My TOP 5 Game Elements

Buckle up, gamers—this TOP 5 Game Elements List might surprise you. Or it won't. Either way, sit back, consider my favorites, and let me know if we have to duel to the death.

1. STORY

Ever wonder why your favorite games stick with you? I don’t have to wonder—I know exactly why. The developers took an idea they loved, built a world around it, filled that world with compelling characters, and gave those characters problems that needed solving. Then, they made those problems matter to me.

Getting players invested in a game’s story takes serious groundwork. It’s all about making them care—about the plot, the world, and most importantly, the characters. I especially love when writers craft strong characters in video games.

Take Baldur’s Gate 3. We didn’t love Astarion just because he was pretty (though, let’s be honest, it helped). We loved him because of what he’d been through and how it shaped him. He had struggles, depth, and an arc that let him confront his past. His story was compelling, and seeing it unfold felt satisfying.

That’s the power of great story in a video game—it doesn’t just entertain. It pulls you in, makes you care, and stays with you long after the credits roll. On a final note, if the story is good enough that the players write Fan Fiction for it, the game has succeeded with distinction.

2. REPLAYABILITY

This one’s a no-brainer, right? I love when games prioritize replayability. You know how Visual Novels let you skip text you've already seen? It’s the same idea—I don’t want to slog through the mind-numbing parts every time I replay a game. If I’m coming back for another run, I want the option to skip the busywork and dive straight into the fun.

A prime example? World of Warcraft. I don’t remember exactly which expansion introduced it—maybe sometime after Legion—but I distinctly remember seeing an option in the quest window that said, "I've heard this tale before." Clicking it let you bypass the introductory quest chain, and the first time I saw it, my mind was blown. From that moment on, I expected every game to have something similar. Blizzard is actually STILL making improvements in their game replayability by enabling shared collections between your characters. I would love to see this in more games.

3. CHOICE.

So I mentioned before that characters can make you love a story, but a handful of characters do not a plot make. A plot is the overarching narrative—the driving force that shapes the world, events, and stakes.

The best way to make a player care about the plot is to make it personal. Give them choices—meaningful ones. Let them see how their decisions shape the world around them. When the world reacts in a way that feels logically, emotionally, and unpredictably real it deepens immersion.

A player who believes their choices can lead to failure also believes their choices can lead to success. And GAMERS don’t want to fail. That stigma of loss and the drive to overcome challenges are what make choices compelling. When a game balances consequence and agency, it transforms from a passive experience into something extraordinary.

4. CUSTOMIZATION.

I’m not ashamed to admit it—I’m vain. One of the biggest ways to make a game feel personal is through character customization. The ability to create my own character doesn’t just enhance immersion—it hooks me. And I know I’m not alone. Vanity keeps players invested. If a game lets me design a character that looks cool as hell, it immediately starts with a huge advantage. When I can see my character in the world, I’m already looking for reasons to keep playing, not excuses to walk away.

But you know what’s even better? Customization that evolves. Give me a wardrobe system, let me collect gear, let me fine-tune my character’s aesthetic over time. Again, World of Warcraft’s Transmog system is simply Chef’s kiss. I want to hunt for the perfect outfit, mix and match armor sets, and refine my look until it’s exactly right.

Thank you for the Mog, Blizz.

Not to mention, allowing players to make their own character is the BEST FORM of inclusion you could ever put into your game. Hands down, this is the hill I die on. And let’s be real—if I’m going to save the world, I want to look damn good doing it.

5. SATISFYING MOVEMENT

To this day, Atlyss Fallen has given me the most satisfying character movement experience I’ve ever had. Funny enough, I almost didn’t play it. I started late, wasn’t particularly interested, and probably wouldn’t have touched it if a buddy of mine hadn’t pushed hard for me to give it a shot. But once I did? Hooked.

From the exhilarating sand-sliding to the buttery-smooth double jump and air-dashing, every movement felt incredible. Traversing the world wasn’t just a means to an end—it was fun in its own right. Even the in-air combat felt fluid and responsive, making every fight a thrill.

Then I moved on to Dragon Age: Veilguard, and the sudden lack of that satisfying movement speed completely threw me off. I felt like I had been grounded, stripped of my agility, and forced into slow motion. It was like going from flying to trudging through mud, and I struggled to adjust to that loss.

That’s when I realized just how much Atlyss Fallen had spoiled me. Some games have great combat, some have gripping stories, but movement speed is a very underrated feature that I would LOVE to see more of.

Whether you agreed or disagreed, I'd love to hear your thoughts. If I missed a crucial element of gaming that's way better than any of these, you are required by the will of the gaming gods to leave a comment below.

See you around, Gamers!