Gaming Psychology: Why Fast-Paced Games Hold Our Attention

If there is one thing that will capture and hold the attention of most people, it’s a fast-paced game.  It might be a video game, played competitively between family members or friends.  It could be an intense esports match or even one of the crash-style casino games out there.  Whatever the game, there are close connections to gaming psychology – that is the exploration if how game design works in terms of the rewards and challenges it presents to its players.  That, of course, includes emotions which have a massive impact on the way that individual players think and behave.  If you understand a few of the psychological principles behind gaming psychology, it can really help explain why some games really do feel impossible to put down – whether it’s for food, study or sleep!

The Power of Immediate Feedback

You may have guessed, but it’s all about feedback.  It’s constant – each and every time a player makes a decision, they see the result immediately.  Then it’s very much up to them to decide what they are going to do next.  Decisions, decisions!  This rapid cycle of action and response demands one thing – that the brain is focused entirely on the “here and now”.

Of course, in slower games there are often extended periods of time between a decision and an outcome – the action, reaction.  However, fast-paced games reduce that gap, usually providing an instant reward.  Mistakes usually provoke a stream of information giving feedback about what to change at the next attempt.  This continuous sense of momentum makes each moment feel meaningful to the player – and that’s one of the reasons games sometimes get in the way of “real life”!

Anticipation and Uncertainty

Have you ever felt uncertain?  The sense of anxiety this creates in our brains is a crucial factor in gaming psychology.  If you can’t predict what is going to happen next, then that means you give it more attention – and remain attentive too.  This could be the anticipation of the next move a  player might make or whether a difficult level will suddenly become even more challenging.  There is also the uncertainty around the strategies you may already have built – will they work?

So, uncertainty creates a need to monitor the situation (in this case the game).  Our brains are wired to give situations with unclear outcomes more attention, especially if there is a significant reward if we get things right.  This principle is extensively used by games designers – they introduce unpredictable events, challenges that quickly evolve or change and even variable rewards.  A little nuance in any of these directions can make a game more exciting to play.

The Reward Loop

Are you in the loop?  A reward loop goes like this.  There is an action (by you) which creates and outcome – often with a reward.  Then, very quickly, there is another opportunity for action – and so on (you get it!).  This can make gameplay feel highly satisfying because there are regularly new reasons presented to players to continue the game.

Here’s the thing – the rewards are not always what you might classify as a “major achievement”.  They often boil down to points, new abilities, sounds, progress indicators or something as simple as a stimulating visual effect.  Small rewards are a reinforcement – they encourage the continuation of participation, particularly when they are well-timed.

Challenge and Skill

We all like a challenge, don’t we?  That’s compounded when the challenge involves skills that we already have or are honing.  These are two essential elements of gaming psychology as well.  If a game is too easy, then players are going to get bored very quickly.  On the other hand, if it is too hard, then frustration develops and many gamers will just throw their hands in the air, give up and go on to another game.  So, designers must get the balance right – and the most engaging gaming experiences are usually those which sit comfortably between the two extremes.

There is also a definite relationship between challenge and skills – and this is sometimes associated with a concept known as “flow”.  Simply put, that’s the state you are in when you are deeply absorbed by something – think of it as “going with the flow” in some ways… Fast-paced games encourage flow by demanding quick decisions – and at the same time increasing the player’s level of ability.  It’s a fine line between the two.

Why Short Sessions Can Feel So Engaging

Although you hear a lot of boasts about 24 hours (plus) of gaming, many modern games are designed around short and intense periods of activity rather than dragging things out ad infinitum. Strangely enough, this makes it easier for players to think to themselves “go on, just one more game”.  That’s because each session has a clearly delineated beginning and end – so starting another round doesn’t feel like a massive commitment.

I know what you are thinking now – and you are right.  The same psychological mechanisms that make a game entertaining also encourage us to spend more time than we had originally intended playing it! Recognising and reflecting on how rewards, uncertainty, feedback and challenge (basically what I have written about in this post!) attract attention can also help us, as players, to make more conscious decisions about our gaming habits.

At the end of the day, gaming psychology has shown that fast-paced games are engaging for more than, say, graphics or competition.  They are created with the fundamental aspects of human attention and motivation firmly in the minds of their creators – and this is one of the reasons that many universities now offer degrees in Games Design with units based around the whole psychology of gaming.  That’s why elements such as instant feedback, uncertainty, rewards and achievable challenges are always to be found in the most popular games.  With these elements in place, the games create experiences that remain compelling not after the first round begins, but repeatedly.

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