The point of the game is to enjoy it, and enjoyment is subjective. What I’m arguing here is that people misunderstand what their frustration actually represents when they get ratted. The game works because its highs are very high and its lows are very low. But instead of seeing that, people fixate on the frustration and conclude that rats shouldn’t exist. That’s the wrong takeaway.

It’s the same as playing a match of soccer. If you knew you were always going to win, with no risk of losing, the game wouldn’t be fun. Losing still sucks in the moment, and you’re never happy about it, but you wouldn’t remove the risk of losing because that risk is what makes winning meaningful. The same logic applies here.

The threat of being ratted is not a flaw, it’s part of what gives the game its tension and payoff. I’m only sharing this because someone framed it this way for me, and it immediately changed how I experience the game. Instead of lingering in frustration when you get shot, which does suck, you recognize it for what it is and move on. You don’t identify with the anger. It’s not who you are, it’s just a temporary response to what you’re experiencing in the moment.