For several years now, solo video games have often taken the form of vast open worlds. However, in order for them to be successful, they need to be consistent and allow players to feel comfortable in them. For this, a large number of titles include mini-games. However, for them to be effective, they must meet certain requirements.
Mini games adapted to the universe
For these mini-games to find their place in a title, they must above all be perfectly integrated into this title and its universe. This is something that can be found in many titles. For example, in the Red Dead Redemption series, it is possible to play poker. It is indeed a type of mini-game which finds its place perfectly in the world of the far-west offered by these titles. Obviously, you shouldn’t expect as much depth as you would with traditional poker games, so you don’t need to be an expert to be able to get by. In the same vein, in several titles of the Yakuza series, you will find karaoke, a very popular hobby in Japan, the universe in which the various titles of this series take place.
The mini games must have an interest
In order for players to participate in these mini-games, they must be of interest in the game. For example, they may be in the form of a new quest. This is for example the case of Gwent, a card game integrated into The Witcher 3 . It is indeed a card game on which you must build a deck and face different opponents, before playing a big tournament. Although the latter is accessible without completing this quest, it is still advisable to do it if you want to win this tournament and therefore wins new rewards. The appeal of the collection also makes it possible to convince the players, the latter being able to win cards bearing the effigy of the various protagonists of the game.
The mini games used to pay homage
Some titles use mini-games to pay homage. This is for example what we find in the Shenmue saga, the first two episodes of which were released on Sega Dreamcast. In these titles, you find many arcade terminals, which allow you to play Sega arcade classics, for example, Outrun, Space Harrier, Hang-On, or After Burner 2. This allowed players of the time to discover emblematic Sega titles while integrating them perfectly into the world of the game, that is to say in Japanese metropolises.
In conclusion
Especially in open-world video games, mini-games allow players to be better immersed. However, for this, they must be perfectly integrated into the game, being perfectly adapted to the game world. In addition, they must add value to the title, for example by constituting an additional quest or by allowing them to obtain new rewards. Finally, some titles, such as Shenmue, use mini-games to pay homage, for example to the story of their creators.
