Graphics VS Gameplay - What Matters Most?

What is the secret to a good game? To many people the heart of the game lies in the functionality of how it plays, commonly known as gameplay. In contrast there are many people who prefer games that push their visuals to the limit to fully express the world they want to convey.

[Irishguy95]

Gameplay/End Thread

[classic200]

I am still surprise this question is needed to be ask, right now even story beats the hell out of graphics. Give me a game a stupid story and fun gameplay with beautiful graphics I might not be satisfied but give me a game with great story and gameplay with average graphics and I will love it regardless.

Graphics in games is just like the cover of a story book, without the words it is useless.

[BullyMangler]

The answer is BOTH, but gameplay rides on top.

[OhMyGandhi]

I agree, I wouldn't have gone anywhere near Nier had the gameplay not been incredibly fun/addictive.

[T900]

Well most games are multiplats anyways. atleast 90% of them are.

Gameplay is same across all platforms.

Its just PC provides the bonus with better graphics across the board and this just isnt high end PCs. Since console tech is so old, Even low to mid range PCs of today provide that bonus.

[knowyourstuff]

This is what's known as a slow news day... even at the computer desk of the guy writing this in his underwear on his blog/website.

[hay]

Game is a product which importance spans across several aspects.
It needs visual appearance, audio fidelity, and fun interactiveness to be successful.
Best games are those which nailed each of those aspects, so I'd say it's pretty obvious we need all of them.

Both visuals and gameplay can become boring or stale when not enough attention is put into it.

Like in life, you need a good balance of those aspects. You need to look respective for your position, and perform adequately to your role.
You might slack off a bit, or not care about how you look, but that's a personal preference of favuoring one over the other.

But there are standards dictated by the environment to be met. Or surpass if ambitious enough.

All of us would prefer both, but if I had to choose, I'd sacrifice graphics. I had most enjoyable time with less fidelity, but richer worlds or gameplay mechanics. I can imagine pretty vistas. It's hard to imagine fun gameplay when it isn't.

[Murad]

Just play Chrono Trigger, and find yourself understanding that graphics ultimately do not matter a tad bit.

[SolidStoner]

both the same!

There is and must be the best middle golden way for every game, depending on wanted result is it a simulation or story based game etc... graphics and gameplay must have great balance...

gameplay matters but if graphics lacks "the looks" then even my imagination cant help!

[MysticStrummer]

"The answer is BOTH, but gameplay rides on top."

That makes no sense. You just said gameplay was most important.

"Gameplay is same across all platforms."

Exclusives say no.

Gameplay has always been and will always be more important than graphics.

[SilentNegotiator]

I hate articles that ask this question because absolutely no one ACTUALLY values graphics over gameplay.

No one older than 5...NO ONE...would play a 100% broken, unfinished, beautiful game that only allows to you walk 2 feet before crashing, over an ugly game that plays well.

[Dee_91]

graphics for me
I dont even play games I just skip to the cut scenes

[Shuyin]

I see what you did there...lmfao.

[ILive]

Both. Gameplay is very much subjective, and graphics can enhance gameplay experience. Example, many hated the gameplay of ff13, while others loved it. There is no arguing that the game boasts amazing graphics though.

[gta2800]

lol!

[Chris558]

Protip it has game in the name

[LordOfAdmirals]

'in-GAME-graphics'?

[colonel179]

It's definitely BOTH. While gameplay is more important since it's obviously a game, graphics allow for better gameplay and story. I don't think Uncharted would have been possible on PS1. I don't think it would have had the same impact with PS1 graphics, no matter how great the story was. Also, the gameplay wouldn't have been possible either. The same goes for a lot of games. With PS4 and next Xbox we will surely see more new ideas that will come in consequence of the better graphics. It's the sum of all parts, and it all depends on what developers want to focus on.

[Pushagree]

Gamers will never admit it, but we are all graphics whores. The most interesting thing about video games is that they are still evolving visually and they area evolving fast. If a new console released and it had lesser graphics than the last, no one would buy it.

[hiredhelp]

From a gamer from 8bit days to today I say Both.
Bottom line you need both more today than 8bit days because we've past the line where anything is possible.
Players always wanting more looking for more, when we buy a new console what's the first thing you notice when new game comes out aka killzone 4 ? Gameplay. BS visuals graphics the wow factor.
But when you see or have hands on a game that has gameplay and graphics then it's a perfect match.
But both of them can let down a game if the game not done right.

