Include Objectives That Require Different Amounts of Time to Complete
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When setting objectives, players will pursue both short-term and long-term goals.
Long-Term Objectives
Long-term objectives refer to goals that require a significant amount of time, effort, or multiple stages to achieve. These objectives are not immediately reachable and often span across large portions of gameplay, sometimes lasting the entirety of a playthrough. They serve as overarching milestones that guide the player’s overall experience and provide purpose beyond immediate, short-term tasks.
Long-term objectives are vital for giving players enduring motivation, creating structure, and enriching the gameplay experience. When well-designed, they provide a compelling reason to stay engaged with a game world. However, they must be carefully balanced with pacing, clarity, and variety to avoid overwhelming or frustrating the player. Developers should consider the cognitive and emotional impact of long-term objectives and ensure they complement the game’s overall design philosophy.
Below are some examples of long-term objectives defined by players:
Complete the game in under ten hours.
Win the skirmish with fewer than twenty vehicles lost.
Surpass the current highest score.
Here are several examples of long-term objectives established by the game:
Eliminate the traitor.
Reach level fifty and unlock a unique piece of gear.
Win the match while retaining more than two hundred points.
Once players are aware of their long-term objectives, they should also understand whether these objectives are realistically achievable. While certain objectives may be completed within an hour—such as “Eliminate your opponent in a skirmish”—others may span days or weeks, such as “Reach character level fifty.” If possible, provide players with indicators that reflect their progression toward these objectives. Progress may be illustrated through various means, including:
Menus displaying rewards to be unlocked, with clear indicators of progression toward higher-tier rewards available later in the game.
In Frostpunk, a technological tree outlines the rewards available for unlocking and the order in which they can be accessed.
Credit: 11 bit studios S.A.. Screenshot captured by the author.
A visible count of remaining points for both teams in a “Domination” game mode, accessible on the screen throughout the match.
A summary of overall progress within the game, represented as a percentage in a dedicated menu.
A countdown timer during knockout races, indicating the time remaining.
A global map showing both the target location and the player’s current position.
Why Long-Term Objectives Are Useful
Sustain Player Engagement
Long-term objectives give players a reason to return to the game and continue playing. They provide a sense of direction and investment, which helps maintain player interest over extended periods.
Example:
In The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, the main quest of defeating Alduin, the world-eating dragon, serves as a long-term objective that draws players through dozens of hours of gameplay.
Create a Sense of Progression
These objectives allow developers to structure the player’s journey, gradually unlocking new skills, items, or areas in response to progress.
Example:
In Dark Souls, reaching and defeating the final boss requires players to grow significantly stronger, explore vast interconnected regions, and overcome numerous enemies and trials.
Encourage Strategic Planning
Long-term goals promote forethought, preparation, and the careful allocation of resources. They often demand that players make meaningful choices early in the game that influence later outcomes.
Example:
In Civilization VI, achieving a science victory (e.g., launching a satellite and colonizing Mars) requires players to invest in scientific infrastructure, research technologies, and balance diplomacy and defense over many turns.
Enhance Narrative Depth
Long-term objectives are often tied to major narrative arcs, giving emotional and contextual weight to gameplay. They help players feel like they are part of an evolving story.
Example:
In Red Dead Redemption 2, the player’s long-term objective of escaping law enforcement and finding a better life is interwoven with personal and group struggles, deepening emotional engagement.
Foster a Rewarding Experience
The eventual completion of a long-term objective provides a strong sense of accomplishment due to the effort invested.
Example:
In Monster Hunter: World, defeating elder dragons like Nergigante after long preparation phases involving crafting gear, studying patterns, and upgrading weapons feels highly rewarding.
Common Problems When Designing Long-Term Objectives
Lack of Clear Milestones
If players do not understand how they are progressing toward a long-term goal, they may feel lost or unmotivated. Breaking long-term goals into manageable sub-objectives is essential to maintain momentum.
Solution: Introduce milestone markers or progress tracking systems.
Poor Pacing
If a long-term objective takes too long without sufficient reward or if it feels artificially stretched, players may become bored or fatigued.
Example:
Some RPGs face criticism for their level-gating and grinding requirements that artificially extend time between key story missions.
Overdependence on Repetition
Some games rely on repetitive tasks (e.g., fetch quests, grinding) to pad out long-term goals, which can become tedious and discourage completion.
