After successfully playing the Oregon Trail for one round (Yep, I died 1/3 of the way in the first run playing a poor villager), I started to extract elements that make this game so addicting.
One thing about this earliest version of the RPG game is that it has alluring storytelling with an authentic setting. The story happens in the 80s, where a group of people traveling across the land with a wagon. It mimics all kinds of conditions that travelers can probably encounter in the real life. People get sick. People ran out of food, water & money. The weather changes. Your wagon breaks down. Your oxen get thirsty. Local people trade you at different rates. Those random factors make this game a real challenge since players can never find out a pattern then quickly master the game. Which means, they will never get bored. This time they die because of back luck? They go for another round! It triggers that competitiveness.
To even reinforce the competitiveness more, they set up a ranking page where every player can see the top records. This set up a north star and encourage them to chase after the top players.
Yeah the story telling was super good! It reminded me of our attempt at a game like this in. Kates story-telling class.
I agree on the point of “random factors” makes this game harder, but it also makes it real to the player!
I agree that storytelling in games is a big factor in a successful game. It also taught us (as a kid) the consequences and hardships that occur with the choices you make.