Summary

  • Video games have evolved with innovative mechanics like Bullet Time, Nemesis System, and Combo systems, influencing future games.
  • Unique mechanics like the Gravity Gun and Portal Gun have stood the test of time, showcasing creative and clever gameplay experiences.

Video games have been around for a long time, which has led to a whole range of eras and innovations throughout the years. From the arcade games that had life systems and no checkpoints, to the modern games of cover shooters and dialogue options, it's clear that some mechanics come and some go.

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However, there is the rare mechanic which is so groundbreaking and innovative that you wonder what games were like before it. Often, these get replicated in other videogames, and it's easy to see why. They're just that good that they begin to dominate. These are just some of the most innovative video game mechanics that influenced games to come.

8 Bullet Time (Max Payne)

Max Payne

Third-Person Shooter Released July 23, 2001 Developer(s) Remedy Entertainment Publisher(s) Gathering of Developers Platform(s) PC, PS2, Xbox (Original), Nintendo Game Boy Advance, Android, iOS Powered by Expand Collapse

Max Payne was mostly known for two things, the gritty and wordy monologues of the protagonist and the system known as Bullet Time. It may be hard to believe, but before Max Payne there weren't really any games that had encapsulated the thrill of a slow-mo action sequence like it did.

The game allowed you to activate Bullet Time with the press of a button, slowing the world down for Max and letting you take aim while looking as cool as all can be. It made the game a lot more cinematic whilst also giving you a good chance to shoot your enemies without getting overwhelmed.

7 Nemesis System (Middle-Earth: Shadow Of Mordor)

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor

Developer(s) Monolith Publisher(s) Warner Bros. Games Franchise The Lord of the Rings Platform(s) PS3, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Linux, macOS Powered by Expand Collapse

Perhaps one of the best enemy systems in gaming was first introduced in Middle-Earth: Shadow Of Mordor, and was an instant hit with players. If you don't know, the system worked by showing you the progression of bosses and sub-bosses, as some of them get promoted after killing you and others move around after you defeat one of them.

As well as this, some enemies could return and become a nemesis, harbouring injuries from the last time you fought. It was a great way to inject some personality into what could have been otherwise forgettable enemies and make you strategize which ones to take down.

6 Combo (Batman Arkham Asylum)

Batman: Arkham Asylum

Action Adventure Developer(s) Rocksteady Studios Publisher(s) Warner Bros. Interactive Franchise Batman Platform(s) PS3, PS4, macOS, PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One Powered by Expand Collapse

Known as one of the best superhero games of all time, Batman: Arkham Asylum not only put you in the cowl of Gotham's crime fighting vigilante, but it also made you feel like him too, especially during combat. Although it's a lot more common now, the game helped pioneer its combo system, wherein Batman could sense an enemy about to land a hit, and with the press of a button could dodge and strike back.

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It allowed you to do this repeatedly, auto-targeting enemies and creating a chain of kicks, punches and flurries that made combat just that much smoother and cinematic.

5 Crafting (Adventure Games/Minecraft)

Minecraft

Created by Markus Persson Video Game(s) Minecraft, Minecraft Dungeons, Minecraft Legends, Minecraft Caves and Cliffs Expand Collapse

Although it was really first introduced in the early adventure games of the '80s and '90s, crafting became popularised with one of the best-selling games, Minecraft. Crafting is in the name for a reason as half the game will have you hunched over a crafting table as you try to figure out the recipe for tools, items and more.

It's notable how since Minecraft's popularity, many games have taken on crafting mechanics, even when it's mostly combining items you find out in the world in an attempt to promote exploration and have a more streamlined upgrade system.

4 Gravity Gun (Half-Life 2)

Half Life 2

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Valve knew they did something special with the gravity gun. Half-Life 2 showcased a lot of the Source engine's impressive physics, which still hold up to this day, and the iconic weapon of the Gravity Gun helped show that.

The gun would allow you to pick up objects and throw them which could be used in some really clever ways (such as picking up crates and throwing them into explosive red barrels). It was also used to help you out during physics-based puzzles.

3 Portal Gun (Portal)

Portal

Developer(s) Valve Publisher(s) Valve Franchise Portal Platform(s) PC, PS3, Switch, Xbox 360 Powered by Expand Collapse

Another iconic Valve gadget is the one and only Portal gun. Valve knew they struck gold with this one, so much so that they made a sequel to Portal with even more puzzles and scenarios to use that handy Aperture Science gizmo.

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The Portal gun is such a simple idea for a tool but one that works seamlessly, allowing you to shoot two portals, one blue and one orange, and travel between them. It helped introduce some unique puzzles and is still so popular today that fans are making their own games with new puzzles to try out.

2 Character Swap (Grand Theft Auto 5)

Grand Theft Auto 5

Developer(s) Rockstar North Publisher(s) Rockstar Games Franchise Grand Theft Auto Platform(s) Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 Powered by Expand Collapse

Though the idea of multiple protagonists is hardly an innovation Grand Theft Auto 5 brought about, it did expand on it in a very interesting way with its character swap. Instead of only playing certain sections of a game as a certain protagonist, the game enjoyed having all the characters in one place and had missions where you'd swap between them seamlessly.

The easy transition and design focusing on swapping characters was so celebrated as fans still love it, and remark that it is one of the best mechanics introduced in the Grand Theft Auto series.

1 Strand (Death Stranding)

Death Stranding

Action Developer(s) Kojima Productions Publisher(s) Sony, 505 Games Platform(s) iOS, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S Powered by Expand Collapse

Death Stranding couldn't have come at a better time. Set in a post-apoclayptic America, players would take the role of a courier delivering supplies to different groups of survivors and communities.

But the most interesting thing was the 'Strand' mechanic. Players could gain likes from NPCs which enabled them to unlock structures created by other players, and could also friend each other to share structures in their worlds. Oftentimes, such structures were bridges and pathways that made deliveries in the future that much easier, and it helped create beautiful and cooperative game play.

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