Categorize your game among these 5 mechanics
There are 5 types of mechanics that can be useful for analyzing and defining the focus of your game.
These useful mechanics can also be useful to determine the genre of your game. Some mechanics tend to be more present in some genres than in others.
1. Physics
One of the most common types of mechanics. They depend on the physics simulation system of the game engine to represent aspects like gravity which are more important for running, jumping and more.
They’re commonly used in:
Action
Sports
Vehicle sims/racing
2. Internal Economy
The internal economy (different from monetization) refers to the acquisition, trading and spending of everything called a resource. They could be tangible, like wood or gold, or abstract, like XP and levels.
They’re commonly used in:
RPGs
Strategy
Management
3. Progression
These mechanics define how players advance through the game through a predesigned setting. They can be part of the level design (unlocking a new area, getting to level 2, etc.) or players’ decisions (narrative events, etc.)
They’re commonly used in:
Narrative Games
Adventure
Level-Based Games
4. Tactical Maneuvering
Is positioning your units or buildings an important part of your game? Tactical Maneuvering means players need to consider the best placement for attacking their enemies or make their city grow, among other things
They’re commonly used in:
City Builders
Strategy
Management
5. Social Interaction
The social aspect of games is one of the most important to consider in today’s “connected” environment. Either it’s a full multiplayer game, or the game has “streaming” potential, considering social aspects like clans or versus gameplay can greatly increase a game’s appeal
They’re common in most genres
Summary
You can use this framework for analyzing existing games and determining which types of mechanics are more prominent so you can focus your analysis on them.
You can also use them for defining the design pillars for your games. In any case, remember there are more frameworks out there you can use for understanding game mechanics!