[MariaHelFutura]

The pretentious answer is gameplay. The reality is both matter to gamers and the game industry. Graphics pull you in, gameplay keeps you comin back, its kind of comparable to a womans beauty and personality.

[N0S3LFESTEEM]

LOL... Beauty and Personality. That's a great way to sum it up... just like with Graphics vs Gameplay there's a trade off... it's rare that you'll ever get both unless you have a freakishly large penis but that doesn't transfer over to games as well. If you find yourself a girl with a nice personality looks won't matter that much to you... if you find a hot chick she'll most likely be stuck up and pretentious and offer the personality of a brick. Games can offer the best graphics in the world but the trade off is most likely going to hit it in the gameplay department with it ending up being generic feeling or just outright trash. If the gameplay is good though and enough to suck you in then the Graphics won't matter as much. So yeah... Good comparison.

I totally didn't rip off your word there XD... I didn't notice it until I read your post over again after I wrote mine.

[UnwanteDreamz]

FUN

BTW the answer is subjective. Why not ask what genre is best? Evryone has an opinion.

[SPAM-FRITTER-123]

Do Console gamers have a choice?

[LordOfAdmirals]

yes. we have plenty of great looking games.

killzone
halo 4
forza
gt
rdr
uncharted
gears 3

to name just a few. both have good graphics and good gameplay.

[MysticStrummer]

The GotY list from the PS3/360 era proves console gamers have the best games to choose from.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

Ultimately it really is game play. An example: Look at a Mario 64. Graphically it is not great in todays standard but that game is still tons of fun and better than many current gen better looking platformers.

Graphics might tip the scale on two games that are similar in feel and game play but I really dont think they matter as much ultimately as many would think they do.

[AngelicIceDiamond]

If Crytek and Crysis taught us anything its gameplay matters most. Which is funny because Tomb Raider, not only does looks fantastic, but plays well to. So what's Crytek's excuse for uninspiring gameplay?

[TheXonySbox]

This isnt a matter of most; its BALANCE.

Indie games have great gameplay' but graphically and engine wise feel shallow and lack of AAA feel; they feel shallow in 2d levels.

3D and a great 3d looking game sucks you into the experience by tricking the human mind. Great gameplay and great graphics should be balanced with one another. Release a 2013 game with 2006 graphics and its going to get ripped. Unless you have a strong following with the franchise, graphics will draw in new customers 9/10 times IMO.

BALANCE is key.

[Aceman18]

for me both matter.

[DaThreats]

Gameplay.

[Thepharaoh]

This isn't event a real question it's obviously Gameplay. You could be the greatest looking game in history I'm talking 5080x4500 graphics that look like Avatar(Not the nickelodeon television show or movie but the one with the blue people) CGI ,but have awful broken Kung Fu rider, Amy gameplay and the thing will be in the good old Wal-Mart 5 dollar bargain bin with those old Ds chibi cooking games and Wii cartoon games the week it comes out. Take examples from Crysis 3 and SimCity, those games are like certain celebrities lots of looks but little to no heart and soul. It's rare we get games like Gran turismo, Halo 4,the withcer, battlefield, and uncharted with great looks, Brains, and heart. Remember kids always choose personality over physicality. RANT OVER

[whoyouwit04]

It goes like this game play, story, then graphics. i say game play over story because it has to have good enough game play to grab your attention.

[kassler]

Why do you always have to choose one, why not say both?

[liban-ali]

You don't have to choose one.

[Bathyj]

what he said

[Chuk5]

Gameplay and a decently realized world can take a game alot further than pretty graphics and passable gameplay.

Look at Crysis 3 vs Dark Souls.

[liban-ali]

Personally I think it could work either way. For example Windwaker was your standard Zelda affair but what really made it stand out was the amazing cell shaded graphics.

[Tei777]

Yeah, but thats just a case of the graphics ENHANCING the gameplay. You can't have poor gameplay and great graphics, but you can have great gameplay and poor graphics. Like I just recently played FFVII, still amazing, even though it looks like utter shit.

