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[DragoonKain]

Throw out some things that you experience in gaming that bring you joy. You can be as broad or specific as you want.

Entering a major boss fight and that epic music kicks in and it's like "LET'S FUCKING GO"

Solving a really difficult puzzle and the rewarding feeling it gives you.

Getting that really powerful piece of equipment/skill/ability that lets you kick so much ass and you realize the game has just changed.

Stepping out into a massive open world for the first time knowing for the next dozens of hours, this is going to be yours to explore.

When your strategy against a really difficult boss that has given you trouble pays off and you know it's checkmate and you have them dead to rights and this time you're going to beat them.

Getting double dump in a platformer or Metroidvania and knowing you now have a bunch of new areas to explore and traversing is going to be so much easier.

 

[Eimran]

Unleashing a super attack in a hack and Slash game which kills all the enemies surrounding you

Getting a huge combo in a fighting game

Arriving in a new huge city in an RPG (mostly Dragon Quest)

The slashing sound when dismembering zombies, getting critical headshots

Making the combo in a skate, snowboard or other stunt game just in time before you hit the ground

 

[saintjules]

Entering a major boss fight and that epic music kicks in and it's like "LET'S FUCKING GO"

 

[Chuck Berry]

 

[Punished Miku]

The sign is the floor, but her hair reflects normal gravity. Such an elegant design choice.

 

[Robb]

Solving a puzzle the unintended way always feels amazing imo.

That’s probably my favorite thing in the new Zelda games. All the most memorable shrines were ones where I made something stupid that somehow actually functioned and only realized what “I was supposed to do” afterwards.

 

[kvltus lvlzvs]

Getting on that elevator and being back in Firelink for the first time

 

[Con-Z-epT]

This brings me great joy every day. It's also the start in the change of mind where stress relief begins.

 

[NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt]

Fanservice from attractive female characters

 

[Diseased Yak]

Harvesting a nice field of crop as the sun rises up over the horizon in Farming Simulator 22.

 

[brian0057]

Every time I go "I wonder if this works." And it does.
That level of player agency, intentional or not, tickles me in all the right places.

 

[Elder Legend]

Atmospheric music and ambience tickles me pecker and makes it a wee bigger pecker.

For Banjo64 it's probably "sticky white stuff" item from Demon's Souls (yes its a real item in one of the spuls games, google it) and for kanjobazooie I'd assume any object that resembles a small nutsack and it squeaks.

 

[KimDongHwan]

When I get the perfect set of items/relics/abilities on rogue like games. Binding of Isaac comes to mind with Guppy Transformation + Laser + that thing that lets you control the laser location.

Digimon World - Before I had access to Internet. Whenever I got a cool evolution without knowing the requirements. This made me think how the internet kind of ruined a lot of surprises in games.

 

[R6Rider]

Getting hate mail when playing online has always been a joy.

Even better if they send you a voice message.

 

[AJUMP23]

Helping others beat a boss in a Souls game. And getting help from others in Souls game. I love the CO-OP.

The starting of a new game is always a fun time.

Playing a game with my kids is the best type of joy.

 

[Captain Toad]

Hitting glowing orbs for massive damage!!

 

[AJUMP23]

I also enjoy all the hype around gaming events and shows. A good show is a lot of fun. A bad show is even more fun.

 

[Drizzlehell]

As of late? Probably playing The Division 2.

I know that it may not be everyone's cup of tea, and people around here tend to have strongly negative opinions about live service games or Ubisoft, but there's just something about The Division games that's so comforting for me. It's like putting on a nice pair of slippers, wrapping yourself in a fresh robe, and kicking back in a lazy boy with a cup of warm tea in your hand. I love the atmosphere and the attention to detail, the design and aesthetics, and most importantly - the incredibly addictive gameplay loop. I've been playing this series since the first game came out back in 2016 and I'm still nowhere near getting tired of this formula. I love running around in PvE, sniping bad guys, cracking open item boxes, customizing my gear, enjoying the nice sunset... and holy hell, they even recently released a new mode in The Division 2 that's like this roguelite thing and it's amazing. It will add countless more hours to the longevity of this game.

