Core Game Loops
The fundamental repeating actions that form the heart of gameplay
Core game loops are the essential cycles of actions that players repeat throughout a game. They form the fundamental rhythm of gameplay and are critical to player engagement and retention.
A well-designed core loop typically consists of three main phases:
1. Action Phase: The player performs an action (shooting, jumping, building)
2. Reward Phase: The player receives feedback or rewards for their action
3. Investment Phase: The player uses rewards to improve or prepare for the next cycle
The most successful games layer multiple loops of different lengths - from moment-to-moment actions lasting seconds, to session loops lasting minutes, to progression loops spanning hours or days.
Examples include:
- Doom (2016): Shoot demons → Gain health/ammo from glory kills → Find next encounter
- Stardew Valley: Plant crops → Water daily → Harvest for profit → Buy better seeds
- Dark Souls: Explore area → Die and learn → Level up → Try again stronger