Highlights
- Trailers that don’t reveal all the best parts of the game make for a more unpredictable and enjoyable experience.
- Unobtrusive tutorials that don’t hold players’ hands for too long are preferable, allowing for organic learning.
- Accessibility options show the developers’ thought and consideration for all players, making the game more enjoyable for a wider audience.
There was once a time when people could count on one hand the amount of new game releases in a given week. Now, it is virtually impossible to even keep track of what’s coming out on a daily basis, even in the triple-A gaming space. How does one sort through all of these releases to find something that’s truly for them or even worth their time?
The checklist below is a good place to start. It is not a definitive checklist that means a game is bad if it lacks any of these, but even just a few of these being in the early experience with a title means gamers are off to a good start with whatever they choose to play.
10 When Everything Has Appeared In Trailers
Metal Gear Solid 2
Trailers have a nasty habit of giving away the best parts of a game. They like to show off the best boss fights or the most exciting set pieces almost right away. One of the best feelings when playing a newer game is realizing the developers have already shown everything the players have already seen in the trailers.
The latter parts of the game are now completely unpredictable, and the player won’t be preoccupied wondering when that special moment showcased in the marketing will happen. The famous protagonist switch in Metal Gear Solid 2 is a great example of this, and it even fits within the game’s themes.
9 An Unobtrusive Tutorial
Super Mario Bros.
Nobody likes being told how to play a game for two hours before actually getting to the meat of the gameplay and story. It is especially annoying when it is in a genre the player is familiar with. As if they need to be told how to shoot in a first-person shooter for the millionth time.
Some of the best games utilize numerous interesting methods of introducing players to the mechanics. The original Super Mario Bros. is a masterclass in organically introducing players to the gameplay without directly telling them. Other titles make the tutorial an optional gameplay sequence or let players turn it on in the options menu.
8 Accessibility Options
The Last Of Us 2 & Celeste
Even if players do not need them, accessibility options simply show the amount of thought and consideration that the developers put into making sure as many players as possible can enjoy the game.
These options go as simple as difficulty levels to ways of letting differently-abled gamers enjoy titles they normally would not be able to with the default settings. Allowing a completely customizable control scheme also helps. Quality-of-life fixes are always welcome in updates and sequels, and accessibility options are not entirely different.
7 Good Voice Acting (If There Is Any)
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt & The Stanley Parable
Not all games have voice acting, and some games probably shouldn’t. If the actors performing in the title clearly put all their effort into bringing the script to life, it is a good bet that the game will be worth their time, effort, and money.
Nothing destroys the feeling of immersion like bad acting, but nothing reels players in like a convincing performance. Some great games that take a long time to get started are saved in their early hours by the voice and motion capture performances.
6 Minimal Exposition
Baldur’s Gate 3
What is the best way to introduce players to a fantasy world? It certainly is not sitting them down for half an hour before the game to explain the nuances of its conflicts and races before letting them run around in it. They need to be given a clear objective, and through their journey, they can receive a clearer picture of the setting.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is an example of a game that does this almost flawlessly. Those with no experience with The Forgotten Realms setting immediately have a goal to work towards and slowly learn more about the locations as they talk to people and clear side quests.
5
4 It Starts With A Bang
Final Fantasy 7 (& Remake) & Skyrim
The first moments of any campaign are vital to keeping players’ attention, especially if they are not familiar with the series. RPGs struggle with this the most because of the nature of their gameplay. The longer the game, the harder it is to get them to commit to staying for the whole ride.
However, some shining examples of great introductory sequences in gaming include Final Fantasy 7 and Skyrim. They throw players quickly into the action while giving them enough context to understand what’s going on at the moment to feel like more than random explosions and fights.
3 It Is Visually Appealing
Breath Of The Wild & Tears Of The Kingdom
This entry does not mean that great games have to have the newest tech behind them powering their graphics. Great art direction can more than makeup for poor graphics.
Breath of the Wild and Tears of The Kingdom, for example, run on hardware far less powerful than the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, but many would argue they look better and more appealing than Grand Theft Auto 5 or Days Gone. Even more extreme examples are more recent titles fully embracing an 8-bit aesthetic to stunning results, like Towerfall or Hotline Miami.
2 Great Soundtrack
Death Stranding & Sonic The Hedgehog 2
Some of the greatest films ever made start with a stunning musical track to grab audiences within the first second. George Lucas has John Williams to thank for how quickly it is to get excited while watching any Star Wars movie. The same goes for video games.
The best soundtracks can make mundane activities like riding a vehicle from point A to point B thrilling. Just remember how invigorating it was to hear a song kick in the first time Sam Porter Bridges reached a stunning vista in Death Stranding.
1 High Critical Praise
Super Mario Odyssey & Red Dead Redemption 2
This one comes into effect before even starting up the game. While critics loving a game does not necessarily mean an individual gamer will like it, it does mean there is an audience for the game.
Everyone has to find their own outlets they trust and relate to the most, and then they can usually find out what games they’ll like based on what publication gives it a good score. At the very least, general critical praise means the game works well and feels good to play for fans of the genre.
