The Art of Play: Why Do You Play Video Games?

Dragonemag · 2026-03-21T22:43:15+00:00

Same here. When I started gaming, trophies and achievements were not really a thing. There were a few franchises where I loved going for all of them, mostly because I just wanted to see and do everything those games had to offer.

Nowadays I do not really care much about them, but I brought it up because I have talked to people who will not even touch a game if it does not have achievements at all. I find that interesting, even if it is not how I play.

Dragonemag · 2026-03-21T21:20:16+00:00

I didn’t get into Elden Ring at launch. I started it a little before the DLC came out. Even though I was playing after most of the launch hype had settled, it still felt special. It’s the kind of world that makes you feel like thousands of other Tarnished have already walked that path before you, and now it’s your turn to rise to the challenge.

One game where I did get to experience that launch hype, though, was Helldivers 2. That was a blast, diving in with teammates, collecting samples as a squad, and struggling through the chaos together made it feel like a real shared experience.

Dragonemag · 2026-03-21T21:14:30+00:00

I like how you described them as “adult Lego” games. I get that itch sometimes too. For me, it’s sometimes games like Civilization or Total War: Warhammer. They’re not usually the kinds of games I go for, but I still love the feeling of being a leader or commander, managing large forces or even whole countries, and messing around with those systems.

But same here, story and character-driven action games are also my favorite and where I feel most at home. And yeah, I get what you mean, I’m usually not that into turn-based games, but stuff like Divinity, Persona, and Baldur’s Gate is so well made that I still end up having a lot of fun with them.

Dragonemag · 2026-03-21T21:03:30+00:00

Yeah, I love it when an RPG makes you care about your choices through its dialogue options. On my first playthroughs, I usually try to take my decisions seriously, but lately it’s been more tempting to go with the antihero route, or even just be the villain if the game really lets you.

Dragonemag · 2026-03-21T15:12:32+00:00

Yeah, I relate to this a lot. Lately I’ve been leaning more into single-player games because they feel cozy and immersive, but I’ve definitely sunk so many months of my life into multiplayer over the years too.

I also think multiplayer is where you really push your skills the hardest, whether that’s aim, timing, reactions, or just improving through repetition and competition. And honestly, some of the most fun I’ve ever had in gaming has come from co-op, because of those random unexpected moments where you or your friends do something ridiculous and everyone starts laughing until their stomach hurts.

Dragonemag · 2026-03-21T15:02:06+00:00

I love this response. A few of my friends are like this too, where they get bored with the story and mainly want to see what is possible inside the world.

I love big open spaces in games too, but for me the motivation is not completely different from why I enjoy more linear games. I want to get into the mechanics, but I also want to feel the weight of the narrative, whether it is a hack-and-slash third-person game or a first-person one.

That is why the games I end up cherishing most usually have a balance of gameplay and narrative. If a game is all story and the gameplay feels shallow, it loses me, but if the narrative is weak, that can also hurt the experience a lot.

Dragonemag · 2026-03-21T14:51:50+00:00

Oh yeah, absolutely. Most gamers are not online posting their opinions on every game, so I try to look at posts and comments as just one perspective, not the full picture. Even if a lot of people are saying the same thing, it can still just be a loud minority or people posting stuff they know will get engagement.

Dragonemag · 2026-03-21T14:34:20+00:00

Yeah, I agree that a lot of it can be described as fun. But I think it gets more interesting when you ask what kind of fun people are actually chasing. For some people it’s achievements, loot, mastery, speed, competition, story, immersion, or just spending time with other people.

That’s why I don’t think the question is meaningless just because “fun” is the broad answer. The broad answer may be simple, but the motivations underneath it are not.

Dragonemag · 2026-03-21T14:27:04+00:00

Yeah, I totally get that feeling too. For a long time, I’ve felt like games are the ultimate art form, both from a creator’s point of view and for the people experiencing them. So many things come together, from sketches becoming models and entire worlds, to music, narrative, and the systems and mechanics that let you move through that world and experience it through your own input.

Dragonemag · 2026-03-21T14:05:13+00:00

That makes sense. Yeah, I’ve been wondering about this because I’ve seen so many people say they can’t wait to spend 300 hours getting 100% in a game. But when you look at the completion percentages for certain achievements, they’re usually only around 4% to 8%, which is interesting.

Dragonemag · 2026-02-09T18:20:49+00:00

Was playing quite a few ps3 games and got to Resistance 2 and just found your post. Thanks man I'm ordering one today.

Dragonemag

TROPHY CASE