Not many people would dispute the idea that we’ve moved dramatically in the direction of short-form content when it comes to a lot of media. Film is probably the clearest representation of this shift; how many people prefer the bite-sized approach of episodic television (or even shorter video content!) to the more commitment-heavy format of a 2-hour movie?
Both still undoubtedly hold their place in today’s world, but short-form content has a big advantage over long-form in quite a few areas, and what’s particularly interesting is that it may be having an effect on how video games are developed and how we engage with them today. Let’s explore!
Short-Form’s Flexibility: Its Biggest Win
There are lots of reasons for short-form content to have gained popularity, but one of the key ones in a fast-paced world is simple: it’s flexible. Many people don’t have 2-plus hours to commit to a movie in the evening after work; there’s just too much to do. A 20-40 minute episode, though? That’s a different story! Almost all of us can make time for that, at least occasionally, and that has led to a huge spike in the number of people who tune in for TV shows over blockbuster hits.
But what’s that got to do with games? Well, we can see much the same trend here. Of course, there are still plenty of sprawling AAA franchises that invite you to sink many hours of gameplay into the universes they offer, just as there are still vast 3-hour movies. However, there’s an unquestionable uptick in the number of games that can be enjoyed within very short timeframes.
Take, for example, digital casino games. If you play casino online options, you’ll already know that there is a vast number of games that require very little time commitment on your part, whether you tend toward slots, roulette, blackjack, or video poker. There are, of course, plenty of games that also demand more time from you - think things like poker and tournament-style games - but on the whole, the trend is decidedly in favor of short-form options that are very easy to dip into and dip out of.
The games that step outside of that need to stand out as exceptional in some way: think of the satisfaction poker offers with its psychological tricks and turns, and the endless nuances of trying to read your opponents, while hiding your own intentions.
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But why, if these games offer so much, is short-form gaming generally our go-to these days?
Well, it’s the same story. Many people are working long hours, raising children, and committing time to other hobbies; they don’t necessarily want a game that requires an hour or more of their time in a single sitting. This is where casino games like slots in particular deliver content that’s ideal for a modern audience: you can play a quick round of slots in a couple of minutes. That means it’s very suited for short breaks, which many people are turning toward in today’s world. 5 minutes of relaxing with a cup of coffee, or a quick spin before you sign out for the night - both of these are the kind of moments that short-form games are perfect for. Developers have seen the trend toward short-form, and created games that fit beautifully into this world.
The approach goes far beyond the casino, unsurprisingly; more and more game developers are looking for ways to offer their content in a way that suits modern lifestyles. Even games that are significantly longer tend to provide regular save opportunities, and have worked to implement “chapters” or natural breaks, giving players more flexibility about how they engage with the games, without losing the sense of satisfaction that comes with completion.
Is Short-Form Less Satisfying?
Next, we hit the ongoing debate about short-form content and its limitations. Is it inherently less satisfying? Is it ruining our attention spans and preventing us from engaging in a meaningful way? Of course, the answer depends on the content, but in many cases, no!
Short-form content increases flexibility, but that doesn’t mean it has to decrease depth at the same time. When organized well, short-form content can still offer a sense of progression, and sometimes, its more spaced-out approach actually increases what it can do. In the world of film and TV, for instance, a romance or other relationship can be allowed to build slowly and naturally across a whole season, or even multiple seasons, rather than being compressed to a tight timeframe of a couple of hours.
Game developers have definitely started drawing on that approach. Short games can often teach players mechanics more gradually, introducing fresh nuances, bonus rounds, and new characters as the player progresses across individual sessions. Indeed, the short-form structure may even increase the logic of new concepts being introduced; different play sessions can be built around each mechanic, and then later ones can start combining them in interesting new ways. They might follow a similar structure to a season of a TV show, building on different elements at different times, and then bringing them to a satisfying conclusion, just like a TV finale.
Logically, it might seem like short-form is a negative, but in fact, it sits beautifully alongside long-form content, and when it’s well-designed, it can offer even more richness, combined with the increased flexibility so many people are looking for in today’s world. Long live the TV show, the ten-minute game, and other modes of light, easy entertainment that fuel the best moments of our days! And if you need any further proof that short-form content can hold its own against the long-form options, just check out the appearance of some particularly successful TV shows airing in cinemas - demonstrating their commitment to quality and their widespread appeal.