Minigames

A small game played through another game.

Many games simulate a part of reality and one possibility of this is to simulate other games. Another possibility for games is to have the result of other games be the primary input for what happens in the main game. Since in both these cases the inner games are smaller than the game containing them, or at least are subordinate to the outer game for the outcome of the activity, they inner games are referred to as Minigames.

Examples

Games that try to enact whole worlds in great detail, like tabletop roleplaying such as Hârnmaster and GURPS as well as lice-action roleplaying games, can easily end up in situations where games are played. Typically these are small gambling game similar or exact instances of existing games, such as Poker or Craps.

Computer games make it quite easy to contain other games in themselves. The graphical adventure game Day of the Tentacle included its prequel, Maniac Mansion, as a playable Minigame on a computer inside the game. In Fallout: New Vegas the Collectible Card Game Caravan and several traditional gambling games (e.g. Roulette and Blackjack are implemented as Minigames. The pinball game Star Trek: The Next Generation included a Breakout-like game as a hidden component.

Party games mainly consist of smaller games. Examples of this includes the Mario Party series and the whimsical WarioWare series. Single-player versions of games simulating matches and including training and other inter-match activities, e.g. Bloodbowl, are borderline cases of having Minigames.

Using the pattern

The design of Minigames quite obviously required the creation of other games. This may be just one game as in the case of Day of the Tentacle, or many ranging from a few in Fallout: New Vegas to the very many in the WarioWare series. In addition, one has consider how the outcome of these Minigames translate into Trans-Game Information for use in the outer games, if the inner games should have some effect at all. Typical effect are direct Rewards or Punishments or the completion of specific goals in a Goal Hierarchies.

Minigames can be used to create both Polyathlons and single-game Tournaments but unless there are gameplay components outside the inner games, the outer game will fail to be perceived as a separate entity. Playing Single-Player campaigns in the computer game version of Bloodbowl is an example of how this can function since the training and recruiting of individual players and other team related activities provide additional gameplay opportunities. In contrast, the WarioWare series mainly have High Score Lists and Unlocking new Levels as gameplay components outside the Minigames and may therefore be seen more as a collection of separate games.

Their nature as Minigames may make specific design goal more likely. One of these is to enforce Limited Gameplay Time to ensure that the main game doesn't take too long time or that the Minigames don't take too much proportionally of the time spend on complete game sessions.

Diegetic Aspects

The inclusion of Minigames allows other types of gameplay and themes without breaking Thematic Consistency. That is, as long as the themes of the Minigames match the main game or explicitly having Minigames fits Thematic Consistent.

Interface Aspects

Mimetic Interfaces may be more appropriate for collection of Minigames that many other types of games since this can both provide Varied Gameplay and avoid being too repetitious.

Consequences

Depending on if the Minigames transmit any Trans-Game Information they either make them have Extra-Game Consequences and the main game be a Meta Game of sorts, or simply be Optional Goals motivating Extra-Game Actions. Since the gameplay in the Minigames can differ from the main game, and from each other when many exist, they can offer Varied Gameplay. While nothing forces Minigames to be short (as the example of Day of the Tentacle included its prequel shows), they do tend to be Quick Games to not distract too much from the main game.

When Minigames have not been clearly advertised as part of the gameplay, finding out about their existence can provide Surprises and if they require Exploration they can also be examples of Easter Eggs.

Relations

Can Instantiate

Extra-Game Actions, Goal Hierarchies, Optional Goals, Polyathlons, Punishments, Quick Games, Rewards, Surprises, Tournaments, Varied Gameplay

with Exploration

Easter Eggs

with Trans-Game Information

Extra-Game Consequences, Meta Games

Can Modulate

Thematic Consistency

Can Be Instantiated By

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Can Be Modulated By

Mimetic Interfaces, Trans-Game Information

Possible Closure Effects

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Potentially Conflicting With

Thematic Consistency

History

An updated version of the pattern Games within Games that was part of the original collection in the book Patterns in Game Design.

Acknowledgements

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