Many live service titles thrive on one unspoken truth: your time is currency. The longer a game can keep you playing — whether through genuinely engaging mechanics or more manipulative tactics — the more likely it is that you’ll be nudged toward spending on microtransactions. It’s not always malicious, but it’s becoming increasingly obvious.

I’ve reached a point where I no longer want to pour hours into games that don’t seem to value my time. And I think more of us are starting to feel the same way.

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What I Look For

For me, it comes down to a handful of things — and it’s not just about how fast I can get from A to B.

A clean, thoughtful UI matters more than most people give it credit for. If I need to interact with a menu regularly, it shouldn’t be buried behind three different layers. Games like Ghost of Tsushima or God of War get this mostly right — intuitive and stylish menus that serve you, not slow you down.

Progression is another big one. Whether it’s character development, new skills, story beats, or even cosmetic upgrades, I want to feel like I’m growing.

Even when revisiting old areas, a good game makes it worth the time — through changes in the environment, new paths unlocked by skills, or just clever environmental storytelling.

Designs That Respect My Time

Not all time sinks are created equal — and when done right, even the smallest quality-of-life feature can make a huge difference. Here are a few design choices I appreciate:

• Fast travel that gives players freedom: If your world is big, let us move through it quickly — or at least make traversal fun. Far Cry 6 nails this by offering standard fast travel and the option to airdrop in, adding a bit of flair to functionality.
• Flexible save systems: Let players save when and where they want. A manual save option makes games feel more player-friendly without compromising challenge for those who want it.
• Controller-first UI on console: Console games should feel like they were designed for controllers — not like a PC port with a sluggish mouse cursor. Menus that respond quickly and feel intuitive go a long way in keeping immersion intact.
• Skippable cutscenes: A skip button shows respect for a player’s time, especially during replays or trophy hunts. It’s a small detail, but it empowers the player to choose how they engage with the story.
• Meaningful side content: The best side quests and collectibles deepen the lore or reveal something new about the world. When even side content feels handcrafted rather than filler, it won’t feel like its made from some mission editor.

Spend Your Time Well

The good news is that not all games fall into these traps. There are still plenty of developers out there who understand that our time is precious — and they create experiences that feel worth every minute. Those are the games I want to support and come back to.

What are some game features that you come to appreciate because you feel your time was respected? Let me know in the comments!