making a game, but it’s too short and simple? players not addicted enough? want to add a dark pattern to artificially increase complexity, get them addicted, and pad out playtime indefinitely?

try adding soulless RPG progression

• shoehorn in RPG progression where it doesn’t belong
• no interesting synergies, no thought-out upgrades, just numerical progression and maybe a talent tree
• don’t even think about the implications. just turn everything into RPG stats
• make it really convoluted and exponential
• your players will grind forever and give you lots of money
• every other game is doing it so it’s okay if you do too

you will certainly not regret forcing RPG progression into your game

@kasdeya 0.3% increased crit hit chance??? I'm enjoying it already

@kasdeya I'm never forgiving Doom 2016 for pulling this shit. 'Just play a shittier Doomguy' shouldn't have been a decision I had to make to enjoy fucking Doom of all things.

@thepi yes omgg Doom 2018 and Doom Eternal have some of the most overengineered progression systems I’ve ever seen in the shooter genre. I was fucking amazed when Doom Eternal’s onboarding process just kept introducing more and more and more new mechanics and upgrade systems lol