When too many minigames ruin your gaming experience

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth seemingly has everything you could want to switch off for a few hours after work. This open-world game lets you dive into your favourite landscapes and complete small tasks with Cloud and his cronies. There’s no time pressure, and you can get a lot done in just a few minutes. At the weekend, I start tackling the parts of the story that keep me glued to the screen for longer stretches of time.

And my plan works for the most part, if it weren’t for that never-ending flood of minigames. Every time I move from one part of the story to the next, I’m regularly interrupted by minigames. It’s only once you’ve completed those that you can start working on the next sequence. At first, I tackle them with gusto, they’re really fun. And while I’m at it, I also try to get a high score, as this unlocks better equipment for my characters. I guess the story will just have to wait. But hey, it’s the weekend, and there’s plenty of time left.

Right, back to the story. Oh wait, there’s another mini-game. I might as well complete it, so I don’t have to figure out the controls again later on. After a few minutes of cutscenes, another mini-game awaits me. And so the fun starts all over again. Before I know it, the weekend’s over and I’ve seen practically nothing of the story.

What was a fun challenge at first, is now starting to dampen the actual plot of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. At some point, I’ve completed so many minigames I start to get sick of them. And so, I start leaving out the optional ones. As for the mandatory ones, I dread having to do every single one of them. For example, the boxing match against Dio, the owner of the Gold Saucer. Having a dander around the amusement park? Forget it. Instead, I have to prove myself in a Punch Out!!-style mini-game.

Forced distraction from the actual game

You might be thinking, so this guy’s getting to spend more time playing a wonderful game and still complaining about it? Well, I’m not the only one ranting about the minigames. Square Enix’s fantasy epic simply has far too many minigames that distract you from the main story and destroy the rhythm of the game. Unlike side quests, they often pop up in the middle of the plot.

Many of the minigames in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth are also featured in the original Final Fantasy VII. In the latter, the quality’s even worse. But at least they take up considerably less space.

Other games have been getting it right for a long time

Sure, Yakuza: Like a Dragon also forces you to play tons of minigames. However, the developers of the series have specialised in this. They’ve created a much better balance between minigames and game speed than Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.

The Witcher 3 also proves how things can be done differently with its card game Gwent. The mini-game works so well it’s even been given its own spin-off, namely Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales. In the main game, you get to choose between duelling others for hours or leaving it out completely.

But minigames aren’t just limited to role-playing games. The Chao Garden from Sonic Adventure DX: Director’s Cut and Sonic Adventure 2 is an additional mode you don’t have to select a single time in the main game. In the garden, you can nurture a cute Chao like a Tamagotchi until it turns into this perfect creature that wins competitions for you. This additional mode is well designed for a mini-game. The mode isn’t limited to the Nintendo Gamecube itself. You can even take your Chao with you on the GameBoy Advance.

Going even further back in time, Super Mario Bros. 3 shows that minigames can be both entertaining and quick. As a kid, I spent many hours in battle mode with my friends. It’s like playing a remake of Mario Bros.

Bonus instead of main game add-on

I’m not saying minigames should be abolished. They should return to what they once were, a bonus that complements your gaming experience. I don’t mind them being extensive, either. It’s when minigames start to interfere with the actual game that they’ve overshot their mark.

Nevertheless, I’ve turned my attention back to Final Fantasy VII Rebirth – despite the abundance of minigames. After all, I need to know what happens next and how the legendary scene at the end will play out. I just need to get this one Chocobo race out of the way first…