Infinite Treadmill
Impossible to win or complete the game.
Many great games can be completed. You beat the final boss, the game is over and you get a feeling of satisfaction. A game with an Infinite Treadmill cannot be completed and never gives you that sense of satisfaction. You can play forever, constantly leveling up and improving, but never reaching the end. This is a very common pattern seen in multiplayer online games, and many people enjoy these types of games. However, for some people this can be a dark pattern, especially when combined with Recurring Fees or other types of In-App Purchases.
People have a psychological need to complete something that they have started. This is called Endowed Progress or the "Zeigarnik effect". The urge to complete something that can't be completed causes some people to play the game forever, even after they have become bored with the game.
Sometimes games are designed such that there is no way to complete them. You may beat an individual level, but you can play an infinite number of levels and keep earning benefits forever. For a game to fall into this category there must be some overarching progression that extends beyond individual levels. For example, a simple game of chess against the computer would not count as an Infinite Treadmill unless winning or losing an individual match had some reward or repercussion that carried over into the future matches. Many multiplayer combat games are designed like this. You can always start a new battle, and your success allows you to improve your character in future battles.
Another way that developers implement an Infinite Treadmill is by continually expanding the game and adding new content. It might be possible to complete everything in the game right now, but soon the developers will release new levels and extend the game. As long as the developers are still working on the game, new content will continually be added and the players will need to keep playing the game if they want to complete it. Nobody is saying that you have to complete it, but the Fear of Missing Out is a strong motivation to keep playing to see what happens.
Additionally, if someone is already bored with a game and a new event is announced, the player may stick around to see if the new event rekindles their enjoyment in the game in which they have already invested significant time and money.
People have a psychological need to complete something that they have started. This is called Endowed Progress or the "Zeigarnik effect". The urge to complete something that can't be completed causes some people to play the game forever, even after they have become bored with the game.
Sometimes games are designed such that there is no way to complete them. You may beat an individual level, but you can play an infinite number of levels and keep earning benefits forever. For a game to fall into this category there must be some overarching progression that extends beyond individual levels. For example, a simple game of chess against the computer would not count as an Infinite Treadmill unless winning or losing an individual match had some reward or repercussion that carried over into the future matches. Many multiplayer combat games are designed like this. You can always start a new battle, and your success allows you to improve your character in future battles.
Another way that developers implement an Infinite Treadmill is by continually expanding the game and adding new content. It might be possible to complete everything in the game right now, but soon the developers will release new levels and extend the game. As long as the developers are still working on the game, new content will continually be added and the players will need to keep playing the game if they want to complete it. Nobody is saying that you have to complete it, but the Fear of Missing Out is a strong motivation to keep playing to see what happens.
Additionally, if someone is already bored with a game and a new event is announced, the player may stick around to see if the new event rekindles their enjoyment in the game in which they have already invested significant time and money.
Citations and Sources • Why are Video Games Addictive?
• Effective Game Mechanics: The Secrets Behind Addictive Gameplays
• Effective Game Mechanics: The Secrets Behind Addictive Gameplays
Examples
AFK Journey"The game has story content that you'll feel forced to rush through so that you don't fall behind on other things. Very, very large number of AFK battles (that I'm sure is actually an infinite number) that scale upwards constantly. Battle towers, dungeons, seasonal content, etc.."
Drilla: Idle Gold Miner Game"There is no bottom."
Beatstar - Touch Your Music"Before the Deluxe update, it was feasible to unlock every game in the base game. Doing so would unlock unlimited play until they added more songs, removing the stamina mechanic. Ever since then, Deluxe songs require more grinding than before. This makes it impossible to get said unlimited play without paying for it."
Geometry Dash Lite"Dozens of custom levels uploaded every minute, and dozens rated by the game's creator every week. You don't have to play all of them, though."
Idle Miner Tycoon"The game DOES have an end, but the updates, I can't keep up."
Invasion: Modern Empire"there is no limit to how many troops you can build, currently there is a player with 118 billion power and continues to grow indefinitely (as do all players, there is no maximum capacity or power)"
MONOPOLY GO!"No end to the game"
Bud Farm: Grass Roots"takes ages to level up after 50"
Fire Emblem Heroes"Around 10 units are added each month, requiring them to be leveled up to add skill to them so they can be useful."
Space Arena: Build & Fight MMO"new ships constantly released"