The Mechanic That's Impossible to Balance

[00:00] There are many important aspects that 

[00:04] but one that I find especially interesting due 

[00:10] Without some sort of setback, or at the 

[00:15] games run the risk of losing meaning. The best 

[00:21] and so space for failure is a key 

[00:25] This can take all sorts of forms, both big and 

[00:32] tons of ways to incorporate it—it all comes 

[00:38] What makes failure tricky is that it is a 

[00:43] when I come across a new boss in a game, a part of 

[00:48] attempt. Of course, if I did first try every fight 

[00:52] away with is that the game was too easy for me. 

[00:58] Despite our aversion to it, we need failure. 

[01:05] it's what makes your inputs matter. And for 

[01:09] a threat—the consequences have to be carried 

[01:14] the threat will no longer feel threatening, 

[01:20] On the other hand though, there is only so much 

[01:25] creating this push and pull for developers where 

[01:29] in a way that will feel meaningful and be 

[01:33] are trying to create without driving away 

[01:37] Over the past couple months, there has been 

[01:41] Silksong for this reason. The game is incredibly 

[01:47] will have you dying over and over again, and what 

[01:52] that in most cases, instead of respawning in a 

[01:57] you most likely will be sent far, far away and 

[02:03] have long been a part of metroidvanias and other 

[02:08] but there has been a somewhat recent push 

[02:15] is with how Elden Ring does it, that being always 

[02:20] allowing players to immediately retry after 

[02:25] whole but instead the boss, and this format 

[02:30] of some of these fights. They are balanced 

[02:33] come in at full strength and therefore they 

[02:38] from how difficult they are, not from 

[02:42] In Silksong, bosses also seem balanced around the 

[02:47] strength despite having to travel so far to get 

[02:52] never that far away from being at full strength, 

[02:57] can be recovered without any sort of item, 

[03:01] restore their primary resource, flasks, by 

[03:07] Hornet leaves a cocoon behind, and breaking it 

[03:12] for the player to start every fight with a 

[03:16] there is still far more friction here. Every death 

[03:22] getting to keep practicing the part that caused 

[03:25] section that calls for a different skillset 

[03:29] Now, despite what people who hate them will 

[03:33] of folks out there who do like runbacks, and 

[03:39] that the challenge comes from mastering an 

[03:43] segments. They like having space between 

[03:47] fight with consideration instead of casually 

[03:52] like finding the optimal path back and perfecting 

[03:57] the temptation it creates to go somewhere else 

[04:02] Sickos like this do exist. And, yes, I am 

[04:08] Admittedly, while I have started to find runbacks 

[04:13] I didn’t have that same feeling in Silksong, 

[04:18] awkwardly weaving between enemies in Dark 

[04:22] wants you to do, speeding through areas in 

[04:27] bunch of moves specifically designed to help you 

[04:32] of it feeling like cheesing the intended 

[04:37] Now, even as someone who found value in them, it 

[04:43] for tons of people, and this largely comes down 

[04:48] obviously runbacks will feel different to those 

[04:52] compared to those who come closer to 30 or 40. 

[04:58] but also will lead to diminishing 

[05:01] at the actual runback. For many, there is a 

[05:06] getting back to the part they’re stuck on will 

[05:10] like part of the challenge and more like 

[05:14] Unsurprisingly, the more punishing failure is, the 

[05:20] around Silksong often gets boiled down to it 

[05:25] started to point out, it has more to do with how 

[05:29] They are obviously intertwined, but it's not 

[05:34] beyond anything a game has ever done before; 

[05:38] a different hard part where dying on the way 

[05:42] money. It is a tension that is hard to hold and 

[05:47] it seems like for a good amount of people than 

[05:52] Silksong can so easily beget more failure, and 

[05:58] Honestly, I think part of why roguelites 

[06:02] a lot of them do the opposite of this. They 

[06:07] where, yes, you most likely will fail time and 

[06:12] close to even looking like a successful run; 

[06:16] every failure is a chance to improve your 

[06:20] unlocking new moves or anything else that may give 

[06:27] and the consolation is often that the playable 

[06:31] with horizontal progression where its more 

[06:35] having a wider pool of upgrades and 

[06:39] more opportunities to craft powerful builds. 

[06:44] giving players a sort of permission structure 

[06:49] For instance, a pretty common phenomenon with 

[06:53] will come across a boss, be underpowered in 

[06:58] it until they beat it. Typically, bosses like 

[07:03] meant to be barriers that push players to explore 

[07:07] better equipped, you’ve heard all this before. 

[07:12] which isn’t easy for a lot of players to do. 

