Discussion Gaming fans: What makes you happy in a game?

[Forever Sleep]

Are there general things? A beautiful landscape/ graphics, achieving a goal/ beating a boss? Any special moments you remember?

I think in a couple of city building type games I've played, if you put down items your sims liked, all these smiley faces would appear! I think they cheered sometimes too. I think that may have happened in a Jurassic Park game. They were particularly happy when I hatched a Brontosaurus. (Not me personally.) I'd be happy to see a Brontosaurus I think too. So, I like it when my sims are happy.

How about you? Any moments stand out?

 

[DivineSpark]

I wanna play games and enjoy them as I did when I was teen, but nowadays I cannot focus and I am struggling with anhedonia which ruins gaming pleasure.

 

[SecretDissociation]

Hella quests and a thousand things to collect! I like completing games as much as I can (which is why gacha games are so bad for me ugh- but i love them). I play the zelda games and the new ones (botw&totk) had me collecting all the clothes and outfits and power's and completing all the quests. The only thing I didn't collect are the korok seeds...

And another thing that brings me joy is beautiful scenery and beautiful cut scenes!!

 

[Forever Sleep]

I wanna play games and enjoy them as I did when I was teen, but nowadays I cannot focus and I am struggling with anhedonia which ruins gaming pleasure.

I know what you mean. I think there was something more magical about playing them when I was young. I used to get so excited buying a new game. Now, I just kind of hope I can find something engaging enough to get lost in.

There was a pretty interesting YouTube video I saw the other day on why we may struggle to enjoy games as adults. It ran through issues with the games and industry itself.

Games are so much more complicated now too so- sometimes thinking we will have to learn a whole set of commands can be kind of daunting and seem more like a chore. Arrr, the 'good ol' days' when we only needed to run and jump!

It's costly too. Do you go for subscription services? That can be cool to sample a whole range. Funny really. I always wanted to buy 'Hello Neighbour' but, when I finally tried it on Game Pass, I really didn't enjoy it. It's horrible though, to lose interest in things that used to be good.

 

[DivineSpark]

I know what you mean. I think there was something more magical about playing them when I was young. I used to get so excited buying a new game. Now, I just kind of hope I can find something engaging enough to get lost in.

There was a pretty interesting YouTube video I saw the other day on why we may struggle to enjoy games as adults. It ran through issues with the games and industry itself.

Games are so much more complicated now too so- sometimes thinking we will have to learn a whole set of commands can be kind of daunting and seem more like a chore. Arrr, the 'good ol' days' when we only needed to run and jump!

It's costly too. Do you go for subscription services? That can be cool to sample a whole range. Funny really. I always wanted to buy 'Hello Neighbour' but, when I finally tried it on Game Pass, I really didn't enjoy it. It's horrible though, to lose interest in things that used to be good.

I still remember getting zelda ocarina of time from santa during christmass. I have such sweet memories about it and I collected all heart pieces! I wasnt fucked up like I am now at that time. I actually could enjoy my life.

 

[Forever Sleep]

I still remember getting zelda ocarina of time from santa during christmass. I have such sweet memories about it and I collected all heart pieces! I wasnt fucked up like I am now at that time. I actually could enjoy my life.

I had a handheld Zelda game. I wonder if I still have it in the loft or something, they're worth a fair bit now. Funny what we were happy with back then...

35 Years Ago, Nintendo Released the First Handheld Zelda Game (It's Not the One You Think)

This 1989 Zelda title a pocketful of potential that influenced some of Nintendo's most innovative hardware for decades to come.

www.inverse.com

 

[Subhumano]

I like it when they work, and when cool things happen.
The last game that made me trully happy was Shadow Generations.

 

[Rynalia]

Assuming anhedonia isn't sapping the beauty out of everything...

I like games with a real good soundtrack-- it doesn't have to be any particular style of music, but sometimes I can't even bring myself to play a game much due to anhedonia so listening to it is the best I can do.

Good gameplay direction is also pretty important. It doesn't need to be complex, but it needs to feel good to play.

