Why Games Are So Addictive: Psychology of Player Engagement

The gaming industry thrives on a captivating formula: it taps into our inherent psychological needs and desires. But how exactly do games achieve this? This article explores the science behind the addictive nature of games, highlighting how they leverage our evolutionary instincts to keep player engagement high and spending money (estimated at a staggering $140 billion globally).

Engineered Entertainment: Constructing a Rewarding Reality

Games function as meticulously crafted virtual worlds designed to trigger pleasure and motivate repeat play.

View from an ingame living room out into a phantasy world. They design is focussed on triggering parts of the brain helping with player engagement.

This effectiveness stems from their ability to mirror the reward mechanisms already established within our brains. Throughout human history, evolution has honed our brains to incentivize beneficial behavior through a system of positive reinforcement, primarily driven by the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and satisfaction. Games exploit this system by seamlessly integrating similar reward structures.

Maslow’s Hierarchy and the Drive to Play

Understanding the concept of “needs” is crucial here. Psychologist Abraham Maslow categorized human needs in a hierarchical pyramid, with basic physiological needs (hunger, thirst) forming the foundation and more complex psychological needs (belonging, self-esteem) at the top. Games cater to these needs across the spectrum to increase player engagement.

Fulfilling Basic Needs in a Streamlined Way: Unlike real-life scenarios, where fulfilling needs often requires significant effort, games offer a more efficient path. They offer instant gratification, bypassing the hurdles and setbacks encountered in everyday life. This optimized system of rewards is highly appealing to our brains, which are wired to seek the fastest route to positive reinforcement.
Maslow’s Higher Needs and the Allure of InGame Achievements: More sophisticated games (think MMORPGs) can address a broader range of needs. Social interaction, fostered through ingame chat and team-based gameplay, satisfies our need for belonging. Games can also fulfill our desire for esteem by allowing players to acquire status symbols and recognition within the virtual world. The greater the variety of needs a game addresses, the more immersive and satisfying the experience becomes.

Monetization Strategies and InGame Goods

Game developers carefully consider how players will achieve a sense of accomplishment within the game, and how this can be linked to monetization strategies. The rise of the Free-to-Play (F2P) model has seen ingame purchases become an integral part of the gameplay experience. These purchases often focus on acquiring virtual items that enhance a player’s character or experience.

Ingame items are one aspect that can help increase player engagement without making them addicted.

FiPME: Facilitating Secure and Rewarding Play

Here’s where FiPME steps in. By providing a secure and efficient platform for trading ingame assets, FiPME empowers players to access the very elements that contribute to their enjoyment – the ingame items. This fosters a more fulfilling gaming experience while also offering developers valuable data insights that can further optimize player engagement.

Conclusion: A Psychological Dance

The success of the gaming industry hinges on its ability to understand and leverage human psychology. By offering a streamlined path to fulfilling core needs and desires, games create a compelling and addictive experience. FiPME recognizes the importance of ingame items in this equation, and strives to create a secure and transparent trading ecosystem that benefits both players and developers.

Get to the platform through our gamer page here.