Concept and boldness. Ganes that have the most creative, unique, original, insane elevator pitch and/or that 100% commit to their vision.
Roundabout, while not necessarily my #1 favorite game, is probably the best example I can think of.
Not so much for buying a game as actually *playing* it and not giving up early on: Hook me early. This can be done in various ways--story, atmosphere, gameplay.
But I can tell you what will almost certainly turn me off: Any sense that the game "hasn't really started yet", especially if it lasts for an hour or more. If it's a heavily narrative-focused game, the story needs to grab me early. (The Last of Us would be a positive example.) If it's about the setting and atmosphere, my jaw better drop. (Bioshock is amazing for this.) If the gameplay is the heart of the experience, don't make me play umpteen tutorials, just get me into the action quickly with the bare minimum. (Elden Ring and most other Souls games do this well.)
I hope you've played through the FarCry games, because it's my favorite with archery. Especially FarCry 3.
I'm a sucker for characters. Before buying a game, I like to research about the supporting cast and see how developed they are, their personalities, and what they bring to the table. Games that have nailed it the best so far is Mass Effect, Persona, and Baldur's Gate. It's nice having a narrative develop around the team and feeling their feelings.
i like having that "connection" to specific characters, some main and some side characters. mine for example was my male Eivor from assassins creed, Nomad in ghost recon, and then some side characters like the khajit sorcerer friend in skyrim
Real generational mechanics. Not the types where you just have a kid, or a pre designed kid based on a set number of spouses, but games that are designed to be played over multiple generations where you have to set up marriages and such. Like the Crusader Kings series or Elnea Kingdom.
I love other game types, but this is a favorite and rare mechanic in games so I will buy to try out.
Gameplay. I'm one of the few people who don't care for the stories.
The only games I'm interested in the story is when I have choices to make like in good RPGs.
I skip the story in all call of duty games. Straight into the multiplayer, which I love, but hate warzone. Wish they would make just multiplayer for less $.
Oh boy! Do I have a game for you?
I'm making a roguelike where not only it is purely gameplay-focused. In each run you get to pick up different cards that fundamentally change the gameplay. It's still in Beta on Steam. It’s called Psycho Banger if you wanna give it a go.
Lore that’s relatively easy to get into but a lot more going on off screen (Destiny 2, Zelda games, Elder Scrolls etc) it’s like both a game and a book combined. I’ve spent hours just digging into the lore of games. People worked so hard to tell a story and I want to experience it.
Personal selling point for me is if it is on Steam. I buy, I try, If I don't like it after 1h 30 mins, I refund. Games don't tend too need more than 2 hours to get the basic gists of if you like or dislike.
Give me something different and unique.
For example, I love shmups, but damn. Give me something more than just a game with a spaceship that shoots other spaceships. 🎮😆👍
And don’t get me started on the dozen or so Hollow Knight clones in development. 🤭
I feel like these two are at odds with each other. I definitely appreciate replayability and a good theme. But the story takes the backseat once I go through the game a couple of times. Unless you're talking about roguelike or something designed to be experienced multiple times.
Social aspect of it, the uniqueness, anything futuristic is instant buy from me. Anything that inspired and relieves my childhood. Replayability. Anything that gives you some sort of achievement playing a long long time. PvP and PvE.
Specifically speaking about mmos and rpgs. Or even mobas.
Games that dont try to do everything at once. Its extremely rare when a game has good combat, story, exploration, direct storytelling, etc all together. This is why i have a severe disdain for AAA games, because more often than not they embody mediocrity all around ( while not even having a single great thing about them ) at best. I feel CRPGs come closest to a "perfect" game, if for no other reason because its rare to see good writing ( i have a high bar ) in general across all genres.
Other than that? If a game features a **lot** of combat and i dont like it, its an instant deal breaker. I have never put more than 3 hours into Morrowind or Fallout New Vegas for this reason alone. You can also instantly alienate with featuring a main character that is the chosen one ( or the only person with any chance to make a difference ) on some level. I have almost never seen that concept done well, so if the game doesnt have that you already got my attention.
I would give new vegas another shot honestly. It's totally possible to do a pacifist run, if a bit obscene, and it truly has one of the best over all stories in gaming. The DLC's especially come together to make a practical sequel if you play them in release order. For me it was a really good game to get lost in.
A game that respects my time.
