Minigames are all about packaging the excitement of games into a tiny package. The most famous type of minigame is the type found in expansive RPGs. In the context of a large-scale adventure game, minigames offer a chance for players to clear their palettes, accrue helpful resources, and/or delve into the lore of a game.
But minigames aren’t solely tied to RPGs. Over the last few years, the rise of casual mobile gaming has helped foster more interest in minigames than ever before. Within the context of the broader gaming industry, minigames are simply short-form games designed to maximize the excitement of a title that might take hours to get into. In other words, these are designed to help pass the time and unwind.
A New Breed of Minigame
Even non-traditional games fit into this category. With a single spin, players are taken into highly developed worlds that include characters, plotlines, and exotic settings. For example, a slot like Book of Dead takes players into an Indiana Jones-style archaeological and mythological adventure. Each spin could unlock new combinations and bonus rounds, adding more depth and complexity to a straightforward slot game.
The same applies to other genre-bending games, such as Axie Infinity. This blockchain platform tasks players with raising and breeding cute little creatures, which double as NFTs. Recently, Axie Infinity launched a roll-out of minigames, which allow players to compete in tournaments and other competitions.
But not all minigames are quite so imaginative. Looking back at more traditional minigames, and especially those geared toward mobile, what are the most important elements of successful releases?
The Perfect Timeframe
The entire concept of a minigame revolves around its bite-sized packaging. In other words, a minigame must be engaging and entertaining to play in smaller time frames. As mentioned above, the goal of the minigame is to keep players occupied for shorter stints—when they’re waiting for trains or for doctor’s appointments, for example.
For this reason, the game’s mission and controls must be straightforward. Levels that continue for longer stretches of time could spell disaster for players who suddenly need to put the game down. This is one reason that puzzle games and match-three titles work wonderfully as minigames.
Progressive Rewards
Despite the fact that minigames need to offer short and sweet gaming sessions, they should also progress meaningfully. Even the direst word puzzle games should offer some type of progressive rewards to players. These rewards tend to unlock new levels, special customization features, or even character abilities.
Without a sense of progression, players have no reason to continue playing. While it might not seem important for those playing Scrabble or Subway Surfer to have an impetus to continue, small upgrades and rewards offer that extra incentive.
A Scoreboard/Leaderboard
Similarly, offering a scoreboard or a regional leaderboard can encourage players to keep at their favorite titles. Typically, a scoreboard is geared more towards players who are looking to best their previous performances. A leaderboard, on the other hand, is more important for minigames with a social or competitive element.
For example, an interior design simulator like HomeByMe is largely focused on helping the player relax and unwind. There’s little competition involved in painting, styling, and outfitting a bedroom or a kitchen, after all. However, the most successful minigames (no matter how casual) usually allow players to check out other designs or, in certain cases, go head-to-head with other virtual designers in faceoff competitions.
An Aesthetic Approach
Lastly, successful minigames usually take a thoughtful approach to design. Regardless of the game, a memorable visual design can go a long way in keeping players engaged and coming back. For example, the visual puzzle game Monument Valley took off upon its release thanks to its highly unique graphics. These graphics added extra depth to the game itself, as they were perfectly embedded with its puzzle challenges.
Though not all minigames need to take such a straightforward approach in bridging graphic design to gameplay, it’s worth noting that aesthetics are still hugely important—even when confined to a smaller mobile screen.
The post The Most Important Elements of a Successful Minigame appeared first on Make An App Like.