explanation: first and foremost, the game must be a game for a reason. if the game does not have a good amount of actual interactivity, it is boring. if you're making a game with little to no actual choices to be made or buttons to be clicked, make an animation instead. something, something, "could've been an e-mail." secondly, i care for stories that have a rich story. this includes the core concept of the game. so much so that if the story is good enough, i can overlook the limited interactivity (e.g. ddlc. visual novels are basically books, not much interactivity. ddlc has a great story though, i played it and liked it.) at the same time, i am a huge art and animation fan, so i also care for things with distinct art direction and style. i love experimental pieces, so i tend to gravitate towards more obtuse, strange, and "new" pieces. this is why story and art are on the top of the triangle. in other words, i only play indie games and i tend to play games with unique, new concepts (usually by mixing two existing concepts or tropes/genres together). afterwards is gameplay and game design. gameplay is something i can look past more easily than i can look past interactivity. if the gameplay sucks, then as long as i'm hooked in the story, i will keep playing. i care about it a little less than game design. game design, on the other hand, is between art and gameplay. i like a good story as well as i like a well-paced and designed game. the story matters more to me, though. i also greatly appreciate good quality of life. that should go without saying. lastly, sfx and music and graphics (e.g. ui and hud). music is not something i think about while playing unless it's really good. it is not nearly as important to me. try to have good music, though. and then graphics, something that i think really only matters to the creator or, almost purely subconsciously the player. it's kind of hard to mess this up. it'll be fine.
