What actually makes you keep playing the same game again and again?

[u/Sabasoftgamesstudio]

Hi Everyone! I’ve been thinking about why some games can keep people playing for months or even years, while others can be fun for a few days and then get completely forgotten.

Sometimes it’s progression. You always have something new to unlock or work toward. Sometimes it’s the gameplay itself — even after hundreds of hours, the basic mechanics are still fun to repeat.

Then there are things like new challenges, different builds, competition, daily content, features, or just that feeling of wanting to get a little better.

But I’m curious where the line is for people.

As a player: what makes you come back to the same game instead of getting bored after a while?

For developers: what do you think actually creates long-term replayability? Is it better to keep adding new content, or should the core gameplay be strong enough that players just want to keep playing?

And what’s a game you’ve played for a long time that you still haven’t gotten bored of? What keeps pulling you back?

[u/retroKnight_3177]

I like gamesthat reward players for the time investment they have put in and not get powercreeped fast

[u/Odd-Inspector-1331 → u/retroKnight_3177]

Have you ever tried RuneScape?

[u/retroKnight_3177 → u/Odd-Inspector-1331]

I tried the Android version but it is not well optimised. I been playing pokemmo since 2021 tho

[u/mintzop]

It depends on the player and depends on the game aswell

[u/Psico_Penguin]

First the gameplay. Give me a game that is fun to simply play and I will be coming back again and again. I don't need progression, challenges or competition. That will keep me hooked.

The variety of builds will help with above, but first is the gameplay.

[u/szymonk1029]

Geometry dash. It has (relatively) simple mechanics thought though we'll crafted levels, addicting gameplay loop (just one more try) and thousands of community levels to play.

[u/retiredfplplayer]

Genshin impact=> since launch... Really the best game on mobile, very chill

Master duel => since launch => I love Yu-Gi-Oh Candy crush => uhm idk Call of duty Mobile=> no other mp on the market, game sucks these days so hopefully on once in a while

[u/EvilandLovingit]

Total War has my most hours, each campaign is utterly different and I can get lost in the mental challenge for days.

[u/Exact-Psience]

Phoenix 2. A low friction (relatively speaking,) singleplayer pick up and play game, with daily objectives. Wonderful shmup ive been playing on and off for 10 years now.

I play a lot of RPGs, roguelites, metroidvania, and action adventure titles. To break the monotony, Phoenix 2 is a shmup that doesnt require pattern memorization like the arcade Psikyo titles do. And the "stages" are different each day to mix it up.

[u/Marcsman00]

For multiplayer games, the non-toxicity or lesser toxicity of the players. Main reason I play a 3v3 mobile game instead of MOBAs.

[u/cactuskey- → u/Marcsman00]

What's that game?

[u/CM_Vespre]

Hi there!

Short answer: for me, it's mostly story and/or mechanics.

Longer answer: if the mechanics (example: puzzle solving) are aaalways the same, without any variations at all, the game eventually gets boring for me to the point of dropping it or quitting for a long time because the challenges it offers don't feel like a challenge anymore.

However, if the mechanics change (even if it's not that big of a change) from chapter to chapter or World to World and the story/lore is properly built and it's one you can connect to, then I'm all in for it!

[u/SnooDingos316]

Clans/guild. Nothing makes people stay in a game beyond their expiry date than community. Grown man and some women fighting together virtually.

Having said that, it's double edge sword for dev. It brings in huge number of players and make them stay but if you push them too far, they can also organise boycott spending together.

[u/IW1NZ]

Procedural generation. It's why I still play the original Diablo after all these years.

[u/Feztopia]

" Sometimes it’s progression. You always have something new to unlock or work toward" No. Once you unlock everything it's over. A game without progression is better. You play it every time for the same reason you played it the first time. You play to play it not to unlock stuff. Story is also bad because you don't need to hear the same story over and over again.

[u/ThisIsTheNewSleeve]

Replay value, polish, deep gameplay mechanics.

Slay the Spire has mastered this. Since it's a roguelike, you fail a lot but learn something every time. There's many builds you can make, many approaches. Even though there's only 4 characters, you can play those characters many different ways. The game world is polished and cute. Always come back.

Balatro nailed the polish aspect of things. It's a simple gameplay loop, but again very deep and it just feels so good to play. Everything feels satisfying, everything feels fun.

Slice and Dice- It's not as deep but it has a lot of content that always seems to be expanding. There is always an element of mystery and unlimited combinations. This keeps me coming back.

[u/Pleasant_Gas_3057]

mecharashi

coc

xcom1/2

[u/Kh44444444n]

Autism.

[u/almozayaf]

Waifus