I’ve made my own Video Game Bingo, blatantly ripping off the Reddit r/fantasy book bingo.

General Rules

This is mainly designed around single player games that you can finish (in a reasonably finite length of time). The criteria for ticking off a square is that you “beat the game”. It’s hard to define this in a way that works for every game, but roughly this means “when an Any% speedrun would be finished/usually when the end credits play if the game has them and it’s not some kind of a gimmick ending”. But I’m sure you can find examples of games that break this definition somehow, so in that case follow your heart.

I’m not putting a hard rule in for “no replaying games you’ve already played” because I think it will make life hard for myself in particular on a few squares. But you’re definitely encouraged to play new games.

The basic categories for each square are designed to be not-too-hard to fulfill with a lot of different games, although they definitely vary in specificity. Each square has a “hard mode” which will be significantly harder for fulfil. Hard mode is just for fun/if you feel like it.

The bingo period is one year from publication of this post: 14/04/24-14/04/25. I have no idea how likely it is for me (or anyone else) to finish a full card in that time.

The Card

Card

Long List

Here’s a more complete definition of each square, along with a hard mode criteria for each one.

I’ve provided a few examples for each square, there are definitely more for all of them and if you need help I can come up with some more. I tried to include examples that would be fairly accessible on different platforms etc. I also used the same examples in multiple places because, let’s be honest, when you’ve thought of something once it’s easier to think of it again.

Adaptation

Game is adapted from another medium in some way. Comic character, film franchise, book character, etc

Hard Mode: The game version is more well known than the original

Examples: Batman: Arkham Series, The Witcher 3, Baldur’s Gate 3

3D Platformer

Game involves platforming in 3 dimensions as a primary mechanic

Hard Mode: Does not star Mario, Sonic, Banjo Kazooie, Crash Bandicoot or Spyro

Examples: Mario Odyssey, A Hat in Time, Pseudoregalia, Penny’s Big Breakaway(*haven’t played this, want to)

Space Travel

Game involves travelling through space, to multiple planets or similar

Hard Mode: You directly fly a space ship as gameplay

Examples: Outer Wilds, Jupiter Hell, Dead Space

Super Smashed Brother

Game stars a character featured in Super Smash Brothers

Hard Mode: The character is not in Melee

Examples: Metal Gear Solid V, Final Fantasy VII: Remake, lots of Nintendo games

Multiple Endings

Game features multiple significantly different endings

Hard Mode: Play through and get multiple of the endings

Examples: Armored Core 6, The Stanley Parable, Undertale

Max Can’t Take Credit

Game developed/published by a company Max works/has worked for (i.e. Ubisoft, EA).

Hard Mode: Released while he worked there

Examples: Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, Dead Space, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order/Survivor

Retro

Game was first released on a non-current-gen console

Hard Mode: Has not been (directly) remade or remastered

Examples: (So many)

Sequel

Game is a direct sequel

Hard Mode: Title contains a number >= 3

Examples: Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Creeper World 4, Total War: Warhammer 3

Female Protagonist

Game has you play as a female character for a significant portion of the game.

Hard Mode: You exclusively play as a female character

Examples: Tomb Raider (any), Horizon: Zero Dawn/Forbidden West, Celeste

No English

Game uses minimal or no English text and dialogue for narrative and storytelling

Hard Mode: Involves translating an unknown language

Examples: Hyper Light Drifter, Cocoon, Titan Souls, Chants of Sennaar

Mecha

Game involves piloting or commanding mechs of some kind

Hard Mode: The mechs have laser swords

Examples: Titanfall 2, Armored Core 6, BATTLETECH, Zone of the Enders

Roguelike

Game has roguelike elements - procedural generation, permadeath

Hard Mode: A traditional roguelike according to the Berlin Interpretation

Examples: Hades, Jupiter Hell, Enter the Gungeon (so so many more)

Released During the Bingo Period

Game released during the bingo period

Hard Mode: New IP that’s not a sequel, remake, remaster, etc

Examples: TBD

Open World

Game features a large open world environment you’re free to explore

Hard Mode: You can’t ride a horse or drive a car in the game

Examples: Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Spider-Man, Ghost of Tsushima

Time Loop

Game revolves around a time loop mechanic

Hard Mode: You don’t carry items between loops

Examples: Outer Wilds, Deathloop, The Sexy Brutale, Zelda: Majora’s Mask

Max Recommends(TM)

Game is recommended by Max, generally or specifically. (For me: play something recommended by another Bingo player)

Hard Mode: Solicit a personalised recommendation and play that

Examples: Any of the examples from other categories

Metroidvania

Game uses a metroidvania structure (collecting powerups to open new areas)

Hard Mode: Not Metroid or Castlevania or Hollow Knight

Examples: Metroid Dread, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Hollow Knight, Axiom Verge, Blasphemous

GOTY

Game won Game of The Year, during any year, from one of the lists at wikipedia

Hard Mode: Game only listed once on the page

Examples: Browse the list

FPS

Game is played from a first-person perspective and involves shooting

Hard Mode: Not a contemporary or sci-fi setting

Examples: Neon White, DOOM, Titanfall 2

You Can Pet The Dog

Game features a dog (or other small cute animal) you can pet

Hard Mode: Petting the dog does something (achievement, bonus item, anything else that’s not just an animation)

Examples: Steam Curator

Factory Builder

Game involves building a factory

Hard Mode: Title does not contain “Factory” or any derivation thereof

Examples: Factorio, Satisfactory, Shapez.io

Visual Novel

Game features a significant visual novel-style storytelling element

Hard Mode: Title is a pure visual novel with no other mechanics

Examples: Phoenix Wright: Ace Attourney, Zero Escape: Virtue’s Last Reward, Danganronpa, Doki-Doki Literature Club

Handheld

Game was first released on a handheld console.

Hard Mode: Not the Switch

Examples: Castlevania Advance Collection, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attourney, anything on the Switch

Soulslike

Game has enough soulslike elements that a game journalist would compare it to dark souls - stamina bar and dodge roll, estus flasks, bonfire checkpoints, high difficulty, frequent boss fights

Hard Mode: Fromsoft developed

Examples: Bloodborne, Dark Souls, Sekiro, Hollow Knight, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order/Survivor

Cozy

Game has a cozy/relaxing vibe

Hard Mode: No pink/purple colour scheme

Examples: Unpacking, Stardew Valley, A Little To The Left, Lil Gator Game