I recently wrapped up my first playthrough of Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia, which I found to have a compelling story and characters with some rather dull maps void of enemy characters. During a particular map called Fear Mountain in Chapter 4 of Alm’s route, there was a Witch towards the top of the map who spawned up to five other witches every other turn.
Shadows of Valentia – Enemy Grind
I saw an opportunity and proceeded to spend the next four hours across two days killing witches to level up my army. When I was satisfied and decided to finally move on to the next map, I was struck by a peculiar thought…
Why am I doing this?
What is Grinding?
Shiny Pokémon Encounter
Grinding can simply be described as repeating the same tasks over and over to achieve a particular goal within a video game. These goals can be varied, and depend on the type of game and the goal that you’re trying to achieve:
- Gaining experience to level up characters, weapons, minions, bases, ranks, etc.
- Repeatedly beating a certain enemy in order to get a specific and/or rare item to drop
- Fulfilling item, weapon, skill, or mission requirements in order to earn trophies or complete a game 100%
- Continually gathering resources beyond what is necessary to survive/advance in a game
- Repeated engagement with random capturable enemies in order to try and generate rarer or more complex versions for capture
Okay, so the last one is obviously for the Shiny Pokémon sickos, but Shiny Pokémon hunting might be one of the most well-known examples of grinding within a video game; the player engages with hundreds, if not thousands, of encounters with the same Pokémon over and over and over in the hopes of generating an encounter with a specific color-variant of that Pokémon.
Unintentional Grinding
Let’s go ahead and get a common, though less popular, reason why someone may grind in a video game out of the way; Sometimes, an intended purpose on the part of a game designer might not be a viable option anymore. Things like dead online multiplayer lobbies or limited-time events with higher drop rates might make an easier-to-follow path intended by a game designer no longer viable, and the method that you’re left with is grinding out low item drop rates to complete that build or obtain that particular item.
Dark Souls 3 – Proof of a Concord Kept Grind
This can be felt even more so in the Retro Handheld community, as oftentimes we’re engaging with games that are well past their active or prime playing days, and some avenues for item collecting or experience gathering may simply not be available any longer or severely outdated by today’s standards. This type of grinding can often lead to burnout or unenjoyment, as the player rarely goes into this with a goal, but rather a sense of obligation.
What about those players who engage in grinding on purpose?
Why Do This to Ourselves?
Soren Johnson, best known for his work as a designer on the Civilization series of strategy games, has a relatively well-known quote that reads as follows: “Many players cannot help approaching a game as an optimization puzzle. Given the opportunity, players will optimize the fun out of a game.” In other words, players will often seize an opportunity to execute a strategy that provides the best chance of winning, even if it involves engaging with a game in a manner that may be seen as unfun or not intended by the game designer(s).
Final Fantasy X – Sphere Grid
Players have different playstyles and different appetites for how they wish to experience a game, but I always find myself taking the time to grind out higher levels and better equipment at the earliest opportunity available, often to the “detriment” of an intended experience, as Soren mentioned above. The two reasons I most often find myself grinding in video games appear to resonate with lots of other players I’ve discussed this with over the years; I enjoy taking an over-optimized team into battle and steamrolling my opponents, and I enjoy the mental space to wander or unwind.
I absolutely love grinding in Tactical and Strategic Role-Playing games. Sometimes, instead of a challenge, I want to level my characters beyond their intended ranges, take these grotesque muscle-monsters onto the battlefield, and decimate my enemy with little effort. I’ve basically created my own Easy Mode, but I did so in a way that I found enjoyable and afforded me a power trip that can be hard to experience outside of video games.
Fire Emblem: Thracia 776 – Murder Sage
I also often find the extra space to breathe or engage in other activities while grinding in a video game can be relaxing. While throwing myself at enemy after enemy in the quest for my previously mentioned death squad, a task that can be as mindless as it is repetitive, I’m afforded a chance to unwind and turn my brain off a bit after a stressful day at work.
I can grind levels and gear while engaging with community members on the Retro Handhelds Discord. I can combine my love for gaming with my need to entertain and corral my toddler. It becomes a way for me to engage in my favorite hobby, while simultaneously not completely disengaging with other things that I may need or have to do in the limited time I have in a day.
Play Your Way
There are, of course, other reasons people may enjoy grinding besides the two I mentioned above: a controlled environment with repeated tasks and rewards, a satisfying gameplay loop, or a desire to obtain the best gear, rank, or status come to mind. Some games, like the Monster Hunter series, are built entirely around grinding, and people absolutely love those games!
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite
Some players will never appreciate grinding in gaming, and that’s okay. A lot of us have busy schedules, myself included, and sometimes it simply doesn’t make sense to eat up your already limited gaming sessions with hours and hours of tedium. For those of us who do enjoy the grind, however, it’s something that scratches that itch in the back of your skull that you sometimes can’t explain.
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