For RPGs, the lore and lots of worldbuilding is absolutely important. If it sends my brain into a frenzy thinking about it, it gets my seal of approval. Nothing sucks more than an empty world that has nothing going for it.

For combat centered games (and by extension MMORPG raids)... Give me brutal difficulty. Make every fight worth it. Make victory taste sickeningly sweet.

Honestly I could probably keep going on and on /shrug

 

[SVEN]

Winning ... it would be ever such a novelty.

 

[Anonymousa]

It will mostly depend on the game and its genre but to me a good game generally needs variety in how it uses its game mechanics so it doesn't become too repetitive. It also having game mechanics that are unique to it or how it uses those mechanics in a different way is needed so the game can feel unique from things I have already played. However if the game lacks these components it really needs to have a interesting world/characters/story and a good atmosphere to make me want to play it.

Games that have exploration can be really fun in having choice in how and where you want to go about areas but I prefer them to not be fully open world so it doesn't feel empty. Game that have choice in what strategy and items you can use can be interesting and increase replay value and variety in gameplay but the different things you can use need to feel unique from each other and not have too many of the same stuff so it doesn't feel like there are a bunch of meaningless options. More linear games without much choice can be just as fun as the developer has more control over the experience and so its more able to be refined better.

I can particular like very difficult games as I like completing hard challenges but without much punishment for failure which these games will provide as if I fail. Its not like I am not going to become bankrupt or lose someone close to me so that makes failure in these games fun.

A beautiful or unique visual aesthetic and great soundtrack are of course good bonuses to a game that can make them shine even higher but not completely necessary.

I will mention some games that I think are really good in these aspects:

• A Hat in Time - most fun I had exploring a world in with its movement with charming and fun characters to interact with.
• Rain World - unfair in its difficult but that just boosts the experience of the game to make it feel like you are surviving in the wild against the predators that want to eat you and the harsh environments you have to move across sometimes and get lost in.
• Baba is You - very difficult puzzle game with mind blowing game mechanics in how you solve each level and even later into the game with how you move in the world map.
• Dark Souls - while I am a bit bored of souls-likes now, this game was enjoyable for its difficulty, harsh atmosphere and choice in what you use against enemy encounters.
• Omori and OFF - RPGs with interesting and compelling stories/world, immersive and sometimes tense atmospheres which are enough for me to still love dearly them despite some repetition with their combat systems.

 

[Forever Sleep]

It will mostly depend on the game and its genre but to me a good game generally needs variety in how it uses its game mechanics so it doesn't become too repetitive. It also having game mechanics that are unique to it or how it uses those mechanics in a different way is needed so the game can feel unique from things I have already played. However if the game lacks these components it really needs to have a interesting world/characters/story and a good atmosphere to make me want to play it.

Games that have exploration can be really fun in having choice in how and where you want to go about areas but I prefer them to not be fully open world so it doesn't feel empty. Game that have choice in what strategy and items you can use can be interesting and increase replay value and variety in gameplay but the different things you can use need to feel unique from each other and not have too many of the same stuff so it doesn't feel like there are a bunch of meaningless options. More linear games without much choice can be just as fun as the developer has more control over the experience and so its more able to be refined better.

I can particular like very difficult games as I like completing hard challenges but without much punishment for failure which these games will provide as if I fail. Its not like I am not going to become bankrupt or lose someone close to me so that makes failure in these games fun.

A beautiful or unique visual aesthetic and great soundtrack are of course good bonuses to a game that can make them shine even higher but not completely necessary.

I will mention some games that I think are really good in these aspects:

• A Hat in Time - most fun I had exploring a world in with its movement with charming and fun characters to interact with.
• Rain World - unfair in its difficult but that just boosts the experience of the game to make it feel like you are surviving in the wild against the predators that want to eat you and the harsh environments you have to move across sometimes and get lost in.
• Baba is You - very difficult puzzle game with mind blowing game mechanics in how you solve each level and even later into the game with how you move in the world map.
• Dark Souls - while I am a bit bored of souls-likes now, this game was enjoyable for its difficulty, harsh atmosphere and choice in what you use against enemy encounters.
• Omori and OFF - RPGs with interesting and compelling stories/world, immersive and sometimes tense atmospheres which are enough for me to still love dearly them despite some repetition with their combat systems.

