Nudge Three tricks Super Mario uses to keep gamers hooked
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Jul 14, 2025 
Ramli John, founder of Delight Path and author of Eureka, dives into the gaming phenomenon of Super Mario Bros. He unpacks psychological strategies that keep players hooked for 40 years, such as quick wins that drive motivation. John discusses how the game teaches players through immersive design, avoiding explicit instructions. He also highlights the importance of gradually increasing challenges to maintain engagement, while limiting choices to prevent decision fatigue. These insights reveal what makes Super Mario a timeless classic in game design.
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Motivation via Goal Gradient Effect
- Super Mario Bros motivates players with quick wins like killing a goomba and collecting coins in the first few seconds.
- This triggers the goal gradient effect, increasing players' effort as they see goals approaching.
Teach Through Doing
- Teach users through doing rather than explaining with instructions or walkthroughs.
- Force engagement early, as in Mario where standing still causes death, promoting active learning.
Progressive Difficulty Sustains Motivation
- Gradually increasing difficulty keeps players motivated by avoiding overwhelm.
- If goals seem too distant or hard, users get demotivated and quit.
