystery takes center stage, but the graphics are simple and stylized and act more as a backdrop for the narrative. The Legend of Zelda is a game series that has been praised for its innovative 3D worlds, but also recognized for its advanced storytelling. This narrative is what gives context and meaning to the player’s actions and gets them to explore the gaming world.
Community and Social Aspects
For many modern gamers, it’s hard to believe that gaming was once a largely individual endeavor. That’s because so many of today’s games emphasize socializing with others. From multiplayer modes to cooperative gameplay and active online communities, a lot of gaming now revolves around social interaction. When a game goes right, it can become one of the greats, because it gives gamers a sense of belonging and shared purpose, something a lot of gamers want.