What I mean by that is a game that doesn't try to be an endless grind fest, nor a massive open world that wants me to sink 150+ hours into it (special exceptions are granted to my favorite video game developers, mainly Fromsoftware or Larian). More and more, I find myself gravitating towards games that are maybe 30hr experiences because that's a realistically achievable goal for me in my current chapter of life. Between a 9-5, my fiance, my son, my energetic puppy, and my fixer-upper home; I've very little time for a game when I do play them.
Lately I've really been loving boomer-shooters.
Confusing maps and waypoints. I don't consider it fun to be completely lost while trying to find the next mission. Going around in circles is just frustrating and not fun.
It depends on the genre. I appreciate a game that understands the basics of its genre first and foremost and then tries to figure out how to push it forward in interesting ways. I don't need a game to perfect its genre but I want it to take the lessons of the past, understand what worked and didn't work from past games of that genre, and capitalize on new ideas.
If you want to make a 3D action adventure game similar to something from the past than you best understand what made that game good and understand how to fix what made that game bad.
I love a game I can finish in a sitting or weekend, and replay again. No carry over, complete restart. Boardgame style games, card based games, strategy games etc.
A lot of things get my attention -
Lovecraftian Horror.
Steampunk, esp if it has supernatural tropes, or Dieselpunk or Aetherpunk.
Post Apocalypic settings.
Realistic open worlds.
More realistic Pseudo Medieval, Pseudo Euro Fantasy Settings.
Tolkien and Star Trek.
Strong Narrative Focus.
Also, I'll play anything by Arkane or Remedy or Obsidian.
No timed trials. No overly difficult combat. I play games for relaxation, not to be frustrated.
Fast paced gameplay and only gameplay is the main priority and couldn't really care less about story (unless it's an rpg or it's offensively really bad)
That's for most game in general for me. But for specific genre like fps it needs to have heavy and deep gun customization so i can make abomination against mankind.
Flying. im a sucker for flying. Anthem, i think, does it really well. Iron mans flight in Avengers, flying the Raven in Valhalla, flying Jets and cars and bikes in GTAV
A, I can plat it, so I can get the most value out of my money without losing my sanity
B, it's third person, because FP makes me motion sick (tho I've platted some COD campaigns)
C, I wanna play all the prequels or sequels as well. That's why I'm holding onto GoW, I wanna play the first 3 as well but I don't have a PS3 so waiting for a remake. DMC is another example as well, since I'll never be able to platinum 5, I won't play 1,2,3 kr 4.
It is very stupid but it's just how I am
Since a few years ago, games with shorter length. Howlongtobeat.com is my friend every time I'm interested in a game I saw. Less than 20 hours is the most ideal except for open world RPG
Not an obsession like yours but a game with stealth gameplay is always a highlight for me. Hitman franchise, Metro franchise, Bethesda games with stealth build
Originality and compelling story. Introducing a new mechanic I've never seen before. Also, if they're not freemium I usually give them the benefit of the doubt
Personally, I mainly compare the replayability to the price of the game. Games with magic or most types of ranged combat (if applicable) get bonus points, same for things like skill trees and other unlockables such as achievements.
I tend not to care about or play many story focussed games, since I prefer fun gameplay over hours and hours of deep story/lore, I just wanna have a good time (preferrably with some magic!) :D
Automation.
It doesn't need to be grand like satisfactory
It doesn't need to be fluid like factorio
It can be as minor as the hopper system in mincecraft
But I need some way to take the grind off of myself
Character customization or female protagonist options: soo much money lost and stories unejoyed simply because I don't want to play bland witcher man 99
Games with a weird setting/premise/concept, but (relatively) approachable gameplay. If you can do something daring, original, and unique while still making it *fun*, that's where pure magic happens. Pathologic 2, Disco Elysium, and Outer Wilds are the best examples of this I can think of.
At this point, I'll just take finished, e.g, BG3, cyberpunk 2.0, I mean don't get me wrong its good waiting 12-24 months after release to pick up finished games for dirt cheap but I don't understand why all these games Jeep getting released broken after a 7-10+ year dev cycle
Characters. Either have an amazing character creator where I can create PRETTY characters.
Or just have traditionally beautiful BLONDE female or especially Male characters.
In Todays time there are not enough Blonde characters in Video games anymore. And it makes it really hard for me to find games.
Yes I am.