It would genuinely make me sad if Ubisoft would ever decide to shut down the servers for these games and I wouldn't be able to play through them ever again.

 

[Ristifer]

I also enjoy all the hype around gaming events and shows. A good show is a lot of fun. A bad show is even more fun.

Yeah, the threads for bad shows in particular are hilarious.

 

[MiguelItUp]

Ragdoll physics, or just awesome and impressive physics in general
An awesome soundtrack

 

[Vox Machina]

Weirdly, failure states in RPGs.

 

[Fbh]

 

[Holammer]

 

[FoxMcChief]

I love the moment I gain a skill point to use, and weigh where I’m going to spend it.

 

[OverHeat]

New hardware.

 

[Fuz]

Nothing.

 

[Games of Today]

Water rippling when you walk through it, especially how Naughty Dog manages to make that happen in smaller and smaller puddles with each game they make.

Trees and bushes interacting with your character like Red Dead 2 does.

Rain graphics that get better and better in games every year.

Actual recordings of thunderstorms like Days Gone has.

A.I. like Far Cry 2 and Last of Us that feels as close as you'd like to get to killing real people.

 

[cinnamonandgravy]

walking around, being in awe of the game world.

great soundtrack.

a game that just moves well (player movement).

 

[twilo99]

gamepass

 

[Games of Today]

As of late? Probably playing The Division 2.

I know that it may not be everyone's cup of tea, and people around here tend to have strongly negative opinions about live service games or Ubisoft, but there's just something about The Division games that's so comforting for me. It's like putting on a nice pair of slippers, wrapping yourself in a fresh robe, and kicking back in a lazy boy with a cup of warm tea in your hand. I love the atmosphere and the attention to detail, the design and aesthetics, and most importantly - the incredibly addictive gameplay loop. I've been playing this series since the first game came out back in 2016 and I'm still nowhere near getting tired of this formula. I love running around in PvE, sniping bad guys, cracking open item boxes, customizing my gear, enjoying the nice sunset... and holy hell, they even recently released a new mode in The Division 2 that's like this roguelite thing and it's amazing. It will add countless more hours to the longevity of this game.

It would genuinely make me sad if Ubisoft would ever decide to shut down the servers for these games and I wouldn't be able to play through them ever again.

Did they add the Division 1 map to that game? I may play this eventually just to explore D.C. the next one that's coming out looks like complete trash though unfortunately.

 

[Hudo]

Being able to side with the villian or straight up be the villain and still getting the girl.

Spoiler

I am working on it irl.

 

[Dis]

Nostalgia.

 

[Vox Machina]

I love the moment I gain a skill point to use, and weigh where I’m going to spend it.

That feeling when you've been getting close to be able to invest that skill point into something you've been looking forward to, and you get that skill point and get to use that ability in the next combat. Niceuuuu

 

[Bartski]

Beating games with GITGUD them rather than by getting OP (Sekiro, Returnal... ).

Also, getting OP. Diablo 4 made me hate level scaling with passion again.

Universally, good collision and hit reaction physics.

Permanent non-despawning dead enemies give me a boner.

 

[Damigos]

Anything that is a cohesive experience without mtx or battle passes or always online or season and battle passes or cosmetic shops

 

[Mr Hyde]

The smell of a new game as I open the box.

Atmospheric and good music. A kick ass OST is always appreciated.

Nostalgia. When a retro game getting a re-release with new features and modes. The new announcement of Star Ocean 2 got me super excited. A HD-2D remake of a beloved classic is freaking awesome. Other examples is Pocky and Rocky reshrined and Blizzards arcade collection. I just love this kind of retro packaging.

Beating a difficult boss that's been testing your patience for a few hours (or days).

 

[Banjo64]

When a big game actually delivers and is universally loved, and the devs rewarded accordingly.

 

[TheInfamousKira]

- Figuring out that I'm going to vibe with the OST when I start a new game. Granted, game music is usually inoffensively bland at the worst of times (barring RE basement caliber instances) but it's pretty rare for a game to just absolutely floor me front to back with music. Cases like Final Fantasy, Metroid Prime and Silent Hill are just so special to me partly because of this.