Solution: Vary mission design, enemy types, and mechanics to keep gameplay engaging.
Misalignment with Player Motivation
If the long-term goal does not align with what players find fun or meaningful, they may disengage. This often occurs when objectives are too abstract or disconnected from the player’s actions.
Solution: Tie long-term objectives to player-defined goals or allow alternate paths to success.
Overcomplexity
Overloading players with complex requirements without adequate explanation or guidance can create confusion, especially for new players.
Solution: Introduce complexity gradually and provide in-game resources for learning (e.g., tutorials, quest logs, hints).
Short-Term Objectives
Short-term objectives are goals that players can accomplish quickly, often within minutes or during a single gameplay session. These objectives act as stepping stones toward broader long-term goals and are frequently used to maintain momentum, provide immediate rewards, and reinforce the player’s sense of agency and achievement.
Short-term objectives are essential components of good game design, offering constant feedback loops that keep players motivated, informed, and satisfied. When integrated thoughtfully, they support learning, guide progression, and complement long-term goals. However, to be effective, they must be diverse, contextually meaningful, and appropriately paced. Overreliance on formulaic or shallow objectives can weaken player engagement and reduce the overall quality of the gameplay experience.
Below are some examples of short-term objectives set by players:
Be the first to capture the supply drop in order to gain access to additional resources early in the match.
Be the first to reach the most advantageous sniping position in the level to increase the likelihood of winning the match.
Secure Area A as quickly as possible to obtain vital resources necessary for achieving victory.
Below are examples of short-term objectives defined by the game:
Capture the first strategic point to begin generating additional resources critical to winning the match.
Assemble a quick-reaction force to respond to initial attacks, thereby increasing the likelihood of surviving the early stages of the match.
Reach the first checkpoint in order to save progress within an expansive level containing multiple checkpoints.
Why Short-Term Objectives Are Useful
Maintain Player Engagement
Short-term objectives keep gameplay dynamic and rewarding by offering frequent, tangible progress. This helps to avoid fatigue or disinterest.
Example:
In Hades, each chamber presents a short-term objective—defeat all enemies in the room. Completion brings an immediate reward, such as a new ability or health recovery.
Provide Direction and Structure
Especially in open-ended or complex games, short-term objectives help guide players toward the next relevant action.
Example:
In The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, side quests and contracts often appear as short-term goals that support progression and exploration.
Facilitate Learning and Mastery
Players can quickly understand game mechanics through short-term goals, making them essential in tutorials and early gameplay stages.
Example:
In Portal, early test chambers teach players how to use the portal gun through small, well-contained tasks that build complexity gradually.
Reinforce a Sense of Accomplishment
Frequent completion of small goals triggers a sense of achievement, which keeps players emotionally invested.
Example:
In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, daily tasks like catching bugs or fishing contribute to overall progression and provide immediate gratification.
Support Long-Term Goals
Short-term objectives often serve as the building blocks for larger objectives, breaking them into manageable steps that keep players motivated.
Example:
In Stardew Valley, planting and harvesting crops each day is a short-term objective that contributes to the long-term goal of running a successful farm.
Common Problems When Designing Short-Term Objectives
Over-Reliance on Repetition
If short-term objectives are too similar or repetitive, they can quickly become dull and feel like filler content rather than meaningful tasks.
Example:
In some MMORPGs, players are often given endless “kill 10 of X” quests, which can feel like grinding rather than progression.
Solution: Introduce variety in mechanics, context, and narrative framing.
Lack of Context or Relevance
Short-term goals that feel disconnected from the game’s world or narrative can appear arbitrary or meaningless to players.
Solution: Tie objectives to story elements, character development, or broader in-game systems.
Overwhelming the Player
Presenting too many short-term goals at once can lead to decision paralysis or make the experience feel cluttered and unfocused.
Solution: Prioritize and categorize objectives (e.g., primary vs. optional) and reveal them gradually.
Inconsistent Reward Structures
If the effort required to complete a short-term task is not matched by the reward, players may lose motivation or feel the task is not worth their time.
Solution: Calibrate rewards carefully and scale them based on effort and player progression.
Neglecting Player Agency
Short-term goals that are too prescriptive or linear can make players feel like they are merely following instructions, rather than actively engaging with the game world.
Solution: Allow for multiple ways to complete objectives or integrate them into open-ended gameplay systems.