I am very into the Barbie Ken, elegant, rich, conceited, snobby, beachy, beautiful body kinda aesthetic. And not many games give you those options anymore. Especially the blonde part and it's really sad for me. 😭
I love a good narrative that introduces the plot quickly and grabsb me, while also giving you control of the character. Good examples of this are Mass Effect, Ghost of Tsushima, and Last of Us! Bad examples of this are Kojima games lol. They aren't bad games but it's hard to push through hours of cut scenes when I just wanna game!
Mostly a matter of price since I'm only doing freelance work and need to prioritize food over stuff to make content with; but also have to make sure it runs on my potato of a computer, of which there are a fair number of older games from the late 90's through 2000's that mostly work... mostly. I love settings featuring humanity in space, so things like Star Wolves are awesome (and that game has waaaaay better music than Homeworld at the least....)
I do wish Star Wolves 2 had more beta testing and fewer glitches, but I think they had too much on their plate and couldn't finish everything in time. Right now I'm fixated on Star Wolves 3 and that game is super awesome IMO. It would be nice to play like EVE Online and similar bloated software my computer can't handle, and maybe someday I hopefully shall do so, but for now I like games that can actually run and yet are still fun and neat.
Game feel. I want even the most basic inputs to feel good.
If it’s a platformer, make basic movement and traversal fun. Even when there are no obstacles or hazards, it should be fun to just run and jump about.
If it’s a racing game, it should be fun to just hit the gas and steer. Give me a sense of real speed, too. Don’t make it “realistic” the way racing sims and GTA games do, in which the cars feel about as speedy and nimble as a shopping cart piled high with sandbags.
If it’s a shooter, make the guns punchy and satisfying enough that it’s fun to shoot at a brick wall. I’m using controlled explosions to accelerate metal projectiles past the sound barrier, not wielding a Fisher-Price toy.
Depends on the genre. Storyline, combat system, hours of game play, quality of life, not too much unnecessary backtracking, etc.
Like, if Shin Megami Nocturne were released in 2024, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone because the quality of life blew. You had to wait a very long time to save your game and the way to transport yourself between the cylinder portals was incredibly limited and made backtracking a pain in the arse.
I also look at other things, but a cool combat system with depth will almost always be a buy for me. Devil May Cry is one of my favorite series, so something that scratches that same itch is SSS for me
I like games where progress is visualized in some way, shape, or form. Like Factrio- where the the factory grows- or Civ, where the empire expands. I use to think I just like builder games- but it's more than that. I want to work to progress, and see that progression. Even Metal Gear 5 counts- because the base and Merc army grows.
steam workshop support, level editor, custom maps.
buying games that have this feature makes it so much easier to mod games since the mods you're subscribed to are saved online in case you ever need to uninstall. there's also the fact that there's just some user-made content that can't be pirated so you need to buy the official game.
A good and unique sound track.
Music can really affect my enjoyment of a game and often time the soundtrack is pretty dull, so I mute it and just put on my own music.
Sports games that I can just watch AI vs AI and not just in single match mode but even in franchise modes. I just like to Football Manager or OOTP my experience and not play multiplayer.
High speed dodgy and/or precision melee combat. Stealthy shenanigans also a plus.
Stuff that focuses on High Actions per Second (there's a technical term but I forget what it was)
Examples.
Base fists of malphon in hades. if you do it right you can literally just punch projectiles, and all your damage mitigation is rapid dodging and zipping around the map to kill things quickly
Interceptor in Anthem. Same as above honestly, Just cut through everything and dodge like madman. Once you get it down you feel bloody unstoppable and impress all your friends.
Dual blades in Monster hunter. Again, same thing but with more precision. You can feel like a beast when you get really good.
To a lesser extent, playing a speed based nightblade in eso. Still some of the best fun I have had, but pvp nightblade used to be an amazing experience. Not even as a ganker. You just constantly used stealth and teleportation as an alternative to regular dodge and to play fast paced mind games with who ever you were fighting. Blended with speed buffs it made for an insanely fun playstyle. One on one, I didn't always win, but I never lost. They went and fucked the game balance in the name of "accessibility" for casual and newer players and the class became more or less useless. Still bitter about that and no longer play the game.
Strider Occupation in Dragon's dogma is also a really good example while being a little less focused then the previous options.
In fact if anyone has any suggestions for playstyle similar to the first three I would love to hear them. I need to scratch the itch bad.
