Hidden game mechanics are ploys intended to create impactful moments of gameplay. These “tricks” are triggered under specific conditions, which usually are high-pressure or intense situations to achieve maximum effect. They are consistent and always work in the same way, thus, are predictable. A player cannot activate HGMs by using a special move but can only be activated by the system. For HGM to achieve its maximum effect, they must be implemented in a way that they make a difference in gameplay without being noticeable by the player.

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Jenifer Scheurle is the designer who unravelled the concept hidden game mechanics. She describes them as, “mechanics in games that are hidden from the player to get across a certain feeling”. She talks about how the human psyche is flawed at understanding concepts like time, distance and chance and therefore, HGM thrive, they exploit these flaws and manipulate the game systems in a way that it seems fair and believable to the player.

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The concept of HGM is intriguing because they give us insight on player’s psychology, it helps understand what players think and thus, how they react. Gameplay experience is something developers constantly try to improve on, HGM could a tool to enhance the gameplay experience. Lastly, through this we understand what player expects from a game, since players only accepts the concepts that they want to accept i.e. Suspension of Disbelief.