This post is [an entry in the Nexon PEAK Post Challenge].

When a game is fun and offers satisfying rewards for the time invested, it is hard not to keep coming back. But even an enjoyable game becomes difficult to stick with if earning resources is too demanding. Equally, generous rewards cannot sustain interest in a game that is not fun. Some games do make that struggle part of their appeal, but they offer a different kind of enjoyment. Since players have different amounts of time to invest, I wanted to consider why meaningful rewards matter even for those who can only log in briefly.

From scheduled rewards to rewards you can purchase anytime

Mabinogi Mobile has two systems called barriers and black holes. Barriers appear in hunting areas once every hour, while 3 black holes appear each hour. The problem is that you cannot simply set aside 1 hour to log in and collect all your barrier and black hole rewards for the week. You have to log in at specific times to complete these activities. Initially, barriers appeared once every three hours, and both systems had fixed daily reward limits. After experimenting with various approaches, Mabinogi Mobile has switched to weekly rewards. It also now lets players purchase boxes from Eavan's Adventurer Shop to collect rewards they missed. This makes it easier to keep up with rewards on busy days, even when players only have time to log in and complete essential activities.

You still need some currency

Of course, purchasing these rewards requires a separate currency. But with Abyss Dungeons serving as one of the game's main combat activities, that currency is not particularly difficult to earn. Players generally complete at least 1 activity each week—whether an Abyss Dungeon, a raid, or something else—and accumulate the currency in their inventory along the way. Those with more time to spare can collect even more.

Making play sustainable

In any game, you cannot outpace someone who spends more time playing. Still, I think the key is to create a balanced structure in which heavy users and light users can each find their own enjoyment. Every game serves a wide range of players. With that in mind, I am glad this game has a reward system that supplies the progression resources light users need to enjoy its main content. I expect further thought and research on this issue to continue shaping the game. Wouldn't login rewards offer the greatest benefit?