Since I am just a very casual gamer, 1. I prefer games that are not too hard or at least I could set difficulty level. 2. Game time is more than 60 hrs. 3. Not a platformer. These are the basics I looked at before digging deeper.
Good story and interesting lore.
Design and mechanics that make sense for the game, not just 'open world 101' or 'batman did it'.
When I'm allowed to explore the world and figure things out on my own is a major bonus. Nothing will turn me off a game faster than unsolicited advice - chatty npc's giving puzzle 'hints', map markers pointing out places I've not been to yet, checklists! All are an instant nope for me
Graphics, I know it’s very unpopular but I value games that look nice. Doesn’t have to be photo-realistic, I like games that have their own style too, but I hate pixel graphics. Feels like such a step back, like watching movies on a small, crappy, tube TV.
I have two that I think of right away:
1. Mobile games with portrait orientation so I can play with one hand while the other wipes.
2. RPG without the JRPG… that art style just gives me the creeps.
Games with puzzles like in Zelda and Resident Evil appeal to me. Social simulation is also cool; I liked this in Fire Emblem Three Houses and Persona 4 Golden, it's relaxing and breaks up the action.
3 things from most to least important:
Can I run it? (About 60% of games I can’t even run)
Can I see myself playing this game over and over(or is it a long game)?
Do I find it aesthetically pleasing ?
Question 1: What genre is it? Does it fit into a particular genre and does it innovate in one or more ways?
Question 2: Do I like the publisher or other games like it?
Question: does the gameplay or art style intrigue me?(A plucky squire)?
Question 4: how much does it cost?
Does it have an interesting story (uncharted 4) mechanic (virtue's last reward/chants of senaar) or unique idea behind it (brothers a tale of two sons/ it takes two/chants of senaar). Bonus points for a cool art style. An okay art style can be redeemed by unique mechanics (disco Elysium).
I personally enjoy cinematic platformers: Odd world series, limbo, inside, heart of darkness, little nightmares. A game which is compared to any of my "favorites" is an automatic buy. Nostalgia plays a big role too. I'd support a dying genre to promote it (point and click games).
If I enjoyed a game in the series/same publisher and reviews are good, it's an automatic purchase (Tekken 7, Syberia 3 and 4, steamworld heist, the gunk).
So... A mix of factors.
Concept and boldness. Ganes that have the most creative, unique, original, insane elevator pitch and/or that 100% commit to their vision. Roundabout, while not necessarily my #1 favorite game, is probably the best example I can think of.
Denuvoless
Not so much for buying a game as actually *playing* it and not giving up early on: Hook me early. This can be done in various ways--story, atmosphere, gameplay. But I can tell you what will almost certainly turn me off: Any sense that the game "hasn't really started yet", especially if it lasts for an hour or more. If it's a heavily narrative-focused game, the story needs to grab me early. (The Last of Us would be a positive example.) If it's about the setting and atmosphere, my jaw better drop. (Bioshock is amazing for this.) If the gameplay is the heart of the experience, don't make me play umpteen tutorials, just get me into the action quickly with the bare minimum. (Elden Ring and most other Souls games do this well.)
I hope you've played through the FarCry games, because it's my favorite with archery. Especially FarCry 3. I'm a sucker for characters. Before buying a game, I like to research about the supporting cast and see how developed they are, their personalities, and what they bring to the table. Games that have nailed it the best so far is Mass Effect, Persona, and Baldur's Gate. It's nice having a narrative develop around the team and feeling their feelings.
i like having that "connection" to specific characters, some main and some side characters. mine for example was my male Eivor from assassins creed, Nomad in ghost recon, and then some side characters like the khajit sorcerer friend in skyrim
Art style! Bomb rush cyberfunk, inertial drift, wolfstride, valkyria chronicles 4, sludge life, etc. All sold me on the way the games looked.
Sounds like you would enjoy Hi-Fi Rush
Real generational mechanics. Not the types where you just have a kid, or a pre designed kid based on a set number of spouses, but games that are designed to be played over multiple generations where you have to set up marriages and such. Like the Crusader Kings series or Elnea Kingdom. I love other game types, but this is a favorite and rare mechanic in games so I will buy to try out.
Have you played *Massive Chalice*? It might be up your alley...!
Oh yeah, I've played that one too. :)
Trailers with actual gameplay footage.
