Our Six Favorite Video Game Mechanics

We all have those moments in gaming where a certain mechanic just clicks—whether it’s gliding off a cliff, pulling off a slow-motion headshot, or finally owning that in-game mansion (since real life isn’t quite there yet). Recently, we nerded out on the best game mechanics and came to a few conclusions. From monster-slaying loops to stealth walking, here’s a look at the gaming mechanics we can't stop obsessing over.

1. The “Monster Hunter Loop” – A Loveable Grind

You know you’re addicted when you spend hours slaying monsters just to wear their bones as a fashionable hat. One of our favorite mechanics came from the Monster Hunter franchise. The endless loop of hunting, gathering, and crafting is so satisfying that it makes real-world hobbies seem dull. Why knit a sweater when you could forge a Rathalos chestplate?

And while we’re at it, shoutout to Dauntless and Wild Hearts for hopping on the same grindy train and adding their own spin to the format. Innovation on the mechanic will only help to keep these franchises fresh - and we can’t wait to see what Monster Hunter Wilds has cooking.

Showing off lewks in Monster Hunter World

2. Bullet Time – The Slow-Mo Hero We Didn’t Deserve, But Got Anyway

Ah, Max Payne. Bless your scrunched-up face, Sam Lake, for giving us the power of Bullet Time. Nothing felt cooler than firing a shot, watching the bullet glide toward your enemy, and then dramatically murking the last bad guy in cinematic slow motion. It’s like an action movie, but YOU'RE the star.

For those who haven’t experienced it, go buy Max Payne right now and relive the early 2000s glory. Or, if you’re into more modern sniping, check out the Sniper Elite franchise, which stole (ahem, “borrowed”) the same follow-the-bullet mechanic. Either way, slow-motion bullets = instant cool factor.

See? Scrunched up face

3. Nemesis System – An Orc Never Forgets

This is a system that still blows our minds: the Nemesis system from Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War. Why it isn’t in more games? Blame the Warner Bros. patent. You defeat an orc, and the next time you run into him, he remembers you. And not just a "Hey, we met before" level of remembering. No, this guy recalls exactly how you thrashed him, and he’ll come back angrier, with scars to show for it. It’s like running into your ex at the grocery store, only this time the stakes are life and death.

Seriously, we need more games to steal this mechanic—because who doesn’t want a personalized rivalry with a digital orc?

That will never heal if you don't stop picking

4. Glide Like a Champion – The Breath of the Wild Free Fall

Why walk when you can glide? Breath of the Wild perfected a simple mechanic that feels like it has been around forever. Jump off any mountain and coast through the air like a majestic…person with a glider. Combine that with being able to climb anything, anywhere (unless it’s raining), and you’ve got a recipe for endless exploration. Plus, jumping off that first plateau? Pure magic. In fact, that moment alone probably sold more Switches than any marketing campaign.

Special shout out to the Far Cry series for loading you up with a wingsuit and on-call helicopter to get around.

And we'll all float on okay. All float on okay

5. Silent Walking – Because Stealth Is Health

There’s something undeniably satisfying about sneaking around like a ninja in Counter-Strike or Valorant. Holding shift to walk silently is a mechanic we didn’t even know we needed, but now we can’t live without it. It’s like a secret weapon in multiplayer games, and it adds that extra level of tension when you’re creeping up on an enemy. Who knew walking could be so exciting? Well, Matt Lord evidently did. Don’t get him started on his love for walking in Death Stranding. He loves a good stroll—even if it’s across post-apocalyptic America.

This mechanic turns an otherwise chaotic game into a stealth mission, and we’re all for it. Because why rush when you can tiptoe to victory?

You better walk that f&*king duck

6. Owning Property in Games – The Fantasy We’ll Never Afford IRL

You know what's better than paying rent? Collecting rent…from virtual properties. Any game that lets us buy up land, rake in passive income, and eventually become an in-game real estate mogul has our heart. We're looking at you, GTA V and Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood. There’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of buying your first in-game property, and then slowly taking over the entire map like you’re the Bezos of digital real estate.

Once you break the economy and start rolling in cash? It’s game over. Quite literally, you’ve won. Oh, if only real life worked the same way. Is now a good time for us to ask you to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel?

Twenty mil will net you a nice one bed condo in Los Angeles

Honorable Mention: The Glorious Double Jump – One Jump is Never Enough

You know what’s better than jumping? Jumping AGAIN in mid-air! We all love a good double jump, especially when games hold it back just long enough to make you feel like you’ve truly earned that second hop. Whether it’s leaping over enemies or accessing areas you couldn’t before, the double jump is a gift from the gaming gods. Recent favorite? Visions of Mana. Double jumping your way to victory never felt so good.

So there you have it, folks: six of the best game mechanics we can’t get enough of. Whether you’re gliding through Hyrule, embodying a bullet in Max Payne, or just quietly hoarding all the digital real estate, there’s no denying that these mechanics have a special place in our gamer hearts.

Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’re off to invest in some fictional property. Because why struggle in the real world when we can be billionaires in GTA V?