Through researching the “endless runner” genre, which is essentially what the Propulsion through time game is, I found common elements in each, along with clear patterns that work. I primarily used the below video, which shows clips of games in the genre from 1981 to 2021. You can see my notes, as well as a moodboard, below.

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www.youtube.com. (n.d.). Evolution of Endless Runner games (1981-2021). [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGhU7yOBnO8 [Accessed 29 Nov. 2022].

 

• Sometimes the player has lives

• The score is ALWAYS visible and can usually be seen increasing

  • Sometimes the game makes a big deal out of reaching a certain milestone, such as getting 100 points and flashing

  • The score can be a multiple of things and some games show different things: such as time, rings collected or a general score

• Often accompanied with high octane music

  • Bit Runner allowed the player to have an impact on the music by doing well, combining gameplay with music

• Simple obstacles that appear at a predictable rate

  • Often variations on each other, such as walls of different heights

  • Clear patterns arise in each game

• Simple interactions

  • Eg tap or swipe left/right

• Usually about reaching a highest distance

• Later games often include a currency that can be used in between games to buy things like shields/lives/ammo

• Some games include a multiplier for doing well or achieving feats

• Some include power ups to get through sections faster, or increase score

• Some provide a more serene experience, like Alto’s Adventure

• Cosmetics are one of the main unlocks players get for playing a run, as well as for exploring different areas or trying new strategies

• Almost all include something to collect constantly, eg coins

• Animations are fast and fluid

• These games are more lenient now and give people lives or a health bar rather than insta-killing them