Previously, I discussed how gameplay is fundamentally about the experiences players have as they navigate challenges, make choices, and face the consequences of their actions. While mechanics and systems provide the framework for these interactions, the richness of gameplay emerges from how players engage with these systems. Out of this engagement, different types of gameplay dynamics evolve, some predictable and structured, others surprising and player-driven.
Systematic Gameplay
When gameplay dynamics allow for the interlocking systems to create opportunities for experimentation within designed constraints, we have a systemeic game.
Systemic games are designed so that individual systems influence one another, allowing for a dynamic interplay of mechanics. A notable example is the rain mechanic in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, where rain affects gameplay by making surfaces slippery, reducing visibility, and muffling Link’s footsteps, thus facilitating stealth.
These games offer players a higher degree of experimentation and control compared to traditional designs. They create an environment where players can interact with systems in innovative ways, leading to richer experiences.
Player Agency
Systemic games enhance player agency by allowing players to make meaningful choices that influence their gameplay experience. This sense of control fosters deeper engagement and investment in the game world, as players feel their actions have significant consequences. As players experiment with different strategies, they engage in iterative learning, discovering the outcomes of their decisions and adapting their approaches accordingly.
Balance in Systemic Gameplay
Designers must strike a balance between providing structured gameplay and allowing for player-driven exploration. While systemic games offer players the freedom to experiment, excessive structure can limit creativity. Conversely, too much freedom may lead to a lack of direction. Achieving this balance is crucial for creating an engaging and dynamic game environment.
The following video from The Game Maker’s Toolkit provides a quick overview of systemic game design and its mechanics.
Emergent Gameplay
Gameplay dynamics can also give rise to what is considered emergent gameplay. This occurs when players have the freedom to explore game systems, leading to new and unexpected outcomes. This phenomenon is often driven by cultural trends, such as how online communities build narratives or develop in-game economies. Emergent gameplay allows players to engage in creative problem-solving, producing results that the game designers did not foresee.
Sandbox Games
Sandbox games exemplify emergent gameplay by allowing players significant creative freedom, often without predetermined goals or with player-defined objectives. This combination of flexible mechanics and player agency fosters emergent gameplay, where players can create their own experiences and solutions. In such environments, players can experiment with game systems, discovering unique interactions and narratives that evolve based on their choices.
Emergent Narrative
Emergent gameplay can create unique narratives shaped by player actions. Stories evolve organically based on interactions, resulting in personalized experiences that enhance player engagement and immersion. Players contribute to the narrative through their decisions, further enriching the gameplay experience.
Balance in Emergent Gameplay
Just as in systemic gameplay, achieving balance is essential in emergent gameplay. Designers need to provide enough structure to guide players while allowing them the freedom to explore and create. Too much structure can stifle creativity, while insufficient guidance may leave players feeling lost. By carefully designing game mechanics, creators can encourage exploration without sacrificing the overall player experience.
The following video from The Game Overanalyser categorizes different types of eme
Summary
In systemic gameplay, yielded experiences emerge from structured problem-solving and the deliberate design of interlocking systems. In emergent gameplay, they arise from player creativity, unexpected interactions, and the evolving social or cultural context. Together, these dynamics create rich, memorable, and personalized gameplay, where the outcome is as much a product of the player’s choices as of the game’s mechanics.