Wonder

Ludic Experience emotional_affective · both

Wonder captures awe, reverence, surprise and enchantment – an unexpected, beautiful or overwhelming moment that lifts players out of everyday life.

Design question – Do you want your game to evoke wonder – and do players stop in amazement?

Reference example – Zelda: Breath of the Wild: you step out of the cave, and the whole world lies open to the horizon. Journey: the mountain glows in the light, the goal visible for the first time. Pandemic Legacy: a sealed box is opened – and the game is a different one than expected.