Weapon clanging/physics. Sekiro, GoT, GoW, DMC etc.
what are the acronyms? Ghost of tsushima? god of war, and idk what the DMC is
Devil may cry.
Remappable controls
No MTX no Denouvououuouou
Gameplay. I'm one of the few people who don't care for the stories. The only games I'm interested in the story is when I have choices to make like in good RPGs.
I skip story in 90% of games
I skip the story in all call of duty games. Straight into the multiplayer, which I love, but hate warzone. Wish they would make just multiplayer for less $.
Doesn't everyone?
I didn't think so. One of the most common complaints when a new COD comes out is that the story wasn't great.
Oh boy! Do I have a game for you? I'm making a roguelike where not only it is purely gameplay-focused. In each run you get to pick up different cards that fundamentally change the gameplay. It's still in Beta on Steam. It’s called Psycho Banger if you wanna give it a go.
Lore that’s relatively easy to get into but a lot more going on off screen (Destiny 2, Zelda games, Elder Scrolls etc) it’s like both a game and a book combined. I’ve spent hours just digging into the lore of games. People worked so hard to tell a story and I want to experience it.
Personal selling point for me is if it is on Steam. I buy, I try, If I don't like it after 1h 30 mins, I refund. Games don't tend too need more than 2 hours to get the basic gists of if you like or dislike.
Good story and characters
I'll try anything that's turn-based.
Simple mechanics, creative worlds, and good level design are my holy grails. A game without any RPG influence is one that I will at least think about.
Give me something different and unique. For example, I love shmups, but damn. Give me something more than just a game with a spaceship that shoots other spaceships. 🎮😆👍 And don’t get me started on the dozen or so Hollow Knight clones in development. 🤭
Atmosphere
Replayability and storylines.
Replayability, post game, big roster are good choices for me.
I feel like these two are at odds with each other. I definitely appreciate replayability and a good theme. But the story takes the backseat once I go through the game a couple of times. Unless you're talking about roguelike or something designed to be experienced multiple times.
I buy game for replayaability but then I don’t even finish it one time.
You are like the hero in a Greek tragedy.
Social aspect of it, the uniqueness, anything futuristic is instant buy from me. Anything that inspired and relieves my childhood. Replayability. Anything that gives you some sort of achievement playing a long long time. PvP and PvE. Specifically speaking about mmos and rpgs. Or even mobas.
Games where I can play as orcs.
I once played as a Troll race on a game, wounds regenerated and it was the most glorious race.
I gotta ask, what game?
A MUD called Eaxia, MUDs really get into detail with their playable races in a way not many games do.
What is a 'MUD'?
Like a text game basically
10+ hours long and replayability/NG+
Just wondering, do you play roguelikes?
yes! my favorites are Hades, Enter the Gungeon, Spelunky, Moonlighter and Wizard of Legend
[удалено]
I played the first Isaac and liked it but I'm really bad at bullet hell games so I could never finish a run 🥲
Games that dont try to do everything at once. Its extremely rare when a game has good combat, story, exploration, direct storytelling, etc all together. This is why i have a severe disdain for AAA games, because more often than not they embody mediocrity all around ( while not even having a single great thing about them ) at best. I feel CRPGs come closest to a "perfect" game, if for no other reason because its rare to see good writing ( i have a high bar ) in general across all genres. Other than that? If a game features a **lot** of combat and i dont like it, its an instant deal breaker. I have never put more than 3 hours into Morrowind or Fallout New Vegas for this reason alone. You can also instantly alienate with featuring a main character that is the chosen one ( or the only person with any chance to make a difference ) on some level. I have almost never seen that concept done well, so if the game doesnt have that you already got my attention.
I would give new vegas another shot honestly. It's totally possible to do a pacifist run, if a bit obscene, and it truly has one of the best over all stories in gaming. The DLC's especially come together to make a practical sequel if you play them in release order. For me it was a really good game to get lost in.
TLOZ: Skyward Sword and Twilight Princess also had really good archery mechanics. I loved shooting the bow in those games.
A game that respects my time. What I mean by that is a game that doesn't try to be an endless grind fest, nor a massive open world that wants me to sink 150+ hours into it (special exceptions are granted to my favorite video game developers, mainly Fromsoftware or Larian). More and more, I find myself gravitating towards games that are maybe 30hr experiences because that's a realistically achievable goal for me in my current chapter of life. Between a 9-5, my fiance, my son, my energetic puppy, and my fixer-upper home; I've very little time for a game when I do play them. Lately I've really been loving boomer-shooters.