Have you played 'Psychonaughts'? The look of 'A Hat in Time' (great title) reminded me a bit of that. I liked the idea of each characters mind being a world.

 

[Darkover]

collecting items and trading them

 

[Forever Sleep]

collecting items and trading them

I remember a tutor saying she knew someone who was making a fortune selling virtual hats. Obviously, work goes in to creating graphics but, I still found the concept funny. Money for something that doesn't fully exist.

 

[Anonymousa]

Have you played 'Psychonaughts'? The look of 'A Hat in Time' (great title) reminded me a bit of that. I liked the idea of each characters mind being a world.

Yep ^^ played both Psychonauts 1 and 2 and they were really great with how they mixed game mechanics and world with whatever mental issue the character was suffering with. A Hat in Time was partially inspired from that game actually so that might be why it reminded you of it.

 

[GhostInTheMachine]

A coherent goal to strive for. Been playing a lot of Minecraft and just enjoying the various builds I've come up with. Aside from that I love a good story that keeps me wanting to see what's next, or when I'm feeling silly I'll just boot up GTA or Postal and just fuck around til I want to do something else. Recently I just finished a Doom II mod called The Pink Valley, and holy shit did that game hit me somewhere special. I'm a sucker for psychological horror.

 

[Griever]

I play different games, but when I play a game, I just have to enjoy it, so I lose track of time and hours later I'm still sitting at my desk or lying in my bed until the middle of the night

 

[Jiroscope]

I remember a tutor saying she knew someone who was making a fortune selling virtual hats. Obviously, work goes in to creating graphics but, I still found the concept funny. Money for something that doesn't fully exist.

Probably Team Fortress 2 hats lol. They're basically NFTs before NFTs were a thing

 

[Michi_Violeta]

Several things, it's an interesting question, but here are a couple off the back of my mind.

1. A difficulty setting that doesn't feel too easy or too hard. I fucking hate "git gud" games that become a chore because their whole gimmick is being unfair to you. I want to enjoy while still having a sense of challenge, a challenge I have the tools to solve and doesn't require an too much strain.

2. A decent story with relatable characters. It doesn't have to be deep or even innovative, just take me through events in a way that feels natural, genuine, without stereotypes or abusing my sensitivity.

3. NO FUCKING MICROTRANSACTIONS OR TIME-LIMTED STUFF OR LIMITED EDITION SHIT I CAN ONLY GET IF I PAY $60 BUCKS AND PLAY AT MIDNIGHT DURING A FULL MOON WHILE WATCHING A SPECIFIC STREAMER

I remember a tutor saying she knew someone who was making a fortune selling virtual hats. Obviously, work goes in to creating graphics but, I still found the concept funny. Money for something that doesn't fully exist.

Maybe RuneScape partyhats? They're a shitty cosmetic that was only available over 20 years ago as a free holiday item and, since relatively few people played back then, they're VERY limited. A quick Google search says one billion of RS gold is worth roughly 200 dollars...and a blue partyhat costs 88 billion!

 

[vitbar]

It really depends on the type of game. I particularly like games where you are working on some big project which can be broken into smaller tasks. Even more so if the project requires problem solving or other creativity. Minecraft is a good example. It's satisfying to see the results your longterm effort build. Always having a mixture of tasks to choose from keeps me playing: "just one more thing".

 

[avoid]

In 1 word: immersion.

I suppose this word unpacks differently for everyone. Personally, stylized 2D games with a soundtrack that adds to the atmosphere make me happy. Games tagged as pixel graphics, atmospheric and platformer: Celeste, Animal Well, Noita, Terraria, and A Short Hike. I'd rather play a short game with concentrated content than a big game with scattered content. An example of the latter, Zelda games are fun but not immersive to me because of the long distances you need to travel.