[ILive]

Back then, yes. But by today standards, no. Again, gameplay is a subjective matter. While many argue that crysis 2 has amazing graphics but boring gameplay, there are people who actually like the way the game plays. I know a friend who thinks god of war has extremely boring gameplay but likes dantes inferno.

[mochachino]

Both are necessary and interdependent.

Some great games couldn't exist without sufficient graphical power, and some games wouldn't be as immersive without the graphics they have.

Imagine playing what I consider one of the best games this gen, Red Dead Redemption on PS1 or even PS2 for that matter. Those wild west vistas and euphoria engine reactions to getting shot pulled me into the world in a way that less power would never do.

The only problem is when devs rely on flashy graphics over solid gameplay....so I guess gameplay, but that's like saying your heart is more important than your lungs, you could live without one but the quality would suffer tremendously compared to two.

[blackstrr411]

How can you live without your heart. A better comparism would have been kidneys. You can live without 1 but having both of em is better

[mochachino]

Meant a lung lol

[liban-ali]

I'm glad you're all commenting and debating because that's what we do here, however an approval would be great too :P

[Senyra]

I think both variables depend on each other, at least a bit. But gamer's tend to consider gameplay mechanisms more than graphics.

[Derekvinyard13]

gameplay

[Ezz2013]

both are important

[DigitalRaptor]

Very true. When it comes down to it, gameplay must come first, but I don't get the point of these divisive articles.

It always happens at the cusp of a new generation (or when a certain console's games have better graphics and thus, damage control articles are written) when people are "wowed" by improved visuals in games - that is normal, and expected. But can you not have both? The answer is yes. Many developers pull off the right balance, and the new generation will see improvements in both as far as AI and world complexity, draw distance, frames per second, and FOV is concerned.

Then you have the fidelity and realism helping to shape storytelling and allowing for emotions to be much more easily shaped. Graphics are not just about making things LOOK prettier, like many seem to think.

[NastyLeftHook0]

gameplay all the way. 100%

[DigitalSmoke]

If done right, graphics are gameplay.
For excample...

An exploding building rigged with physics blowing rocks up across the map can look stunning, yet turns into gameplay when these rocks can actualy hit and damage you.
Looking down seeing your own body in a fps, can be considered awesome gfx, but turns into gameplay when a rock hits your knee, and you'll be able to put some bandaid on it after noticing it.

Most developers are stupid, thats why you have this GFX versus Gameplay discussion.

[Lisica]

Exploding building rigged with physics is a gameplay, not graphics...

[Gamesgbkiller]

If we can have both.... :')

[blackstrr411]

Mgs1234

[zbg31610]

Yeah, story is needed. Great graphics aren't NEEDED but are still very important. When I played Oblivion for the first time it was about 3 years after it had come out. The graphics and animations, just ew. Yet it remains the most played game ever for me.

[blackstrr411]

One game series did both. Metal gear solid. 1, 2, 3, 4. Excellent graphics/animations/sound + gameplay that is still unrivalled

[Gamesgbkiller]

But we don't have many games have both elements nowadays.
Sad.

[clintagious650]

Gameplay of course is the 1st thing when creating a game & everything else is just a bonus. Thats what sets great devs apart from others. Some devs just give u a great gameplay experience, some give u great gameplay & story, but when a developer can give u great gameplay, great story & great graphics to bring the game to life thats when u just have to tip your hats off to those devs because they go that extra EFFORT to give gamers that all around experience.

[sandman224]

Both. Graphics are important, having a high quality polish helps me feel secure about my purchase. Gameplay is important because it helps bring great controls to my polished game. Everyone who grew up gaming remembers why we kept buying new consoles. It was the bragging rights we got when we moved from Atari, to nes/turbo graphics16 to sega genesis/super Nintendo and so on. Playing Mario from nes to snes was amazing with the graphic jump. With that in mind it did start with the gameplay. So gameplay first then when that gets mastered polish the crap out of it.

[Tundra]

Gameplay is most important but graphics are more for immersion. Coming out of a dim and hollow cave only to be greeted by beautiful sunshine with good lighting and shader quality. Foliage being plentiful and top notch with that river down below moving and flowing seamlessly.

That what graphical finesse brings for me anyways. It makes a great experience even greater.