- Sight seeing. The initial pull of Assassin's Creed and open world in general for me, before the honeymoon phase ended and I realized all the lazy shortcuts that can and are used on any map with any kind of body to it. Again, it's the exceptions for me. Games that felt like they did the concept justice. Assassin's Creed 2/Brotherhood/4/Unity/Origins, The Witcher, Zelda, most Final Fantasy games, hell, even Silent Hill. Anything that has a fleshed out world that feels lived in, that I can lose myself in for awhile with convincing immersion.

- Files. Notes. Documents. Articles. Scanning. Bestiaries. Anything non-essential or supplemental that I can just lore dive into for several hours in game. I love trivia and background details. Pairs into the immersion deal above for me.

- Boss battles or parkour levels in churches/chapels/bell towers. Nothing to really elaborate on, shit just looks fucking cool.

- Rain during gameplay. I know it's one of those things that's hard to do convincingly in games, but I cut my teeth on sitting on the middle island in OOT's Lake Hylia and playing the Song of Storms, so I'm not particularly picky about my rain.

- Dynamic music. Thought this was the shit ever since Wind Waker and it's weird little musical parries.

 

[Putonahappyface]

Bringing home a brand new console after a midnight launch and setting it up for the first time. It's the closest I'll get to feeling like a child at Christmas again.

 

[Tams]

Nothing.

 

[hemo memo]

That new plastic cover smell… so good.

 

[Drizzlehell]

Did they add the Division 1 map to that game? I may play this eventually just to explore D.C. the next one that's coming out looks like complete trash though unfortunately.

They've added a different part of the Manhattan island in the Warlords of New York expansion. It's not the same map as from the first game but it's still cool that you get to revisit NY during a different time of year and that it's a new location instead of recycled assets:

The above is just the expansion. The main game still takes place in DC.

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

Thicc thighs on gaming protags make me happy.

 

[Raven117]

Great soundtracks for me. Which is funny because I'm far from an audiofile.

It can make a mediocre game much better.

Kinda tired of all these "ambient" soundtracks.

 

[Pegasus Actual]

Reactions to exclusivity deals and buyouts.

 

[FoxMcChief]

Watching your build do gods work while you sit back and watch.

 

[twilo99]

165FPS at 1440p feels nice

 

[Roberts]

I will never get tired of that sweet ass sound when you get a rare achievement.

Recently?

I already mentioned that today, but reaching the shores of Melee island in Sea of Thieves dlc and meeting all the familiar faces brought a smile.

Also, me and my friend got to the part where you need to fight Dr. schecter or whatver his name was in Grounded and he kicked our ass but the idea that we have finally just about finished the game made me all giddy. Can’t wait to upgrade our weapons with sour stuff, stack up on health coctails and kick his ass.

 

[Gandih42]

A few things at the top of my head:

1. Changing the rules in the final boss encounter. Examples (spoilers for old games ahead):
- Controlling ALL party members at once for the final boss of Neverwinter Nights 2
- MGS4 turning into a pseudo fighting game

2. Hype callbacks to the adventure in the final boss (generally in the form of cutscene or QTE direction). Minor spoilers for Astral Chain: For instance, doing QTE combos on the final boss with all Legions (FFXVI did this really well too, IMO).

3. The feeling of genuine discovery. This typically comes from not being afraid of the player missing out on stuff in the first playthrough (FromSoftware are excellent with this). A recent favorite example being the 'Wells' in Elden Ring.

 

[abstract alien]

- One of the best feelings is when a game has both great movement animations, and the animation speed actually matches how far the character moves. It's the worst when you have a character performing a jog, and they are zipping and sliding across the floor like they have skates on.

- Getting a double jump power up

- Finding a short cut or ending up back in a familiar place from a different direction on a metroidvania map

- Playing a survival horror and actually feeling underpowered and/or nearly useless in combat.

- Landing a combo you've been practicing for a particular situation in a fighting game. Even if you lose, you feel like you made progress.