Summary

Although more than 40 mechanics and features were described here, this is not meant to be an exhaustive list. There are countless ways that games engage and create fun for their players. Hopefully, at least a few of the mechanics here apply to your products. But it is important to continue learning. The best way to learn about what makes games fun is to simply play more games. There are limitless experiences out there, and countless ways to divide them up. Find your favorite genre and preferred art style, try online versus offline gameplay, competitive or cooperative, and more. In the same way that you as a product leader likely evaluate any product as you use it, do the same with any game you play. What makes it fun? What kept you playing? Would you recommend it to friends, and why? Discovering the things that make games great for yourself is the best way to learn, and if you are curious about where to start, try any of the examples we cite throughout this book. Once you can...