Why Players Love Games With Reward Systems

Anyone who has ever played a video game knows the excitement of leveling up, overcoming challenges, and proving yourself among the toughest competition. There are numerous reasons why games are so enjoyable, but the one that particularly stands out is in-game rewards. 

Whether they come in the form of points, items, characters, or something else, these rewards provide players with a sense of achievement and motivation to keep playing.

But what is it that makes these systems so compelling? And how have they become an inseparable part of modern-day gaming? We’ll answer these and many other important questions as we look at why players love games with reward systems.

Strong Emotional Response

Ever since the emergence of video games, players have been drawn to the excitement of earning rewards. In the early days of arcades, they used to spend hours and hours on their favorite machine just to prove they were the best at the game. Nothing could beat the thrill of having your name showcased at the top of the high-score leaderboard.

As video games got more complex, reward systems evolved way past traditional high scores. Today, they come in the form of characters, weapons, skins, and other unlockable content. Players can earn these rewards by leveling up as they progress through the game. Whether it’s unlocking a character you’ve been dreaming about for months or finally acquiring the most powerful weapon in the game, earning these rewards creates lasting memories.

Many modern games rely on unpredictability to heighten the emotional impact of their reward systems even more. The best examples of this are popular titles like EA FC (formerly FIFA) and League of Legends, which reward their players with packs and chests that contain mystery items. This element of surprise makes each reward even more special and opening them creates a rush of adrenaline.

Online slots work in the same way, relying on randomness to create excitement and anticipation. Nothing beats the feeling of seeing the reels align perfectly and hitting the jackpot. This is especially the case now as casino platforms keep introducing more immersive visuals and better gameplay. Even if you don’t have time to spend hours on these games, there are no KYC online casinos for fast play which allow you to sign up in a matter of seconds and jump into the action right away. These casinos don’t feature KYC (Know Your Customer) checks, meaning you can get to the casino games sooner. 

A Sense of Competence

We as humans have an innate desire to develop new abilities and accomplish goals. Whether we’re talking about everyday life or work, we always look to get better at something and prove our skills through different challenges.

This also translates to gaming where there are so many opportunities to put our abilities to test.

Modern video games are everything but easy and often take hundreds and hundreds of hours to master. They come with complex mechanics, countless combos to learn, and advanced strategies that require critical thinking.

Not only this but with most games now taking place online, you face other players from all across the world who are as invested in the game as you are. And the better you get, the tougher the competition becomes.

Those who prove to be the best by dominating matches and racking up wins are rewarded with the highest ranks in the game. In Valorant, for example, only 0.03% of players have received the Radiant status, which is the highest tier in the game. The same percentage of League of Legends players earn the Challenger status, meaning this rank is reserved only for those with elite skill levels.

These rankings are more than just a measure of skill, they give players a sense of progress and competence. However, they’re not the only reward the best players receive. The highest ranks often come with skins, icons, banners, and other in-game content designed specifically for those who prove to be among the very best.

High rankings bring even more rewards outside the game, as they earn players prestige within the community and even open the doors to a career in streaming on platforms like Twitch and Kick.

Social Comparison

Above, we mentioned how the very best players reach elite statuses in gaming communities. However, modern games now have dozens of tiers and even if you’re not a world-class player, your ranking and the rewards that come with it still play a major role.

Achievements, badges, and icons can serve to show your teammates how far you’ve progressed in the game. They may even put fear into your opponents if you’ve earned a high rank or a rare achievement.

Some games even have fun nicknames that indicate your playstyle and show other players what they can expect from you in the game. Small things like this provide something extra for players to take pride in and stand out from the crowd.

With season Battle Passes now becoming a common reward system, cosmetics like skins, emotes, and weapon designs can also tell other players how long you’ve been playing the game. Some incredibly rare skins are only awarded in the first few seasons of a game’s release, and owners often use them to show off their veteran status.

This is just an example of how things like this do more than just provide customization and can serve as digital trophies, allowing players to showcase their history and dedication to the game.

Long-term Engagement

In-game rewards are also something that keeps players coming back to their favorite game. Without the potential to unlock something new, players could lose interest as the gameplay starts feeling more repetitive.

Game developers fight this by constantly providing new content for players to engage in. They keep introducing new characters, which typically require a lot of points to unlock, giving players more reasons to grind. These new characters typically come with unique abilities that players are excited to try out. 

League of Legends keeps introducing several new characters every year and has over time amassed 170 champions. A content creator has calculated that it takes 882 hours or almost 37 days of gametime to unlock all of them. The game makes the job easier for players through rewards like chests that reduce the cost of unlocking a new champion.

Similarly, sports franchises like EA FC and NBA 2K push out new player cards throughout the entire season. These cards are often tied to players’ historical or recent real life performances, making them even more exciting for fans. Sometimes, those who miss out on a rare player card may have to wait for months just to again have a chance to obtain it.

Free-to-play online games like Burnout Extreme Drift 3 also come with several unlockable achievements that keep you coming back for more.

This continuous stream of content keeps players engaged for years and is exactly how some of the most popular titles out there have amassed millions of players worldwide.

Conclusion

There’s no doubt reward systems have become a core element of modern games. In fact, for many players, they’re the number one reason why they keep coming back to their favorite titles and continue unlocking new achievements.

We can only expect this concept to become even more popular in the future as most new games are free-to-play and come with tons of additional content, some of which is obtainable through continued play.