One game that has particularly stuck with me is Oneshot by Future Cat. It is a puzzle adventure game in which the player guides the protagonist through a dark world in hopes of restoring its sun and bringing life back to the world. The main mechanics involve exploring the worlds/maps you encounter, interacting with people and objects in order to proceed further into the game. These base mechanics contribute to the player’s dynamic of exploring the environment for clues as to how to proceed, gathering intel from NPCs in order to collect items to put together and continue your adventure. Part of the fun that arises from these mechanics is both from the ‘Challenging’ and ‘Discovery’ aesthetics. It is ‘Challenging’ because the player must come up with solutions to the problems they encounter using the items they find (how do you use fridge magnets, an empty coffee tin, scissors, and tape to fix an elevator?). It is in part ‘Discovery’ because the player must explore three unique environments for clues as to how to proceed.
(first attempt at fixing the elevator. src: reddit)
The most compelling mechanic, however, is stated at the very beginning of the game and in the game’s title: you only have ‘one shot’ at ‘saving the world.’ (see below. src: reddit)
The main dynamic that arises from this mechanic is that the player becomes more conscious of their decisions within the game, encouraging them to interact with everything and everyone to be the most informed before making their choice. The Narrative aesthetic is especially prevalent in Oneshot as the player builds a relationship with the protagonist they control as well as with the locals trying to survive with what they have left, learning about the structure and backstory of their world.
