Fateless Podcast Recap: WOW! This is a HOT TAKE! Is he RIGHT?!
In this episode of the Fateless Podcast, Sham, Paul and Brad are joined by content creator Chisgule Gaming. They explored a provocative question: Does gameplay actually matter? At first glance, it seems like an obvious “yes”—after all, games are meant to be played. However, the discussion revealed that in mobile gaming, gameplay mechanics might not be as crucial as one might think.
Podcast Summary
Chisgule pointed out a surprising trend: some of the most successful mobile strategy games have incredibly simple gameplay. In these games, players issue basic commands, like “send army,” and then wait for a report. Despite this minimal interaction, they rank among the top-grossing mobile titles. Meanwhile, games with more complex mechanics, such as Call of Dragons, often struggle to achieve the same level of mainstream success. Rather than the mechanics themselves, it appears that collection, progression, and community play a bigger role in player retention. Games like Pokémon GO thrive on the excitement of collecting creatures, even though the gameplay is as simple as flicking a finger to throw a Poké Ball. Similarly, strategy games hook players with long-term resource management and social interactions.
One of the strongest takeaways from the discussion was the importance of community. Many players invest in games not just for the mechanics, but for the relationships they build within them. Whether it’s forming alliances, competing in leaderboards, or simply discussing strategies, social connections keep players coming back.
Head on over to the podcast video and check out this unique discussion. Be sure to check out Chisgule Gaming’s YouTube channel for lots of great Strategy RPG content. So, does gameplay matter? Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the video comments!
