What’s the Formula for the Perfect Game?

Board games have been a source of joy for people of all ages and backgrounds. From classics like chess to the chance-filled Snakes and Ladders, games offer both entertainment and insights into human nature. It can be, therefore, interesting to explore what makes a game truly great, including elements like choice and surprise, simplicity, and fascinating historical origins.

Snakes and Ladders: A Game of Fate

Snakes and Ladders, contrary to what I used to believe, reflects a view of life where events seem beyond our control, influenced by impersonal forces. So, this game solely depends on luck, not on the use of efficient strategies. This can be frustrating, because you might not be able to change the flow of the game no matter what strategy you use, except for relying on the dice. So, what ingredients transform a game into a truly enjoyable experience?

Ingredients for a Great Game

A fantastic game strikes a balance between giving you choices and adding elements of surprise. In India, games have traditionally been used at weddings to help newlyweds bond. That is to say, thanks to those games, the newlywed couples got to know and to interpret how the other person expressed themselves while playing the game through their moves.

According to Irving Finkel, an expert in ancient Mesopotamian games, playing board games enhances our ability to understand our opponents better. Finkel even suggests that the evolution of games is intertwined with the development of human consciousness. He argues that the “mind-reading” skill is essential for social creatures, helping us human beings imagine how someone else would move and plan accordingly, thereby exploring the inner lives of others. 

Games of Strategy

Games like chess and Go, originating in India, rely heavily on strategy. However, these games can become somewhat predictable unless the players are evenly matched. In other words, when there is no luck -dice- included, you can become able to make guesses about the other player’s upcoming moves, analyzing the strategies they use. Seeing that, in some versions of chess, dice were initially used to determine how pieces could move. 

After that, when gambling was prohibited, players removed the dice, emphasizing the importance of intellect over chance. On the other hand, in the perfect game, you would still have a chance of winning although you are not as experienced as your opponent in that game. Well, that creates a key concept: uncertainty. A game can be very boring if you know that your opponent practiced more than you did in advance, and therefore their triumph is certain.

Balancing Act

The perfect game combines strategy with unexpected twists, more simply, the luck factor. Elements like dice rolls or card draws keep players engaged, and maintaining this uncertainty throughout the game is vital in game design. 

As an example, games like Monopoly can become less exciting once someone gains a significant advantage since it becomes very difficult to win against that opponent after a certain point.

Simple Rules, Diverse Outcomes

A great game should also have straightforward rules that players can grasp quickly without much effort. The complexity should emerge from the various possible outcomes, instead of the rules regarding how to play that game. The possibility of diverse outcomes renders the game more worthy of playing multiple times.

What’s the Formula for the Perfect Game?

I, personally, consider backgammon to be a strong candidate for the perfect game. It offers drama, unpredictability, and opportunities for comebacks. A novice backgammon player might beat the stronger one with a roll of the dice, and similarly, an expert backgammon player can change the course of the game by means of an efficient use of strategies. The rules are simple, but the outcomes are diverse. 

Conclusion

The quest for the perfect game depends on finding the right blend of strategy and surprise. Depending on your personal liking, you might prefer playing a game which relies more on luck, strategy, or both. Luckily, there are plenty of games for all categories mentioned. Games, much like books, are a matter of personal taste, and the one you choose can reveal a lot about you. 

You can see the full article here, which was written by Marcus du Sautoy on Oct 9, 2023:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/oct/09/the-big-idea-is-there-such-a-thing-as-the-perfect-game