Why Every Game Has A Skill Tree & Ways To Make Them Fun

I love skill trees but does every game really need a skill tree? In this video essay I'll try to figure out why skill trees are so prevalent in gaming, and why many players seem to be over this mechanic now. We'll look at a bunch of games and analyze their designs to see why some of them are great, while other's are lacklustre.

I hope this video can help other designers out with their own process, or be entertaining for the hardcore gamers out there that just want to learn more about mechanics that we sometimes take for granted.

At the end, I'll be sharing my own design process too and how I came up with the skill tree system for my game Secrets of Shadows.

This is the second entry of a series I'm calling "Finding the Fun", where we take an in-depth look at mechanics or games to see what exactly makes them so fun.

During the research and making of these vids, I always end up learning a lot. I think skill trees still have a lot of room for development in terms of their creativity and application. I know a good portion of you guys are TTRPG designers and I looked at a lot of how you guys designed skill trees for this video, so shout outs to all the TTRPG gamers out there :)

WISHLIST SECRETS OF SHADOWS HERE
https://store.steampowered.com/app/31...

Chapters:
0:00 Preview
0:44 Origin & Definition
2:52 Purpose of Skill Trees
6:08 Underwhelming Examples
10:45 3 Really Good Skill Trees
10:56 Efficient: GOW: Ragnarok
12:35 Ambitious: Path of Exile
14:35 Hybrid: Monster Hunter World
16:33 My Design Process
#gamedesign #skilltree #rpg #videoessay #gamedev

Featuring
Assassin's Creed Odyssey
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
God of War: Ragnarok
Baldur's Gate 3
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Monster Hunter World
Path of Exile
Fire Emblem
The Last of Us 2
Diablo 2
Witcher 3
Final Fantasy IV

Secrets of Shadows is a 2D turn-based tactical RPG with unique classes and deep character customization. Explore a mystifying world inspired by Japanese mythology as you slay yokai and restore corrupted spirits. Shape your own stories and strengthen the bonds within your party.

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