Designing an Ending

There are an enormous amount of games that use a victory point system of one sort or another to win. Not that there is anything wrong with this sort of win condition in a game but, I have to ask, could we do more?

Something that I never expected when I began to design games, is how difficult it is to design a fun and engaging win condition that feels unique to other win conditions used by other games.

During this time I always felt opposed to using designs and ideas from other games but I have changed my thinking about that after trying and failing many times to design my own unique win conditions and mechanics.

The best way I could describe it would be like trying to invent a new color in your head. It just feels impossible. I can't tell you how long I have spent stuck on this problem. Why is it so hard to design a different way to end a game that is still fun and engaging? I have been struggling with this since the beginning of my game design journey.

I suppose the saying goes, "Don't fix what isn't broken." But, part of me just really loves to see innovative ways to end a game.

I think the win conditions that do exist tend to say something about who we are as humans and what we desire. After all, something is only fun to us if it calls to our sense of progress and well being. It feels good to advance in a game but we recognize that you must also fail in a game for that feeling of advancement to feel like anything at all.

This plays into win conditions in games. Victory points are a feeling of accretion and progress. Being the first to complete something gives us a sense of importance. Being able to outlast your opponent's hit points grants a feeling of superiority making us feel competent and in control.

There is a variety of reasons that we are drawn to games. Whether a board game, sports, or an election, every aspect of our lives involves some sort of game. But, the word "game" itself means something much simpler than most of us think. A game could describe anything from playing a video game to having a conversation with someone. Even driving a car is a game with rules.

It is no wonder then, that we are drawn to games. They can provide us many types of challenges and experiences we might have never had if they didn't exist. This is why win conditions tend to reflect some human desires and tend to be limited as well. Perhaps when we begin to understand ourselves more and discover our purpose in the universe more win conditions will bubble to the surface through games. Perhaps games are really just a means of understanding ourselves?

Do you know of a win condition that is really unique and innovative? Please comment and share it with me because that kind of thing is very fascinating to me. Thank you.

- Samuel Zomerhius