Why Gamers are Wired to Love Chance

From the moment you start playing a game, chance is usually already at work. This can happen in scenarios you might not even consider as chance, such as an enemy encounter. There are a few reasons why this makes games a lot more fun to play.

Games rely on uncertainty to keep you engaged. This taps into how our brain processes rewards. The anticipation of something happening is one of the most powerful tools in modern game design.

Of course, this is the case in real life as well. The excitement of waiting for your lottery results is one example of where chance can be thrilling. Whether looking out for your lottery numbers or the next loot drop, here you’ll see why chance can feel so compelling.

The Brain’s Relationship with Uncertainty

Your brain isn’t wired to respond the strongest to guaranteed rewards. They can lift your mood but rarely your excitement levels. If guaranteed rewards kept happening in a game, then eventually it would become boring.

When there is more mystery about what you’ll get and how you’ll get it, your brain releases dopamine in anticipation. This is often called the “feel good” chemical, as it helps us to feel pleasure. It’s anticipation that causes this excitement.

A game will often exploit this by spacing its rewards irregularly. You might open a few loot crates with little reward, only to find the next one gives you something rare. This gives you a spike of pleasure. Even if you miss out, your brain still enjoys the possibility.

You can also experience a sense of agency, which, while it may be false, can make you feel in control. That’s because whatever the reward was, it was triggered by you. Breaking a rock in Zelda: Breath of the Wild may come with a random reward, but it feels like a personal triumph when out pops a diamond.

As with Zelda, most games use the element of chance in subtle ways that support the main gameplay. Most things in life become boring when they are predictable. Developers know a predictable game won’t be a successful one.

The Balance of Skill and Chaos

While randomness is important, games can’t solely rely on it. Players want to know that using their skills is going to play a vital role. Finding this balance is crucial as it allows the player to believe they can influence an outcome through better play, even with chance involved.

Having this level of control will keep you invested but it also has an interesting psychological consequence. When you lose, you will often blame bad timing or bad luck. If you win, then you will credit your skill and choices. This gives you a reason to keep playing as improving feels possible.

As you progress through a game, it can reward you with better odds. Higher skill levels, improved gear, or other perks can reward you. This can reduce the randomness to make you feel like you’re progressing but without removing it entirely.

Progression Systems That Keep You Chasing

The reason progression systems work so well is that you feel as though you need to chase constant improvement. Yet chance still plays a role here. It allows the game to feel exciting rather than a mechanical checklist of things you need to complete.

If every level-up were identical, progression would feel like a chore, which is why random rewards work so well. Even if more of the rewards were incremental, the possibility of something rare happening keeps you engaged for longer.

These systems can also create stories on their own. You’re likely to remember that time when you got that incredible item, or those times when an unlucky streak tested your patience. It helps to make the game feel more memorable and personal, as no one person would have the exact same experience as you.

Social Play and Shared Moments of Luck

Chance can become even more powerful when it’s shared in online or multiplayer games. They can create dramatic moments of play that you can talk about with friends or teammates. A lucky win or an unexpected comeback can often feel bigger than any individual achievement.

This can go seamlessly with the natural luck that comes from in-game play. An enemy walking into a trap or making an obvious mistake can compound the unpredictability of the game. Having these shared experiences can make your connection to the game even stronger.

One of the worst feelings in a game is if you feel the competition is unfair and somehow you’re being cheated. Random elements can prevent you from feeling as though outcomes are predetermined, giving everyone a chance to enjoy the game.

In modern video games, it’s easy to forget just how much of the game comes down to chance and RNG systems. These keep you hooked and keep that flow of dopamine going, which can make the best games so addictive.