What Makes a Game Fun

-From Sir Gorin's Book of War

Previous Chapter: What is a Battle Game

Think back on some of your favorite battle game moments. What, specifically, do you remember about them? Why is it that this memory stands out to you? For many, there are three key things that make a battle game particularly enjoyable:

• The requirement for teamwork

When a team has to work together to achieve victory, they are creating a shared experience. This shared experience often helps to create lasting memories that people enjoy retelling and recreating. For the most part, everyone enjoys being on a team that works together. A positive teamwork environment can often be far more rewarding than actually winning.

• A 50/50 chance of victory

Often, the struggle itself is more enjoyable than the outcome. When victory teeters back and forth between teams, and a clear winner is only established in the final moments, it often doesn’t matter who that victor is. Players will walk away from the game not caring who won because of how much they enjoyed the struggle. While a perfectly balanced game may never happen, it’s a goal to strive for at every opportunity.

• Being a component of success ‐ “Being the hero”

It’s important to realize that people have different strengths. When you allow players to utilize those strengths to achieve victory, you allow them to “be the hero”. By incorporating victory conditions that play to a variety of strengths, you will create games that a wider variety of people can enjoy. Add objectives that reward speed, stealth, teamwork, or strategy.

-Next Chapter: What Makes a Game Not Fun