Endgame
The reoccurring final phase in a game instance.
The Endgame is the last phase of a game instance. For games to have this they must of course have gameplay phases and it needs to be the same that typically is last, i.e. other ways game instances end must be seen as uncommon or weird.
Contents
Examples
Chess and Go are well-known classical Board Games with distinct Endgame phases. In X4 games[1] such as Master of Orion the last gameplay phase typically consists of players trying to eliminate each other. This can happen in Civilization series as well, but players may also opt for more peaceful ways to win. In the Starcraft series the Endgame is typically called "Late-Game"[2].
Using the pattern
As the name implies, the Endgame comes after previous phases in a game design, typically a Startgame and a Middlegame.
The archetypical Endgame phase is Extermination characterized by the use of a Last Man Standing pattern, but Exploitation phases can also serve as the last phases in games. Both of these may exhibit Entrenching Gameplay.
Can Be Modulated By
Construction/Scoring Phase Shift, Early Leaving Players, Kingmaker, Player Elimination, Possibility of Graceful Surrender, Predictable Winner, Speedending, Winner determined after Gameplay Ends, Winning by Ending Gameplay
Potentially Conflicting With
Player Unpredictability, Unwinnable Games
Consequences
That an Endgame begins is a rather high-level closure in a game instance. Likewise, that it ends and that some player may win are also high-level closures. For this reason, the presence of Endgame phases in a game guarantee that Higher-Level Closures as Gameplay Progresses exists to a certain level in the game.
Since the Endgame puts all the players' efforts so far into focus, players are likely to engage in Stimulated Planning to maximize their possibilities in this phases. This can increase the likelihood of Analysis Paralysis but also Surrendering if players can perceive that they cannot win.
Relations
Can Instantiate
Analysis Paralysis, Higher-Level Closures as Gameplay Progresses, Stimulated Planning, Surrendering
Can Modulate
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Can Be Instantiated By
Entrenching Gameplay, Exploitation, Extermination, Last Man Standing
Can Be Modulated By
Construction/Scoring Phase Shift, Early Leaving Players, Kingmaker, Player Elimination, Possibility of Graceful Surrender, Predictable Winner, Speedending, Winner determined after Gameplay Ends, Winning by Ending Gameplay
Possible Closure Effects
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Potentially Conflicting With
Player Unpredictability, Unwinnable Games
History
New pattern created in this wiki.
References
Acknowledgements
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