ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Emergent gameplay

Okay, imagine you and your friends are playing with blocks. Your friend builds a big tower and you decide to knock it over. But then your friend gets upset and decides to build a wall to protect the tower. So, you start trying to find ways to get around the wall, maybe by climbing or digging under it. Your other friend sees what you're doing and decides to help you by distracting the builder, while you try to get to the tower.

This is an example of emergent gameplay. It's when players create their own gameplay experiences by interacting with the game world and each other in unexpected ways. Emergent gameplay can happen in any game, whether it's a video game or a board game, and it's what makes playing with friends so much fun.

Sometimes emergent gameplay can lead to new features being added to the game. Let's say a lot of players are building walls to protect their towers. The game developers might see this and decide to add a new type of block that can only be broken with a special tool. This would add a new layer of strategy to the game and change how players interact with each other.

In summary, emergent gameplay is when players create new and unexpected ways to play a game, which can sometimes lead to new features being added to the game. It's what makes playing with friends so much fun and keeps games interesting and exciting.