The Inspiration Behind Minigames in Modern Video Games

Sep. 9, 2015

The Inspiration Behind Minigames in Modern Video Games

It has become a staple of modern video games to incorporate minigames into the larger game structure. Sometimes they take the form of bite sized diversions from the main quest, and at other times they have the size and depth of a standalone game. Often these addicting side games are an opportunity for a developer to pay homage to their favorite classic games. Taking a look at some current AAA titles, we can see where the possible inspiration for minigames in current gaming come from.

InDragon Age Inquisitionwe are introduced to thewar table. The war table is where the Inquisitor sends out his various factions to complete missions around the world map. These missions unlock certain areas, give small side stories, and even give rewards ofitems,weapons, andarmor. These missions are put on a timer and you must wait in real time for these missions to be completed. You can shorten the timer and increase the success of the missions by recruiting characters or unlocking skills for the various factions.

One possible predecessor for this minigame in Dragon Age Inquisition is the Job Quests and Rumors from Final Fantasy Tactics. In Final Fantasy Tactics, you had generic units that you could send out on Jobs for a reward on Lore, Items, and even Experience. The level and Job of the units sent would affect the success of the quest and it was also timed by an in game system of days. Days were passed by traversing from one point to another on the map.

InThe Witcher 3we are introduced to the card gameGwent. In the card game you use a deck ofcardsto fight mock battles against card players around the world. Each card has an attack power and there are environmental cards to affect the battle. If you win the card battle you are able to win cards to add to your deck. Depending on the deck you play against they have different bonuses.

There are several possible inspirations for this mini game. The actual card game Magic the Gathering comes to mind, as well as the popular Yu-Gi-Oh. However, another video game’s minigame deserves a mention as possible inspiration: the Triple Triad card minigame in Final Fantasy VIII. Triple Triad is popular around the world of Final Fantasy VIII with the cards having real life counterparts in the world it is played in. Each card has an attack power, and there is a region bonus or penalty depending on where you play the game. This region bonus is similar to Gwent’s deck bonus, and there are also high profile cards that can only be won by defeating skilled card players.

In Watch Dogs we get to see a number of digital trickeries in the form of minigames. 2 that come to mind are the Cash Run minigame where you collect coins as you avoid ghosts and a Psychedelic Digital Trip that lets you soar by bouncing on flowers.

The Super Mario franchise seems the likely culprit in inspiring these 2 minigames. There were instances where Mario soared through rings in the sky in Mario Galaxy and other instances where Mario super bounced off of flowers, whereas the Coins in Cash Run is reminiscent of the coin dashes throughout the Mario series. This psychedelic whimsy has been a hallmark of the Mario franchise, and it’s clear Watch Dogs’ mingames owe a healthy inspiration to it.

In GTA there are quite a few minigames that could have been inspired by classic retro games. The most prominent of them is the Hunting minigame. Like other hunting games you are staring down a scope waiting for your prey to shoot. Lining up your shot requires patience and marksmanship.

The Hunting minigame seems an obvious take on the popular sim game Deer Hunter. I think the title is self explanatory, but in case clarification is needed it is a game where you stare down a scope and shoot your prey! Going back a bit further, Duck Hunt was one of the earliest takes on the hunting genre and inspired an entire genre of games. It’s inclusion as a minigame provides a relaxing break from the larger game world, similar to it’s Rockstar cousin Red Dead Redemption.

This is just a brief list of the similarities that current AAA minigames have to older games and their minigames, but there are many other instances of inspiration taken from older games. Playing through the minigames of popular games presents the player with a sense of nostalgia for the games of yesterday. Let us know of other examples of minigames you’ve played and their inspirations in the comments.