In order to make a successful video game, you must have a tri-hook. A tri-hook includes a visual hook, mechanical hook, and story hook. With these three components, your video game has the formula to become very popular.

A visual hook is how good looking your game is, and how unique the graphics are from other video games. A great example of this is a video game called “Hollow Knight”, before them, there was no hand drawn art used in video games and if there was, it wasn’t very popular. But, when “Hollow Knight” released with its stunning hand drawn graphics, anyone who saw their thumbnail instantly clicked it. With beautiful visuals, you can intrigue people into just checking out your game from the art and from that, theres a chance they will buy your game.

Now a mechanical hook is a weapon or ability that your playable character possesses that you can use to have fun. A very popular game “Super Hot” is involved all around their mechanical hook “When you move, time moves” creating a matrix like game feel that multiple people fell in love with. If you come up with an engaging mechanical hook, it adds to the replay ability to your game keeping players engaged the whole game and having a fun time doing it.

Finally, a story hook is the story present in your game that captures your audience in the world and tale of your characters/game. One of my favorite video games “The Last of Us Part II” has a fantastic story that many and myself fell in love with, with the complex characters and amazing story telling, “The Last of Us Part II” is amazing at keeping you playing at the edge of your seat waiting for what happens next. If all other hooks fail, a story hook will save you as even if you have boring gameplay, your audience will keep playing just to see how the story unfolds.

But, in order to get recognition, you need to promote your video game. Its as simple as making a Tiktok or a Youtube video, any marketing is great. Marketing your game early and constant, you will ensure your video games success. With the tri-hook, you are guaranteed that your game will not only be successful, but also amazingly good/fun.