What Makes a Game Good?

Hello my sweet maraschino cherries!

Today we are going to be talking about what makes a game... good. Now, everyone has different criteria for what differentiates a good game from a bad game, but there has to be some core elements that must be applied to any game in order for it to be considered good. This was the question my teacher asked my English class last week, so together we came up with a list of 4 elements that are absolutely needed to make a perfect literary experience within a video game. They are:

1. Interesting characters that you care about.

2. Immersive storyline that allows for personalization and engagement.

3. Established theme and message.

4. Clear causes for character development and improvement.

Hmmm... sounds like a Harvest Moon game...

Mind you, we are not talking about games like Pac-Man. We are talking about games that aim to give the reader some sort of literary experience. The games I’ve covered so far in my blog (BioShock, Bioshock: Infinite, Life is Strange, The Walking Dead) are all examples of games that give the player a literary experience, however this criteria can be applied to a wide variety of games. After all, video games stretch far and wide in terms of content and playability.

I definitely agree with the above criteria. I think one of the most important aspects of games, especially when it comes to games as literature, is the immersion and believability of a game. If I am constantly thinking about how confusing the mechanics are or how annoying the characters are, I’m not going to want to finish the game and even fully experience the literature presented within the game. I also think it’s important for the game to have an established theme and message, since this adds another layer of intrigue, a reason for the player to think deeper about the game and step further into the literature experience.

Therefore, I would add another criteria to the above 4.

5. Game play mechanics that are immersive and consistent with established game rules.

As a writer, I know how much people love to pick apart plot holes in literature. It’s only fair that the same critique be applied to video games, especially because video games are designed to be even more immersive than reading, since the player is literally stepping into the shoes of the main character. Therefore, I believe that it is immensely important that mechanics are consistent with the game’s setting, story, and rules.

Finally, I would like to add a final criteria.

6. Aesthetic

Ahhh... look at that beautiful sunset...

Maybe I’m just shallow, but I CANNOT play games that look ugly. I just can’t. Now, this doesn’t mean the game has to look realistic or be played in HD or have top of the line graphics, but if it is just ugly looking, I really cannot.

And... that’s it! What is your criteria for a good game/literary experience?

Until next time! Peace out!

ricecakerabbit<3