Let's talk for a moment about task based game design

[Ico]

i used to care a lot about doing everything if i liked the game a lot, but i ended realizing that some games have so many useless tasks that in the end i would start liking them less in the longrun if i forced myself to do everything... nowadays i complete ignore it and just do my own thing, stopping playing the game when i feel satisfied and sometimes even never engaging with specific side activities

 

[anonpuffs]

I prefer having indicators, otherwise i get a massive sense of FOMO

 

[Yurinka]

It's also worth nothing that some tasks/side quests that apparently are a filler and meaningless, in reality are a hook to make the player visit an specific area due to several reasons:

• Trigger some main story bit or guide the player in the direction of the areas that need to be visited to continue in the golden path
• Make the game less repetitive by 'making sure' the player discovers some specific new environment/biome/landmark, loot types, weapon types, enemy types, collectables, etc. placed around it or as part of the mission
• To offer more chill and easy experiences that offer a contrast and rest versus more difficult, intense experiences as could be boss fights, some main missions. Such contrast of increasing and decreasing intensity creates a certain rythm, a certain pace, that helps make the game more fun
• To offer a more approachable way to grind for less skilled players to help them level up / unlock stuff to later approach more difficult things

 

[Systemshock2023]

How long to beat mentality did a lot of damage to game design

 

[laynelane]

What do you think about having such an indicator placed in a less conspicuous spot? If I'm remembering correctly, Darksiders 2 had a completion percentage indicator on the save file. When I'd go to load a save, I'd always give it a glance but didn't think too much about it.

 

[Brood Intern]

They're teasing out the players OCD/autism and frankly I think it's abusive.