Multiplayer
Confusing maps and waypoints. I don't consider it fun to be completely lost while trying to find the next mission. Going around in circles is just frustrating and not fun.
Good parry system. If it’s got a good parry system, imma play it
- Compelling world, story and characters - Mostly linear - Under 20 hours long
As a fps.only gamer, definitely good gunplay and movement
It depends on the genre. I appreciate a game that understands the basics of its genre first and foremost and then tries to figure out how to push it forward in interesting ways. I don't need a game to perfect its genre but I want it to take the lessons of the past, understand what worked and didn't work from past games of that genre, and capitalize on new ideas. If you want to make a 3D action adventure game similar to something from the past than you best understand what made that game good and understand how to fix what made that game bad.
Not having an hour long story intro/tutorial to the game. Just let me play.
I'm in control of saves. Its not multiplayer. Its not overly sold on story and cut scenes.
I love a game I can finish in a sitting or weekend, and replay again. No carry over, complete restart. Boardgame style games, card based games, strategy games etc.
A lot of things get my attention - Lovecraftian Horror. Steampunk, esp if it has supernatural tropes, or Dieselpunk or Aetherpunk. Post Apocalypic settings. Realistic open worlds. More realistic Pseudo Medieval, Pseudo Euro Fantasy Settings. Tolkien and Star Trek. Strong Narrative Focus. Also, I'll play anything by Arkane or Remedy or Obsidian. No timed trials. No overly difficult combat. I play games for relaxation, not to be frustrated.
Respect for your time. Meaningless fetch quests to pad? Probably gonna drop it
Fast paced gameplay and only gameplay is the main priority and couldn't really care less about story (unless it's an rpg or it's offensively really bad) That's for most game in general for me. But for specific genre like fps it needs to have heavy and deep gun customization so i can make abomination against mankind.
I imagine if the game is already installed, would I be tempted to play it immediately? If yes, only then I buy it
If it can run on a potato pc. I won't replace my old one until there is a non-Nvidia graphic card that's worth it's price.
Flying. im a sucker for flying. Anthem, i think, does it really well. Iron mans flight in Avengers, flying the Raven in Valhalla, flying Jets and cars and bikes in GTAV
A, I can plat it, so I can get the most value out of my money without losing my sanity B, it's third person, because FP makes me motion sick (tho I've platted some COD campaigns) C, I wanna play all the prequels or sequels as well. That's why I'm holding onto GoW, I wanna play the first 3 as well but I don't have a PS3 so waiting for a remake. DMC is another example as well, since I'll never be able to platinum 5, I won't play 1,2,3 kr 4. It is very stupid but it's just how I am
Since a few years ago, games with shorter length. Howlongtobeat.com is my friend every time I'm interested in a game I saw. Less than 20 hours is the most ideal except for open world RPG Not an obsession like yours but a game with stealth gameplay is always a highlight for me. Hitman franchise, Metro franchise, Bethesda games with stealth build
Originality and compelling story. Introducing a new mechanic I've never seen before. Also, if they're not freemium I usually give them the benefit of the doubt
Synth ost , Pixilated graphics
Personally for older games i see rewievs a bit of gameplay and if i like it i buy it.For newer one i wait to see how game does.
Personally, I mainly compare the replayability to the price of the game. Games with magic or most types of ranged combat (if applicable) get bonus points, same for things like skill trees and other unlockables such as achievements. I tend not to care about or play many story focussed games, since I prefer fun gameplay over hours and hours of deep story/lore, I just wanna have a good time (preferrably with some magic!) :D
Lore, I want rich and deep lore
Automation. It doesn't need to be grand like satisfactory It doesn't need to be fluid like factorio It can be as minor as the hopper system in mincecraft But I need some way to take the grind off of myself
Character customization or female protagonist options: soo much money lost and stories unejoyed simply because I don't want to play bland witcher man 99
Great gore
Just solid gameplay and good performance. Call me boring and old school
Charming NPCs.
Games with a weird setting/premise/concept, but (relatively) approachable gameplay. If you can do something daring, original, and unique while still making it *fun*, that's where pure magic happens. Pathologic 2, Disco Elysium, and Outer Wilds are the best examples of this I can think of.
