Discoverable Games: Traits for 2022

This analysis examines the evolving landscape of game discoverability in 2022, moving beyond traditional genre classifications to identify specific functional traits that drive long-term success. The primary thesis suggests that in a saturated market, games must possess features that encourage organic word-of-mouth and extended playability to remain visible to consumers over months or years.

Key findings identify several high-value traits for modern discoverability, including online co-operative play, user-generated content capabilities, and sandbox elements that provide players with creative freedom. The research emphasizes the importance of "roleplayability" and the ability for players to generate their own stories, which significantly enhances appeal for streamers. Furthermore, a roadmap of layered feature updates and inherent replayability through procedural generation are cited as critical for maintaining momentum after the initial launch period.

The scope of the data covers major PC and console platforms, with specific focus on the Steam and Epic Games Store (EGS) ecosystems during the 2021-2022 period. Data points from Epic Games Store’s 2021 review show a total spend of $840 million, though third-party spend only accounted for $300 million of that figure, suggesting a top-heavy market dominated by major titles like Fortnite. Additional industry data indicates that legacy titles are increasingly dominant, with games released in 2021 accounting for only 29% of total European sales.

Methodologically, the findings are derived from a mix of qualitative feature analysis and quantitative market data, including EGS year-in-review statistics, Steam tag rankings, and European GSD sales reports. The analysis concludes that while single-player masterpieces can still succeed, the most reliable path to discovery in the current climate involves building "living" games that offer continuous reasons for player engagement and social discussion.