Does Gameplay Matter?

When we talk about video games, especially strategy and hero-collector RPGs, one of the most heated debates revolves around gameplay. How much does it actually matter? In the latest Fateless Podcast, host Brad is joined by Sham and Paul from the Fateless team, alongside special guest Chisgule, a YouTuber known for covering city-building war games. Together, they dive into a surprisingly complex question: Does gameplay actually matter, or are other aspects of a game more important?

Chisgule kicks off the discussion with a bold claim: gameplay might not be as important as we think. Drawing from his experience in mobile war games, he highlights a paradox—games with simpler, more automated gameplay often outperform those with intricate mechanics.

For example, Call of Dragons, a game with deep strategy, real-time movement, and tactical unit positioning, isn’t as high in the charts as other strategy games where gameplay is as simple as pressing a button to send troops and receiving a battle report. This raises the question: Do players actually prefer simpler gameplay?

Paul jumps in, making an important distinction: gameplay isn’t just combat mechanics. It includes game systems, strategy, and progression, which often define a game’s long-term appeal more than flashy real-time controls.

As the debate unfolds, the team identifies three key pillars that seem to matter more than raw gameplay mechanics:

1. Collection & Progression

Chisgule argues that many successful games thrive on collecting and upgrading characters, units, or resources. Pokémon GO is a great example—it has almost no combat mechanics, yet players are deeply invested in catching Pokémon and building their collection.

Similarly, in hero collectors like Raid: Shadow Legends and the upcoming Godforge, the act of building the perfect team, optimizing gear, and upgrading characters is what keeps players hooked. The battles themselves? Many players set them to auto and focus on the results rather than the action.

2. Knowledge vs. Gameplay Skill

Brad brings up an interesting contrast between knowledge-based games (like chess or raid-style hero collectors) and skill-based games (like Fortnite or Starcraft). In knowledge-based games, success is determined by strategy, planning, and optimization. In skill-based games, it’s about how well you can execute moves in real time.

Chisgule suggests that the less skill-dependent a game is, the more accessible it becomes to a wider audience. Many mobile players aren’t looking for fast reflexes; they prefer min-maxing strategies, efficient resource management, and long-term planning.

3. Community & Social Interaction

One of the most profound takeaways from the discussion is the importance of community in gaming. Sham and Paul highlight that in many strategy games, players stay not because of the gameplay, but because of the alliances and friendships they build.

Chisgule shares stories from Rise of Kingdoms, where alliances strategize, negotiate, and even backstab each other, creating an experience that goes beyond the game itself. People form real friendships, rivalries, and even marriages through these online interactions.

Paul expands on this, stating that the best games create systems that encourage social engagement, whether through clans, leaderboards, or cooperative objectives. In a way, community-driven strategy becomes the real “gameplay”, rather than just the mechanics of battle.

While gameplay mechanics might not always be the selling point, graphics and marketing play a huge role in attracting players. Paul points out that many mobile games hook players with stunning trailers and exaggerated ads, sometimes even showcasing gameplay that doesn’t exist in the actual game.

However, first impressions matter. A visually appealing game will always attract more players initially, but as Sham argues, long-term retention depends on deeper systems like progression and community—not just how the game looks.

So, what’s the final verdict? Does gameplay matter? The answer, it seems, depends on the type of game. While action-heavy games like Fortnite or Starcraft rely on real-time skill execution, hero collectors and strategy games often thrive on automation, collection, and player-driven community interactions.

For Godforge, the Fateless team is taking these lessons to heart. Their goal is to create a game where gameplay, strategy, collection, and community come together to form a compelling experience.

As the episode wraps up, Chisgule leaves on a powerful note:

“The hope for Godforge is that it creates incredibly meaningful collection moments and community experiences that genuinely change how people engage with the game—and each other.”

And that, perhaps, is the real answer to the gameplay debate. It’s not just about what happens in the game—it’s about what the game means to the players.