[07:17] the character's ability over the player's 

[07:22] different when they do come back. If they get too 

[07:27] and so beating the boss won’t feel nearly 

[07:32] made. However, in a roguelite, due to the 

[07:36] with a massive increase in the character’s power, 

[07:41] making it unlikely that the fight will be 

[07:45] it to be harder to deem what deserves more credit 

[07:50] Also, more and more roguelites have started 

[07:54] challenge once the player has started 

[07:57] upgraded their character’s abilities. The Heat 

[08:02] examples of this. Before each run, players can 

[08:07] damage and health increases for enemies to more 

[08:12] time limits—changes that have a significant 

[08:17] challenge players opt-into, customize to their 

[08:23] implement. It lets them increase the challenge 

[08:27] deserves the credit while making it rare to 

[08:32] All of this creates a system that offers a 

[08:37] regardless of skill level, never 

[08:40] exact same thing over and over again. It 

[08:42] To be clear, I am not trying to say that 

[08:45] better than other types—it is just that it's 

[08:50] players to accept because it doesn't leave 

[08:55] A person's tolerance for failure depends 

[09:00] looms larger than most is how much time they 

[09:05] an hour every few nights to play something, 

[09:09] dying to fucking Groal again? Most players 

[09:14] within any given gaming session, and even if 

[09:18] that isn't necessarily going to be felt 

[09:23] The right amount of failure is a hard thing 

[09:27] of a game and the state of mind of the 

[09:31] generally the ideal amount sort of exists on 

[09:36] a boss is when you are on the brink, when 

[09:41] and so, especially with games that aim to be more 

[09:46] times you are willing to fail is relatively low, 

[09:51] Of course, failure isn’t always tied to having 

[09:57] be used to shape what happens next whether 

[10:02] this type of failure may seem like it'd be 

[10:05] their time wasted as it doesn't force them 

[10:09] many seem averse to this approach as well. 

[10:14] to gameplay. If you get thrown into a high 

[10:18] permanent death of an NPC or something, 

[10:22] but failing will be a hard thing to accept. Not 

[10:26] experience but also there is a decent chance that 

[10:31] what you were supposed to do, making it feel less 

[10:35] and more like a miscommunication 

[10:38] Even though plenty of people like to be 

[10:42] they don't necessarily want the 

[10:44] to have a lasting impact. They want to be 

[10:49] and the fear of dealing with longterm 

[10:54] This fear is a big part of why 

[10:57] especially ones that span the entire play 

[11:01] to balance titles to protect against this, a 

[11:06] putting them so far behind that by the time 

[11:10] A fairly common critique I received on my recent 

[11:15] some games that I think would have been better 

[11:19] the ways this fear can play out; what happens 

[11:25] I wish I would have because I think there are 

[11:29] to being forced to start the game over; and that 

[11:34] video which is that no matter how interesting 

[11:39] the discomfort they create will still 

[11:43] For instance, instead of getting a game over, 

[11:48] could simply lead to some other consequence. In 

[11:53] when talking about titles that use time limits 

[11:59] Every character, including your own, only has a 

[12:04] life can be extended through the use of a resource 

[12:08] a good reason to explore despite the time limit 

[12:13] characters alive as possible. However, if the 

[12:18] they are presented with the option to sacrifice 

[12:23] certainly less brutal ways a game could go about 

[12:28] fundamentally change character relationships or 

[12:33] those who live there or anything else that brings 

[12:38] effective ways of providing near unlimited time 

[12:42] it. Another approach that could work with a system 

[12:48] the player continue playing even after running 

[12:52] they get. Depending on the complexity of the game 

[12:56] but it would ensure that the player doesn't miss 

[13:03] Now, the problem with these approaches is that 

[13:08] drastic as sacrificing other characters, doing 

[13:13] you've come to care about, while narratively 

[13:18] a game over, you will pretty much have to do it or 

[13:23] of game simply because you weren't quick enough. 

[13:28] bad ending for your character, this also can feel 

[13:32] is considered the good ending, the true ending, 

[13:38] as most people are probably only gonna play a 

[13:43] doesn't feel worth it for most. This increases the 

[13:49] look up the most efficient path or over powered 

[13:54] Honestly, this sentiment often exists even when 

[13:59] seen with games that have meaningful 

[14:02] most players would say that they want to 

[14:06] I don’t know that that is what they actually 

[14:12] that matter, I think what the majority of folks 

[14:17] want it to play out. Obviously this doesn’t 

[14:25] choice and living with the consequence of that 

[14:30] in control. They want to know that the choice 

[14:35] will get them the best ending or atleast the 

[14:39] you’re only going to play a game once, you 

[14:43] you gave the wrong fatherly advice or because you 

[14:48] What’s weird is that I imagine the majority 

[14:52] and engaging kinds of choices tend to 

[14:56] be is not clear. The kind that gets the 

[15:00] happen. What could go right, what could go wrong, 

[15:03] whether that be based on the things 

[15:06] the character they are playing as values. 

[15:10] posts I’ve read, playthroughs I’ve watched, 

[15:19] There is a reason why major gaming publications 

[15:24] major release that includes choices surrounding 

[15:29] This gets even more complicated when luck is added 

[15:34] of discourse around Baldur’s Gate 3 in regards 

[15:40] scumming. Whether it was to undo the consequences 

[15:46] became a wildly popular way to approach the game. 

