Depending on what type of gamer you are, the titles you play could take you hours to complete. There's something to be said for a game so immersive that the player doesn't become bored and look elsewhere even after months of gameplay. These types of games usually have open worlds and multiple missions or side quests that keep players engaged over the long term. But what happens if you only have a limited amount of time to commit to a game? You could spend months or years getting through just a single title. Gamers who are pressed for time often prefer to play games in short bursts and want to see they've made real progress toward completing them, and that's where the short-game trend has come from.
Short games don't encompass one single genre; they can be everything from casual puzzlers to narrative-heavy adventure games. What they have in common is that they can be completed within a few hours, or a portion of the game can be played and completed in a short time. Thanks to the demand for short games, developers are increasingly focusing on this format. Games like Journey, Celeste, and Inside are all examples of short games that have all amassed large followings and achieved commercial success. In this article, we look at what makes these games special and why gamers are embracing short games.
The Appeal of Short Games
There aren't enough hours in the day for most of us to get through all of the things on our to-do lists. As busy as we might be, most of us try to set aside some time each day for relaxation and entertainment. Short games allow people to do this without committing to hours of intense gameplay. If you peruse the online gaming offerings, the popularity of short games quickly becomes apparent.
For example, as casinos have moved online in the past year, what stands out for many is that many of the games on offer can be played quickly. While some table games can take hours to complete, a game like roulette can be over in a few minutes. Roulette is well-known for its simplicity and quick pace, making it a good option for players looking for short, engaging gaming sessions. With roulette, players can choose approximately how much time they want to commit before moving on to another activity, a plus for anyone with a busy lifestyle.
Compare that to RPGs and open-world games, which typically require a significant time commitment if you hope to finish them. Beyond casino games, short games come in every genre imaginable, and many have intriguing narratives, but what separates them from their longer counterparts is that these games are more concise and avoid unnecessary filler. That means players can often finish them in just one setting. Many of them are also highly replayable, with many players returning to them to explore different choices, uncover hidden secrets, or improve their performance.
Cultural and Market Trends
If you've been a gamer for more than ten years, you've probably noticed how much gaming culture has changed during that time. As aging cell phones have evolved into advanced smartphones, more and more gamers are shifting to mobile games that they can take with them anywhere they go. While smartphones can increasingly handle the advanced graphics required for AAA titles, many people prefer to play casual or short games on these devices, especially if they do most of their gaming during a morning commute on public transportation or during breaks throughout the day.
Short games can be squeezed into even the busiest of schedules, and Indie developers were among the first to capitalize on this trend. They've created games that short-form games that have stood out in a crowded market and have focused their efforts on unique concepts and storytelling techniques. Subscription services are also getting on the short games bandwagon, adding these titles to their libraries and making it easy for gamers to discover new titles without having to pay extra money to play them.