Making games is fun, but... What makes a game fun?
Source: Dev.to
On this game development journey I decided that instead of being only a game developer I would become a Game Designer. Games are indeed fun, but not because of the code, but because of what they make the players feel. And to me, that’s the best part of the process.
Don’t get me wrong, I love coding and I won’t stop coding games for as long as I live. But just coding games is too easy. Honestly, any programmer could write a piece of code and call it a game. Coding fun games is something else. Not everyone is capable of making games that truly touch other people. I accept the challenge—partly because I’m arrogant enough to believe I’m one of the people who can make games like that, and mostly because I believe that a truly good game can save a person’s life.
What makes a game fun?
The question has been answered many times in discussions across the internet. There are countless answers: good mechanics, a compelling background story and narrative, exploration, world development, solid controls, the possibility to play with friends (or strangers), and, most often, a combination of all these factors and more.
It’s a subjective matter: two people can experience “fun” in completely different games. I, for example, love the Kingdom Hearts series (including Chain of Memories, which many think sucks), while my stepson can’t stand the thought of playing it—even though he likes the characters!
Factors that influence fun
Core elements
- Mechanics – how the game’s rules and systems interact.
- Story & narrative – the emotional and contextual backdrop.
- Exploration & world building – the sense of discovery.
- Controls – responsiveness and intuitiveness.
- Multiplayer – playing with friends or strangers.
Genre‑specific considerations
- What makes a racing game fun?
- What makes a fighting game fun?
- Is an arcade soccer game more enjoyable than a physics‑based soccer game?
- Are RPGs fun because of the battles, the narrative, or the exploration?
These questions may never have definitive answers, as human preferences evolve over time.
The role of AI
Another point to consider is how much AI influences the fun factor of a game. With today’s advances, is AI required to make a fun game? I don’t think it is, but I feel happier when the game feels responsive to my actions.
Open question
There is a lot that can make a game feel fun—or not fun at all. What, to you, makes a game fun? Is there anything that must be present in a fun game, or are you the kind who is just happy to make things move on screen?