The Best Video Game Rewards

The fun and enjoyment we get from playing games can only go so far, and for all the hours put into perfecting a game, enjoying an exclusive reward is only right.

This might sound a bit greedy, and the majority of us will be able to take satisfaction from gameplay alone, but it is always nice to get some extra recognition.

Real Life Gaming Rewards

Of course, the top rewards for the world’s best games come in the form of prize money from competitive gaming. But not everyone can dedicate the time to becoming an eSports athlete.

Alternatively, the gamification of the gambling industry can help players earn money from playing games. Consumers can try sweepstake casino options, which let people play without spending money. These alternatives to traditional online casinos allow players to earn sweep coins by signing up, playing regularly, and completing tasks like sharing social media content.

Players can then play the top casino games and slots with sweep coins before trading them in for cash prizes. This is an excellent option for many people playing in prohibitive states and for those that love betting but don’t want to risk their money.

The Best In-Game Rewards

Traditional gaming also provides rewards to players, and with many games now having in-game purchases for different items, these rewards can help to save a lot of money.

International Honor

The first reward might not give you anything tangible, but the honor of being the best is something that a lot of people compete for. The online capacity of modern gaming allows global leaderboards to be created, giving players an accurate way of determining their own position for certain games.

New Weapons

The weaponry that you acquire in some games can make all the difference to your capabilities, and some games reward players who level up or complete tasks with more impressive options. 2005’s Resident Evil 4 rewarded players who completed the game on its hardest setting with the PRL 412, a gun that obliterates enemies and has unlimited ammo.

In 2011, Dead Space 2 followed Resident Evil’s lead by rewarding players with the Hand Cannon for completing the Hardcore Mode. Designed to look like a novelty foam finger you might expect to see at a WWE event, this adds a fun element to the game should you choose to play through it again.

New Characters

Completing some games also gives players access to new characters, helping to give the game greater longevity. 2010’s Bayonetta saw players rewarded with the Jeanne character for achieving a platinum rank on each level.

Many games require players to reach certain levels or complete actions to access all the playable characters, and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night from 1997 saw players allowed to play as renowned vampire hunter Richter Belmont by completing the game and then starting a new game with the name ‘RICHTER’.

Additional Gameplay

MediEvil took things back to the glory days of video games when developers knew how to reward their players for completing the game. Players that were able to lay all the lost souls to rest and collect the chalices were able to enjoy the original PS1 game when they restarted the game.

Different Modes and Settings

Most games that offer difficulty settings will have pretty basic options, but Perfect Dark in 2000 and GoldenEye 007 gave N64 players a unique reward for completing these already challenging titles on their hardest settings. Perfect Dark Mode and 007 Mode gave players access to stat manipulation for enemies. 

The benefit of this was that players could either make their foes weak as a kitten, or make them almost impossible to defeat. These options could completely transform the gameplay and let players enjoy hours more action.

Hidden Levels

Stumbling across a bonus level is like peaking behind the curtain and is an exciting prospect for a lot of gamers. 2001’s Sonic Adventures 2 rewarded players who were able to collect all of the emblems and finish every level with an A-rank by giving them access to an additional level, Green Hill Zone.

This flashback to the original Sonic game sparked nostalgia for many players, and the 3D recreation gave it an extra element of fun.

With new Sonic games and blockbuster movies, it is a better time than ever to dust off the old games and see if you still have what it takes.

New Vehicles

The Simpsons has been a favorite of many for decades, and its Hit & Run game from 2003 was a cult classic. But did you know that 100% completion of the game gave you access to every bonus vehicle hidden throughout the game? While many people that complete a game will move on to something else, having access to new vehicles gave players a chance to go back and play again.

Alternative Clothing

A lot of modern game sees players encouraged to spend money (real and in-game) on skins or outfits for their characters, but Metal Gear Solid predicted this trend in 1998 and rewarded its players with snazzy suits and top-tier-tuxedos for those that have completed the game and played through both endings.

Conclusion

Player rewards add value to a game and give consumers a feeling of having earned something from a game. In some cases, modern game rewards can even hold real-world value.

In-game rewards give players greater incentive to achieve their goals and can help them reduce the potential cost of a game through earning or winning key items that are needed to progress in the game.