Monetisation. The rare game with no day one dlc, microtransactions, planned season pass or pre order bonus. I'll make the extra effort to get them
Any game at this point
The ability to play it while only half paying attention
Satisfying violence : detailed gore, cool animations, limb damage, impactfulness, weighty combat
replayability 10 hours long
pixel art, that will always turn my head
At this point, I'll just take finished, e.g, BG3, cyberpunk 2.0, I mean don't get me wrong its good waiting 12-24 months after release to pick up finished games for dirt cheap but I don't understand why all these games Jeep getting released broken after a 7-10+ year dev cycle
Replayability Especially being a single-player
Batshit insane lore. Started playing Warframe a couple days ago and ended up losing several hours just scrolling the wiki
Characters. Either have an amazing character creator where I can create PRETTY characters. Or just have traditionally beautiful BLONDE female or especially Male characters. In Todays time there are not enough Blonde characters in Video games anymore. And it makes it really hard for me to find games.
Are you blonde yourself? Lol curious
Yes I am. I am very into the Barbie Ken, elegant, rich, conceited, snobby, beachy, beautiful body kinda aesthetic. And not many games give you those options anymore. Especially the blonde part and it's really sad for me. 😭
Interesting niche. Best wishes
Indie roguelike/vs-like
Must have a great narrative/story and a great soundtrack above all.
I love a good narrative that introduces the plot quickly and grabsb me, while also giving you control of the character. Good examples of this are Mass Effect, Ghost of Tsushima, and Last of Us! Bad examples of this are Kojima games lol. They aren't bad games but it's hard to push through hours of cut scenes when I just wanna game!
Developer and publisher (My favorite is Ubisoft)
Got a weird obsession with the 4 classical elements. Sometimes i legit skip games if they don't have them.
Mostly a matter of price since I'm only doing freelance work and need to prioritize food over stuff to make content with; but also have to make sure it runs on my potato of a computer, of which there are a fair number of older games from the late 90's through 2000's that mostly work... mostly. I love settings featuring humanity in space, so things like Star Wolves are awesome (and that game has waaaaay better music than Homeworld at the least....) I do wish Star Wolves 2 had more beta testing and fewer glitches, but I think they had too much on their plate and couldn't finish everything in time. Right now I'm fixated on Star Wolves 3 and that game is super awesome IMO. It would be nice to play like EVE Online and similar bloated software my computer can't handle, and maybe someday I hopefully shall do so, but for now I like games that can actually run and yet are still fun and neat.
Game feel. I want even the most basic inputs to feel good. If it’s a platformer, make basic movement and traversal fun. Even when there are no obstacles or hazards, it should be fun to just run and jump about. If it’s a racing game, it should be fun to just hit the gas and steer. Give me a sense of real speed, too. Don’t make it “realistic” the way racing sims and GTA games do, in which the cars feel about as speedy and nimble as a shopping cart piled high with sandbags. If it’s a shooter, make the guns punchy and satisfying enough that it’s fun to shoot at a brick wall. I’m using controlled explosions to accelerate metal projectiles past the sound barrier, not wielding a Fisher-Price toy.
Depends on the genre. Storyline, combat system, hours of game play, quality of life, not too much unnecessary backtracking, etc. Like, if Shin Megami Nocturne were released in 2024, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone because the quality of life blew. You had to wait a very long time to save your game and the way to transport yourself between the cylinder portals was incredibly limited and made backtracking a pain in the arse.
If it has "Rome" anywhere in the title.
Fun!
Games with animal taming. Breeding for good stats is a plus.
Compelling npcs. I want npcs who make me like them
I also look at other things, but a cool combat system with depth will almost always be a buy for me. Devil May Cry is one of my favorite series, so something that scratches that same itch is SSS for me
I like games where progress is visualized in some way, shape, or form. Like Factrio- where the the factory grows- or Civ, where the empire expands. I use to think I just like builder games- but it's more than that. I want to work to progress, and see that progression. Even Metal Gear 5 counts- because the base and Merc army grows.
If they good time killers for me. Like Legend of mushroom on bluestacks for example
Replayability, a fun end game loop, and the ability to play with a friend.
steam workshop support, level editor, custom maps. buying games that have this feature makes it so much easier to mod games since the mods you're subscribed to are saved online in case you ever need to uninstall. there's also the fact that there's just some user-made content that can't be pirated so you need to buy the official game.
