Have a look at the developer of Vampire Survivor, I doubt that was properly thought out sport design (from what I noticed in interviews), but it surely was a hit none the much less. Jonas Tyroller (Islanders/Thronefall) has an fascinating YT channel the place he discusses his experiences and (evolving) theories on how he tries to make profitable video games.
What’s an excellent sport/story additionally actually relies on period, viewers, and many others. Some video games, whereas extraordinarily well-liked, simply did not age properly and we’re not speaking nearly graphics. Have a look at one thing like Dune 2, a BIG RTS title. It already had a TON of story, six books, a film and a few video games. Then they designed a RTS round that large story. However 33 years later, certain the graphics aren’t nice, however in all probability the largest points is that the UI is clunky. Right this moment RTS is a fairly useless style, as the parents behind Frost Big Studios (Stormgate) discovered… There’s nonetheless followers on the market, it is simply tiny in comparison with the AAA customers, so you have to a LOT with comparatively little to be economically viable.
RPGs.. Story is necessary, the place would Vampire: The Masquerade be with out the story? The system is fairly darned good, however they nonetheless wanted a second version a yr later. Mark Rein-Hagen, it is creator (additionally of Ars Magica), continued for an additional couple of years after which utterly disappeared from the pnp RPG scene. Once you take a look at his final mission Exile (Sci-fi), it was largely story, there was some stats, however no coherent guidelines set. Then we’ve one thing like Vampire, that remained well-liked regardless of it is guidelines. One thing like D&D 4e had 34 years of story earlier than it, the foundations had been fairly good if it was something however D&D, it nonetheless failed as a result of that specific story+mechanics!=D&D.
What do I like? It relies upon… Typically it is the idea, typically it is the presentation, different occasions it is the mechanics, and typically it is the worth… One thing like Vampire Survivors regarded fascinating on YouTube, however at €60, and even €40 or €20 I would not have purchased it. However at €2,39 certain! Performed it so much on my Steam Deck and spent one other €12 on DLC over time. Quins did a YT evaluate of the pnp RPG Spire, that sounded completely superior! However as a result of on the time I did not anticipate to ever be capable to GM it, I wasn’t taking a look at spending cash on books or PDFs, particularly not at MSRP. A few months later Bundle of Holding got here out with a Spire bundle, ~10 pdfs for $23, certain I am going to pay that (and there was additionally a Coronary heart companion bundle)! Since then I see some hope to GM sooner or later and people pdfs had been an excellent learn…
Different occasions, I pay near full worth for a sport (reductions, reductions in all places! 
). For example, I am an enormous fan of Warhammer (40k). When Warhammer Whole Warfare got here out, I purchased it, I purchased each DLC, each standalone enlargement at nearly as good as MSRP. I additionally appreciated WFRP, 1st version purchased a number of books, as a result of again then I could not afford extra. I appreciated WFRP2e, purchased all of it, disliked 3e (as I nonetheless actually like 2e), and once I obtained the Humble Bundle with all of the WFRP4e pdfs, ultimately I purchased all of the Foundry VTT modules for WFRP4e. I largely purchased RPG merchandise for idea/theme past the D&D we performed. I’ve an identical tendency with board video games, typically shopping for the closely themed miniature video games, however a number of I truly purchased for mechanics. Century: Spice Highway, Star Realms, Splendor, Raiders of the North Sea, Lords of Waterdeep, and Dune Imperium are good examples of mechanics over theme for me (doesn’t suggest that some do not even have a superb theme).
Usually with pnp RPGs it is not about mechanics, it is extra typically about theme an ideas. If it was all about mechanics, we would not be taking part in D&D on and off once more for 30+ years… And the significance of mechanics in our pnp RPGs has decreased for a few of us over time as properly. Alternatively I am now in a spot (technologically talking) the place I can far simpler detach theme/idea from guidelines and fasten an entire completely different rulesset comparatively simple onto a setting or utilizing an outdated system with new content material (the ability of PDFs and VTTs!)…
My conclusion: It isn’t so simple as a technique or one other, typically issues seize me mechanically, different occasions they seize me with idea/theme/story. And even when one half grabs me, that does not imply I am going to like the opposite, relying on cicumstances, I’d or may not purchase it. And even IF you make the best story/gameplay sport ever, if it is not economically viable, it both by no means exhibits up (problematic with crowdfunding), or would not keep round for lengthy…
