5 Principle Game Types
These 5 principal game types are the basis for game design and play. Any game will include one or more principles to create engaging gameplay.
- Tokens (money, weapons, identity)
- Challenge (question, conflict, test)
- Skill (talent, science, ability)
- Risk (dice, adventure, threat)
- Maze (puzzle, labyrinth, web)
A game is any contest with rules to determine a winner. The place, time, scope, field, size, player, or other contest constraints are part of a game's profile. Any player who engages in the game's play has skill enrichment.
The game master mixes the types to create gameplay.
Types of Gameplay
Quantitative Games: Tokens and challenges can provide measurable game resources. This quantitative approach allows for explicit progression tracking and objective victory conditions:
- In poker, chips represent monetary value ($100 in poker chips)
- In educational contexts, a 10-question math test uses questions as both tokens and challenges
- Other examples might include:
- Resource management games where players track specific quantities (wood, stone, gold)
- Sports with point-scoring systems
- Card games where numerical values determine outcomes
Qualitative Games: These games tend to focus on:
- Positional advantage rather than numerical superiority
- Strategic thinking and pattern recognition
- Quality of moves rather than quantity of resources
- Victory through skill application rather than accumulation
Mystery Games: These might incorporate:
- Information discovery mechanics
- Deduction and logical reasoning
- Hidden information that players must uncover
- Narrative elements that require interpretation
Narrative/Storytelling:
- Role-playing games where players develop characters within a story
- Legacy games where decisions affect future gameplay sessions
- Interactive fiction, where choices branch the narrative
- Games with rich lore that unfolds through play (Arkham Horror, Gloomhaven)
Cooperation/Alliance:
- Team-based games requiring coordination among players
- Games with shared goals but limited resources
- Partial cooperation games with both collaborative and competitive elements
- Communication-restricted cooperation (like Hanabi or The Mind)
Simulation:
- Games that model real-world systems (economic, political, ecological)
- City-builders and management games
- Historical reenactment games
- Games that teach through accurate representation of processes
Social Deduction:
- Games centered on identifying roles or intentions
- Bluffing and deception mechanics
- Trust-building and betrayal dynamics
- Games requiring psychological insight (Werewolf, Among Us)
Time Pressure:
- Real-time gameplay versus turn-based
- Timed challenges or rounds
- Games where speed affects outcomes
- Reaction-based gameplay
Territory Control:
- Area majority/influence games
- Map-based conquest games
- Games about claiming and defending space
- Territorial development (like Carcassonne)
Engine Building:
- Games where players create increasingly efficient systems
- Mechanisms that compound advantages over time
- Games focused on optimization and synergy
- Building interconnected resources and abilities
Sports as Gameplay:
Combination of Core Principles:
- Tokens: Points, yards gained, possession time, players as resources
- Challenge: Opponents, time constraints, physical obstacles
- Skill: Athletic abilities, tactical knowledge, teamwork
- Risk: Strategic gambles, unpredictable outcomes, injury potential
- Maze: Defensive formations to navigate, play patterns, court/field spaces
Quantitative Elements:
- Scoring systems (points, goals, runs)
- Statistics tracking (batting averages, completion percentages)
- Time management (shot clocks, game periods, time of possession)
- Physical measurements (distance, height, speed)
Qualitative Elements:
- Style and form evaluation (gymnastics, figure skating)
- Strategy development and adaptation
- Team chemistry and cohesion
- Momentum shifts and psychological advantages
Physical Dominance:
- Direct competition for space/position (basketball, football)
- Strength contests (wrestling, weightlifting)
- Endurance challenges (marathons, cycling)
Precision/Accuracy:
- Target-focused sports (archery, golf, darts)
- Placement-oriented games (billiards, curling)
- Technique-based scoring (diving, gymnastics)
Rhythm and Timing:
- Sports requiring synchronized actions (rowing, relay races)
- Timing-critical sports (baseball batting, tennis serving)
- Flow-state activities (surfing, skateboarding)
Sport social aspects form a crucial dimension of sports gameplay:
Social Elements in Sports:
Team Dynamics:
- Communication systems (verbal calls, hand signals)
- Role specialization and position-specific responsibilities
- Leadership hierarchies and decision-making structures
- Trust development between teammates
Community Building:
- Fan cultures and supporter identities
- Shared experiences create social bonds
- Traditions and rituals surrounding participation
- Team or club affiliations forming community anchors
Status and Recognition:
- Achievement recognition through medals, trophies, records
- Social prestige associated with skill demonstration
- Fame and celebrity aspects for elite performers
- Cultural heroes and role models emerging from sports
Conflict and Cooperation:
- Rivalries between teams/individuals create narrative tension
- Sportsmanship and respect codes governing behavior
- Negotiation of competitive boundaries (fair play vs. gamesmanship)
- Alliance formation in multi-team competitions
Cultural Expression:
- Sports as vehicles for cultural identity and values
- National pride and representation in international competition
- Cultural traditions embodied in sport-specific practices
- Symbolic meaning attached to sporting achievements
This social dimension interacts with all five of your original principles, adding depth to the gameplay experience. For example, the social context might determine which tokens (achievements, statistics) are most valued or how maze elements (strategies, formations) evolve through collective innovation and shared knowledge.
The game master's role in sports extends beyond the rulebook to include coaches, officials, and even the collective social norms that shape how games are played and experienced.
Sports beautifully demonstrate how the game master (in this case, the sport's inventors and rule-makers) mix different gameplay types to create engaging experiences that physically, mentally, and sometimes socially challenge participants.