[15:50] what players should do when playing a title like 

[15:55] and Dragons, the ultimate example of a game where 

[16:00] the mindset someone approaches a tabletop rpg 

[16:05] game with. While there is a whole cottage industry 

[16:10] a halfway decent group to play with, chances are 

[16:15] craft an experience that feels satisfying, that 

[16:21] that has payoffs for everything. But that 

[16:27] They can’t be as accommodating or nuanced as a 

[16:32] how you felt about how something played out 

[16:37] more harsh because of that. For instance, if you 

[16:42] portal at the start of the game, you just don’t 

[16:47] have to be pretty unlucky to miss in this way, but 

[16:52] chance that the player misreads the situation. 

[16:57] it is going to try to pull them in and miss him 

[17:00] would allow players to focus more on the other 

[17:04] have to navigate situations later on in much 

[17:08] a character as beloved as Gale, one who is vital 

[17:14] will never be a part of theirs. This might work 

[17:20] and games is often thrust upon us, it is near 

[17:25] Obviously this is one of the more extreme 

[17:30] Gate 3, but even with choices that have a 

[17:34] characters or events is hard for players 

[17:39] that make choices more interesting also 

[17:43] avoid falling into them whether that is through 

[17:48] What it always seems to come back to in one way 

[17:53] if their time is being wasted. They don’t want 

[17:58] get back whatever it is they hope to get out 

[18:02] tons of time on things we barely even think about, 

[18:07] different. It's more of an investment; it’s an 

[18:11] promise of control. Of being able to progress 

[18:16] a desired outcome. Failure is what makes this 

[18:22] what in some cases puts it in jeopardy. It is a 

[18:28] And one of the most unfortunate things about it 

[18:32] the least interested in experiencing failure, 

[18:38] Obviously there are many things that go into 

[18:42] to be a correlation between being more skilled at 

[18:48] punishment. It is the search for the sweet spot, 

[18:54] but so often, especially in titles with a single 

[18:59] with the consequences of failure. They aren’t 

[19:06] time after dozens and dozens of hours in a game, 

[19:12] ones getting through with far less friction and in 

[19:18] experience or access to weapons sooner, creating 

[19:23] them. Meanwhile, those a bit less skilled get 

[19:27] stuck for far longer. To be clear, being less 

[19:32] wanting to deal with failure at all; I'd imagine 

[19:37] all the way through, but, I’d imagine many want 

[19:42] punished this often and this severely pushes them 

[19:47] failing the most and those failing the least, wish 

[19:52] While difficulty discourse has long been at 

[19:56] the past couple years it has started to feel a bit 

[20:02] and it's not just that a new group of people who 

[20:07] the conversation; it's that a lot of people who 

[20:12] have started to sour on it. There are a lot 

[20:17] the general mental exhaustion of being a human in 

[20:23] a whole getting older and older thus having less 

[20:27] as far as things directly related to the industry 

[20:32] Dark Souls of it all. Obviously, Dark Souls 

[20:37] to difficulty has been massively influential. 

[20:43] being a niche studio to one of the most popular 

[20:49] indie, AAA, and everything in between, have 

[20:54] not even that there are too many soulslikes now, 

[21:00] it's that more and more games in all types of 

[21:05] leading to the average game now being more 

[21:11] After an era of streamlined titles, the pendulum 

[21:17] to where it was in the 80s and early 90s, but 

[21:23] I don't think this is exactly a bad thing, and I 

[21:28] a bit more punishing, but it feels like we're 

[21:33] audience is interested in engaging with. As 

[21:38] and harder ones have continuously tried to top 

[21:44] failure feels heavier than it has in a long 

[21:49] in life feel heavier now than they have in a 

[21:53] has started to be more pushback; that general 

[21:58] experience within the hobby they turn to in order 

[22:04] Failure makes games better. In some ways it is 

[22:10] it is no easy feat as there is no guarantee that 

[22:16] be respected. And part of this is because what any 

[22:22] will vary greatly depending on countless factors 

[22:27] Not to mention, at the end of the day games 

[22:31] more tragically, with me in mind; they 

[22:37] more specifically for subsections of the nebulous 

[22:42] and those subsections become more varied, more 

[22:48] All of this amplifies the frustration that 

[22:53] for feeling this way. I do think there is value in 

[22:59] are so averse to it that we don't even allow it to 

[23:05] inclination to avoid it, I think it can be hard 

[23:10] of failure we will be okay dealing with. We write 

[23:19] it is quite easy to get pushed too far. This is a 

[23:25] to balance. They are trying to find a line that 

[23:31] to hit even in games that offer players plenty 

[23:36] players are instinctively trying to push against, 

[23:39] way or another. I expect to see games shift 

[23:44] current state of things. Truthfully, I wouldn't be 

[23:49] structures more reminiscent of roguelites, and I 

[23:53] tons of major studios have experimented with them. 

[24:04] and I hope it is just the right amount of 

[24:15] Now, one way I don't want you to be a failure is 

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[25:43] For all of you still here, hello. I'd like 

[25:48] possible. I've been doing this for a while now. 

[25:52] this point in the video, you're responsible for 

[25:58] hate…respect. I hope you have a great day and/or