Photo by Fredrick Tendong on Unsplash
Have you ever wondered what makes some games more successful than others? If you have, you’re not alone. It’s something that game developers think about all the time, especially those that want to come up with new concepts that players haven’t seen before.
But what’s the machinery that makes the magic happen? Of course, there isn’t one single answer, but usually the most compelling and successful games are those that combine the traits that we outline in this guide. So what do we think makes games so popular while others fall flat within a couple of weeks?
They’re very easy to play, but hard to beat
One factor that seems to be present in many of the most successful games of all time is that they are easy to play at the start but incredibly difficult to beat. For example, think about a game like spider solitaire for the PC. Anyone can move cards around, but only a select few players will actually finish the game and arrange all of the cards into sequenced decks.
The same is true of a game like chess or Fortnite or even Rocket League. All of these games have a shallow on-ramp that attracts new players but they’re all incredibly difficult at the higher level. Once you become a real master at these games and understand all of the strategies involved, the quality and level of play has to increase accordingly. When there are opponents who are equally skilled, that’s when real matches begin. There’s often an extremely deep ocean of complexity underneath what looks like a very surface-level puddle.
They create their own stories
Another thing you’ll notice about many of the most successful games of all time is that they don’t just write the story into the game, they create their own narrative.
So for example, think about the original 007 on Nintendo 64. Many players would play that for hours because of the complexity of the game and they remembered barely escaping from specific situations. When games are able to create this drama without cutscenes, it makes them more compelling. Yes, video interludes are nice in some titles, but they’re nothing compared to players creating their own theatre.
This is particularly important for games that are played socially. If they can generate a sense of enthusiasm among players, there’s almost nothing that can stop them from becoming wildly successful.
They are watchable
If it wasn’t for successful watchable games, then platforms like Twitch would have never blown up. YouTube spectatorship would also be rock bottom. Some of the most watchable games are also the most addictive, like Dota 2 and Counter-Strike 2. Audiences are interested in viewing these games because they provide them with insights into their own abilities and play styles. Plus it’s just fun watching the best people in the world frag it out on a map that you’ve also played. You can see their strange tactics and the way that they try to get an edge over their opponents.
They feel fair
This is a strange factor that goes into many of the most successful games, but ultimately they are the ones that feel fair. Even when they’re brutal, as with some Dark Souls games, fairness is still core to what they do, and players really respect that. Players will often be okay with randomness and difficulty if they feel like the balance is there, and that they can find a way through. The only time when a game feels unfair is if players are deliberately being blocked from progressing, perhaps because they haven’t spent enough time grinding or doing what the game developer wants. This is particularly a problem on massively multiplayer online games, but they find different ways to be successful over time.
They trigger the “one more turn” complex
If a game triggers the “one more turn” complex or reflex in people, that’s also a sign that it’s going to be extremely successful. It’s hard for a game not to be when players just keep turning back and coming back for more.
You’ve probably experienced this one more term concept in your gaming experience. It’s particularly common among live service games and roguelikes. However, perhaps the best example of all time is the turn-based system used by Civilization and to a lesser degree X-COM. These keep players wanting to experiment turn after turn with different strategies and ideas. It’s so easy just to get the dopamine hit of the next round instead of saving the game or moving on to another title.
They aren’t afraid to embrace technology
You’ll also sometimes notice that many of the most wildly successful games are those that ride on the back of a technological wave. Usually being inside a technology already gives them a first-mover advantage, so that they don’t have to worry about catching up later. Just think about how Pokémon Go took advantage of the ability of smartphones to act as augmented reality devices. All of a sudden an entirely new game concept was born.
They let players express themselves
Photo by Luca Hooijer on Unsplash
Another tip that you might want to take away from the most wildly successful games of all time is the idea that they allow players to express themselves. In a lot of old-school games, things like changing a character’s cosmetics was seen as superfluous, but now games are allowing players to express themselves through builds, playstyles, and rankings, all of which have a similar effect on status.
They have an easy-to-describe identity
Finally, many of the most wildly successful games of all time have an easy-to-describe identity. This means that players find it simple to put them into a box, often by taking existing games. For example, a player might describe Rocket League as a game of soccer but with cars. This is so unusual but also very attractive to players seeking novelty.
So there you have it, some of the factors that make some games incredibly successful over time. While there’s an element of luck involved, it’s clear that many top titles did something right that attracted attention.