Gamification and Simplicity: Why Casual Games like Plinko are Thriving in the Digital Age
Nobody can deny the success of video games. Interactive entertainment has a kind of pull on the customer, that film, television, and even literature can’t replicate. Many have speculated that part of the reason is the interactive element, which increases the customers’ investment in the outcome of the story, if there even is a story.
It seems that in the digital age, simplicity is the name of the game. After all, one of the most popular titles today is Candy Crush, a puzzle-game, with no story, and seemingly no end. To see more evidence of this, we need look no further than the gambling market online. The iGaming industry is deeply tied to video games, and there as well, simplicity seems to reign supreme.
As many know, the most popular games at online casinos are slots. But, even beyond slots, simple titles are the ones getting a push. For example, a lot of people are just now discovering plinko games, and having the time of their life. So, the question we have is why? Why is simplicity, seemingly, a requirement for a game to be successful?
Why Players Want Simplicity?
Simplicity seems to be a necessity in the gaming, and gambling, sector nowadays. If we take plinko as an example, the game does not require much of the player. All they have to do is drop a ball from one side of the triangle-positioned slots, and hope that it lands in the right position at the bottom. It doesn’t take much time and effort to learn the rules. And that is our first clue as to why simplicity is in such high demand.
In the 21st century, life is moving fast. We are faced with economic crises, job displacements, and various social issues. Most people are constantly engaged in some way, either professionally or socially. We rarely, if ever, have time to ourselves, and when we do, we like to spend it unwinding. So, most people don’t want to go through the effort of learning new things, especially not if they are over-complicated.
Simplicity is comforting. Slots players, for example, might not even need a tutorial on how to start playing. Most are already aware of how slots work, just from seeing these machines depicted in pop culture. While the same can’t be said for plinko, it is certainly true that, by seeing a game once, most people will be able to pick up on how it works. Then, they can spend their free time unwinding with a few rounds of their new favorite game.
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Mobile Gaming is on the Rise
A symptom of the fast-paced culture that we seem to have built is that so many people are rarely, if ever, at their home. Most view their apartment as “just a place to sleep,” and spend the majority of their day commuting to and from work, at work, or out with friends. Naturally, in such an environment, the video game industry would find it difficult to thrive. And yet, it has, and has done so quite effectively.
An aspect of the industry that is particularly successful is the mobile market. Interest in things like the MAGCH Tablet, and similar gadgets is growing, as people are discovering the utility that tablets can provide. But, as people are purchasing these devices, they are also learning that they can run games. Certainly, there are some rather pricey tablets capable of running incredible, AAA-tier titles. However, most people avoid the pricier ones.
Which means, they have to stick to games that will run on older, less-advanced models. For the most part, video games that are available on these models are not very complex. Simple, basic, and straight-forward titles is what most people will have a chance to play, especially without any extra memory cards, or hard-drives. It isn’t a surprise then, that puzzle games, word challenges, and adaptations of classic board games like chess, backgammon, etc. have become such a huge hit.
Complexity is Still Here
For all the talk we’ve done regarding simplicity, complex games are still being produced. Elden Ring is an RPG that won game of the year just a few years ago. The title has also been called one of the most difficult games in the past ten years, pushing players to improve skills, uncover complex strategies, and pair the right items versus the right enemy. In fact, most of FromSoftware’s titles are much the same, including Bloodborne, Sekiro, andthe Dark Souls series.
Even seemingly simple games, can be quite complex when scratching below the surface. In 2024, Balatro was one of the indie games that was nominated for Game of the Year at the Video Game Awards. At first glance, Balatro is a relatively simple poker-based, trading card game. However, anyone who has played it has learned that there is much more to it than that. The game combines elements from the roguelite genre, with card trading, and poker, to create a unique experience, that requires a lot of forethought.
So, complexity is still, very much present, not just in the gaming, but in very popular video games. The truth of the matter is that, games themselves have become more popular than ever. If we look at game demographics from the early 2000s, versus today, we’d find that older people are much more likely to play games. Of course, casual players will flock to simple and straightforward games more, whereas those with a deep-rooted interest will explore more popular games.
Concluding Thoughts
The growing popularity of the video game industry can certainly be felt across demographics. Older generations today are much more likely to play games than those from 20 years ago. More to the point, the average person is far likelier to have been exposed to gaming in some way, shape, and form. So, it shouldn’t really surprise us that simple games like slots, plinko, or even Candy Crush are gaining traction. However, it is important to remember that, alongside them, we are seeing games that are more complex than ever, achieve mainstream status.
