One of my favorite games to play is Hollow Knight. Hollow Knight is an expansive platformer set in an interconnected world called Hallownest where you play as a Knight on a quest to unravel mysteries about the world and about himself. As a platformer, players are able to move and jump from obstacle to obstacle, and players can use their “nail” (sword) to hit objects and mobs.
Using these mechanics, Hollow Knight furthers a dynamic of exploration both in game lore and in player progression, rewarding players for discovery of new places and items. As the player progresses through the game, they can hone and acquire new movement abilities which help them revisit previously inaccessible areas, uncovering new hidden treasures and unlocking new paths which lead to more formidable bosses. Defeating these bosses further progresses the narrative and grants players access to more improved equipment and movement abilities, empowering this cycle of exploration to help players to delve even deeper into the complex game world.
As a result, this design encourages fun through discovery and challenge, rewarding players through exploration and the defeat of formidable bosses using the main mechanics of movement. I enjoy the game as it forces you to own the movement mechanics of the game in order to explore the game lore further and even when you think you have explored everything, there is almost always something I miss in a play-through (which makes me want to play it again!).
