What Makes ‘Crossy Road’ So Addictive?
Now that the popular mobile game Crossy Road will be available on the new Apple TV, we decided to dig a little deeper into the game and other such games and the reasons behind their addictiveness. Andy Sum, developer of Crossy Road, had a big moment when he took to stage to talk about his game. He described Crossy Road as an endless arcade hopper game. The game is simple enough to understand: players control a mascot such as a chicken, koala, bunny etc. and hop across the road and obstacles to get as far as possible and achieve a high score.
Here’s a look at the game in action presented by Sum at the Apple event
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfPMaqC-WSw
Clearly, Crossy Road draws inspiration from the classic 1981 arcade game Frogger, and other more recent ones like Temple Run and Flappy Bird. So what is it about these games that make them so addictive and popular, so much so that they get to take the stage at an Apple Event?
Simple gameplay
One of the reasons for the growing popularity of these games is the simplicity of it all. Games like Crossy Road, Flappy Bird, and Frogger have a simple manner of progression. There are obstacles to cross using mostly your thumbs to tap on the screen. With no tricky controls, these games can actually be played with one hand tied behind your back.
Old style graphics
The simplicity of graphics also makes the game fun to play. Almost everyone would like to play games that have almost real-life graphics, but sometimes we just like to get back to the good old minecraft-like days. It doesn’t ask for much, and is a good way to pass time while going to work. Or at work (Yes, we all do it.)
Tests patience
In a busy world like ours, patience is a rarity. Yet these games require incredible patience. And those who manage to reach a higher level or rake up high points have it in them to deal with the rest of the day. The game also has the ability to frustrate you into pulling out your hair. But it all adds to the fun of it.
Here’s a video of someone who scored a 580 in Crossy Road, which, if one has played the game would know is not an easy feat to achieve.
And finally a look at how people from the ’80s passed their time. You can see where Crossy Road comes from.
If you haven’t played the game yet, you can download it here for Android and here for iOS. Let us know what you think about the game in the comments below.