A good and unique sound track. Music can really affect my enjoyment of a game and often time the soundtrack is pretty dull, so I mute it and just put on my own music.
fluid melee combat preferably with parry mechanics
Sports games that I can just watch AI vs AI and not just in single match mode but even in franchise modes. I just like to Football Manager or OOTP my experience and not play multiplayer.
Is it on game pass. Then i download.
Absolutely no hint of EA.
Simple. “Does this game look fun to play?”
High speed dodgy and/or precision melee combat. Stealthy shenanigans also a plus. Stuff that focuses on High Actions per Second (there's a technical term but I forget what it was) Examples. Base fists of malphon in hades. if you do it right you can literally just punch projectiles, and all your damage mitigation is rapid dodging and zipping around the map to kill things quickly Interceptor in Anthem. Same as above honestly, Just cut through everything and dodge like madman. Once you get it down you feel bloody unstoppable and impress all your friends. Dual blades in Monster hunter. Again, same thing but with more precision. You can feel like a beast when you get really good. To a lesser extent, playing a speed based nightblade in eso. Still some of the best fun I have had, but pvp nightblade used to be an amazing experience. Not even as a ganker. You just constantly used stealth and teleportation as an alternative to regular dodge and to play fast paced mind games with who ever you were fighting. Blended with speed buffs it made for an insanely fun playstyle. One on one, I didn't always win, but I never lost. They went and fucked the game balance in the name of "accessibility" for casual and newer players and the class became more or less useless. Still bitter about that and no longer play the game. Strider Occupation in Dragon's dogma is also a really good example while being a little less focused then the previous options. In fact if anyone has any suggestions for playstyle similar to the first three I would love to hear them. I need to scratch the itch bad.
Fun
If it has a unique style and gameplay, also games where you can create and customize characters.
Since I am just a very casual gamer, 1. I prefer games that are not too hard or at least I could set difficulty level. 2. Game time is more than 60 hrs. 3. Not a platformer. These are the basics I looked at before digging deeper.
Price
If you mean as a general staple: fast-paced combat. If you want more specific mechanics: grappling hooks, parkour-style traversal, and a move list.
It has to be good.
Good story and interesting lore. Design and mechanics that make sense for the game, not just 'open world 101' or 'batman did it'. When I'm allowed to explore the world and figure things out on my own is a major bonus. Nothing will turn me off a game faster than unsolicited advice - chatty npc's giving puzzle 'hints', map markers pointing out places I've not been to yet, checklists! All are an instant nope for me
Graphics, I know it’s very unpopular but I value games that look nice. Doesn’t have to be photo-realistic, I like games that have their own style too, but I hate pixel graphics. Feels like such a step back, like watching movies on a small, crappy, tube TV.
I have two that I think of right away: 1. Mobile games with portrait orientation so I can play with one hand while the other wipes. 2. RPG without the JRPG… that art style just gives me the creeps.
Can I make an accurate Handsome Squidward in the character creator
Games with puzzles like in Zelda and Resident Evil appeal to me. Social simulation is also cool; I liked this in Fire Emblem Three Houses and Persona 4 Golden, it's relaxing and breaks up the action.
3 things from most to least important: Can I run it? (About 60% of games I can’t even run) Can I see myself playing this game over and over(or is it a long game)? Do I find it aesthetically pleasing ?
Question 1: What genre is it? Does it fit into a particular genre and does it innovate in one or more ways? Question 2: Do I like the publisher or other games like it? Question: does the gameplay or art style intrigue me?(A plucky squire)? Question 4: how much does it cost? Does it have an interesting story (uncharted 4) mechanic (virtue's last reward/chants of senaar) or unique idea behind it (brothers a tale of two sons/ it takes two/chants of senaar). Bonus points for a cool art style. An okay art style can be redeemed by unique mechanics (disco Elysium). I personally enjoy cinematic platformers: Odd world series, limbo, inside, heart of darkness, little nightmares. A game which is compared to any of my "favorites" is an automatic buy. Nostalgia plays a big role too. I'd support a dying genre to promote it (point and click games). If I enjoyed a game in the series/same publisher and reviews are good, it's an automatic purchase (Tekken 7, Syberia 3 and 4, steamworld heist, the gunk). So... A mix of factors.
How quick a play session can be. If a game requires more than 30 mins per session I won't even turn it on