Daily Rewards
Encourages return visits every day and punishes you for missing a day.
Daily Rewards are a very common dark pattern used in addictive games. Games that use this will give you a reward the first time you play the game each day. If you miss a day, you miss the reward. This in itself isn't much of a dark pattern, but sometimes you get better rewards for playing every day and maintaining a "streak". The more consistently you play, the better your daily rewards. If you miss a day, you "break the chain" and lose your bonus. Losing your streak can be bad for the player so there is a strong urge to check the game every day.
Sometimes there is an option to use Premium Currency to spend money to restore your broken streak. By combining these two dark patterns, games can get people to pay to avoid punishment. This is a negative experience for the player that directly benefits the game developer and is not generally related to the core gameplay. Combining two dark patterns like this often amplifies their power.
By encouraging consistent daily play, the game is trying to make you develop a habit of playing the game. If the game becomes a habit, it is harder to stop.
Sometimes there is an option to use Premium Currency to spend money to restore your broken streak. By combining these two dark patterns, games can get people to pay to avoid punishment. This is a negative experience for the player that directly benefits the game developer and is not generally related to the core gameplay. Combining two dark patterns like this often amplifies their power.
By encouraging consistent daily play, the game is trying to make you develop a habit of playing the game. If the game becomes a habit, it is harder to stop.
Citations and Sources • Effective Game Mechanics: The Secrets Behind Addictive Gameplays
• 5 Game Mechanics that Make Games Addicting
• 5 Game Mechanics that Make Games Addicting
Examples
The World of Magic"Daily System on Login, Daily System via NPC"
Sonic Forces"It contains daily rewards"
Angry Birds Friends"Every day you can spin the wheel to get a reward"
GraalOnline Era+"There is a daily rewards system, that isn’t every good."
GraalOnline Zone+"There is a daily rewards system, that isn’t every good."
Cut the Rope"the game sometimes does that"
Idle Outpost: Business Game"The store invites you to claim a free reward every 8 hours on 4 different tabs, and there are 4 different separate staggered rewards inviting you back every hour/half hour via constant notifications. Additionally, there's a daily log in reward that improves every day but resets if you miss it"
Zenless Zone Zero"There are daily and weekly missions to collect rewards. The Inter-Knot Membership requires you to play each day to collect its rewards."
SOULS"Daily quests and daily purchase limits"
Star Girl Fashion❤CocoPPa Play"Daily rewards"