Games That Pack A Solid Story & Respect Your Clock

Be it work or college, one rarely gets a proper block to game once they set foot in society. For a salaryman, the routine is all about the 9-5 shift, meeting deadlines, reporting to a supervisor, and whatnot. The subsequent exhaustion carries over to the house, and people only wind down during the weekend. But that’s when domestic responsibilities say hello.

On the other hand, a student maps out their time based on the schedule of lectures, campus activities, group projects, errands, and much more before they can think about their hobby.

This is why it’s important that games respect a person’s time and provide quality when they actually press start. It builds trust and makes them want to return. That element of connection is far more valuable than one might think, going beyond games.

After all, if you’re on a deadline for your college thesis and need paper help at 3 in the morning with a study group at 7, you’ll be hard-pressed for time. That level of stress detracts more than it adds. Think about it, would you be able to play anything with all that weighing you down?

A Time-Respecting Game Would Prioritize Flexibility

And what better way to do that than to allow a player to save whenever and wherever they feel like? On top of that, they can continue the next session right from where they left off without any penalties or backtracking. And to add a cherry on top, have an option for save-states.

Most titles nowadays feature heavy narratives and long cutscenes. Even the slightest distraction can let a major plot point slip by, which creates a disruption. And given the busy lives of students and salarymen, nothing is more considerate than a feature that enables them to just sit down and experience a story without the looming fear of an interruption ruining it all.

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Ignoring such accessibility in favor of in-game save points or autosaves is a huge downside in accessibility in an age where innovation is being pursued in that area.

No Fake Or Filler Grinds

Back in the day, a story game was simply an adventure with pick-ups along the way. Developers kept things simple, and players could enjoy the game without having to go sideways just for a few extra levels.

Nowadays, everything gets RPG elements shoved in without any rhyme or reason. Modern God of War is a good example. What should be a simple action game with a phenomenal story has RPG mechanics woven in that distract the player.

If you were a student in junior year with barely any time during the weekdays, would you be able to peacefully experience that narrative? Highly unlikely.

Add in a few accessibility features while respecting the player’s time, and the artificial grinds become optional and more fun. This drives more engagement from individuals strapped for time.

Final Thoughts

It’s all in what you prioritize or value. There are countless examples in the gaming industry that show how a studio can respect players’ time. Even so, most fail to take heed.

Still, it’s always a good feeling when you finally discover a game that does what most don’t—respect its players.