 

[_pop_Mongo]

A really simple thing is when characters in a game can sit down. I just love when I can make a character sit down in a game. It's such a a human thing to do, sit down. Take a load off. Chill out. Take a breather. Game characters are always standing up and moving around but when I can make a character sit down at certain points it just feels nice.

Related I also love when games have food as a consumable item and their is an animation where it looks like the character is eating something. Could you imagine a game where you can sit down AND eat a gyro before entering the endgame? Day one buy from me.

 

[Unbearable Mr. Bear]

I like games where experimentation is rewarded, where there is a lot to explore and learn and it can be done without too much risk.

Elder Scrolls come to mind, specially with mods to increase variety. I couldn't give two shits about the lore, but boy do I love going out and picking flowers and shrooms to make potions and then sell them for a profit.

I also like procedural generation in general. It's nice to be able to get a new environment every time you start a run. Minecraft was the first major game that I played that had procgen.

Also, having no goals, because I WANT TO BREAK FREE!

Anyway, my 2 cents!

 

[Forveleth]

A camera that works and mappable controls. Also, an unnecessarily deep character customization.

Also for modern games, stop doing the voice lines for hints. Good God, LET ME FIGURE OUT THE PUZZLE MYSELF!

 

[Unbearable Mr. Bear]

A camera that works and mappable controls. Also, an unnecessarily deep character customization.

Also for modern games, stop doing the voice lines for hints. Good God, LET ME FIGURE OUT THE PUZZLE MYSELF!

Make it so that you can create ABOMINATIONS and play as them. Oblivion comes to mind!

I think the hints are fine, but there must be a way to disable them. unless the game IS the puzzle, which would defeat its purpose. I'm more of a action gamer though.

 

[LostLily]

a sense of progression

 

[Forveleth]

I think the hints are fine, but there must be a way to disable them. unless the game IS the puzzle, which would defeat its purpose. I'm more of a action gamer though.

I wanted to punch Aloy in Forbidden Wilds. Even the hints in God of War Ragnorok were getting on my nerves. I wanted to have time to look around, take in the environment, and think for myself before I get a "Maybe I can get up to that ledge over there."

 

[bob55]

a sense of progression

I used to enjoy progression in Farming simulator. Very relaxing and satisfying to keep expanding, but now i play PUBG and DayZ. Surviving in a post apocalyptic world, building bases, raiding enemy bases, meeting people from around the world, creating teams for tasks, is fun in DayZ

 

[Unbearable Mr. Bear]

I wanted to punch Aloy in Forbidden Wilds. Even the hints in God of War Ragnorok were getting on my nerves. I wanted to have time to look around, take in the environment, and think for myself before I get a "Maybe I can get up to that ledge over there."

That's why there should be a way to disable those. Me? I'm horrible with puzzles in non-puzzly games, I get stuck easily and frustrated quickly. Hell, even some classic Doom mapsets can give me a hard time becuase there is a crevice that I didn't notice where the next key is and I JUST WANT TO GO BOOM BOOM BANG ON THE DEMONES! So yeah, for some people, they are helpful. That's why an option is the best way to make both people happy IMO.

Alternatively, make a puzzle with multiple solutions. The hint only gives one of them, the others you must find out.

 

[Custos]

A sense of achievement for completing a game when it doesn't just give everything to you.

A sense of peace and tranquility.

Knowing the developers actually cared about the game.

Getting better at the game so you are able to do something you previously couldn't.

Oh, and cute cats or similar. GTA V for example, seeing a happy little kitty sleeping in the sun.

 

[psp3000]

games without instant gratification

and most importantly games that are extremely unique and different art wise or story wise and art wise

and when it comes to mobile games I like the ones that don't have ads just randomly popping up or being shoved in your face
but instead give you an option to view ads whenever you want for rewards or in game items etc.

and games that are actually games and not films disguised as games

if I wanted that I would play an old FMV point and click or FMV adventure game