[Braid]

I wouldn't put graphics over gameplay but I'd say graphics are just as important to me. I can stand a game if the gameplay is mediocre but graphics are great, just for the sake of eye candy visuals. But I find it extremely hard to stand a game with solid gameplay, but sh#t graphics. It's 2013, for Christ's sake, we were supposed to have flying cars a couple of years ago. Where are the Avatar-quality games we were promised?

My conclusion is, both are equally important.

[Nocturne147]

65% Gameplay, 35% Graphics.

[AtomicGerbil]

Graphics sells the game, gameplay is what makes it good, bad or great.

[nintendoland]

just no...

[AtomicGerbil]

Explanation?

[ninjahunter]

What good is gameplay if you cant get immersed into a game? I dont care too much about the cutting edge stuff, I mean if you offer me a version with better graphics ile take it every time, but im not gonna cry if its not Crysis 3 or whatever. but if a game is just plain ugly to look at, or just isnt well put together, ile beat it, and never touch it again.

Graphics are what forms a first impression and as psychology has proven in a vast majority of cases, First impressions actually have a stronger influence on your opinion than Actual long term experience. (Its true, your brain works by creating topics or memories, then manipulating them little by little, it takes a lot to overide a first impression)

[MasterCornholio]

I want both which is why I'm getting a PS4.

BTW in case anyone is wondering about this I like the PlayStation because of the controller, technology and Sony exclusives.

Motorola RAZR i

[coolmast3r]

It's 2013 so we don't need to bother about graphics. They are already great. And with the next generation of consoles coming out this year they are going to be even better. What we need to be bothered about though is a lack of a relly fresh ideas regarding gameplay mechanics. I'm sure both PS4 and the next console from Miscrosoft will bring lots of fresh ideas e.g. the use of PS4's new Dualshock with it's touchpad thing. This is just a beginning!

[Lisica]

No it's not.

I guess you didn't notice that no one wants to experimant anymore.
As long as CoD sells in tens of millions.

[coolmast3r]

Any examples other than CoD? :/

[pandehz]

This debate is bs and anyone who says graphics or gameplay etc is a dumbass.

A game needs to be balanced and not mathematically balanced but plot, context, believable, interactivity etc etc etc.

[OWWO]

45% grafics 55% gameplay

[HarryB]

When I bought homefront I was amazed at 2 things. The game play was fun. It was different. There was a lot of good chokes and fire fights.

But man the graphics were horrible lol. Eventually I got tired of the bad graphics and the animations that were getting cheesey. And the reverted back to cod or bad company 2 at the time.

Counter strike on the other hand I can give a shit about graphics. I tone down all my settings and config the hell out of it for the best fps and maximum performances in time I need it. Thats what every good player does anyway. You gotta be outta your mind to think the best players play at high settings. I play counter strike global off at 640 x400 resolution.

[Jonmau5]

Gameplay

Why?

MINECRAFT.

[madpuppy]

yes....everything should look like minecraft.

re-release every game in the minecraft style, except, maybe just a little blurry. We'll get to to the bottom of who is a graphics whore and who is a gameplay purist (when you say "purist", try saying it in the most condescending, smug way possible. or it will simply lose it's true meaning in this passage.).

[Jonmau5]

haha! Well said!

[worldwidegaming]

we have reached a point where graphics are doing well. The biggest problem is gameplay and it needs to be focused on more and not less.
Gameplay 75%
Graphics 25%

[yokokoroma]

As someone stated above, the answer to this question should be known. The majority of gamers know that gameplay is the most important thing, as it's the gameplay that provides the experience. Graphics on the other hand are trivial in nature, as long as a game is visually presentable (i.e. current gen standard, depending on genre, such as 2D fighter vs a 3D fighter) that's all that matters.

[madpuppy]

While gameplay is king, I think that other elements in the game like a great soundtrack and nice graphics cannot be discounted. They are the added ingredients to a great recipe. roasted chicken may be great but Chicken cordon bleau is superb and has taken the humble chicken to a whole other level.

To simply state that the "only" thing that matters in a video game is gameplay is just absurd. Anything that can truly enhance the gaming experience I see as important and a step closer to better immersion.

[HOO-HAA]

It's a pointless question as in this day and age there's no excuse not to have both!!

[OcelotRigz]

Think of all the great games people talk about, think of your favorite games and then think about why they are your favorite game, was it the gameplay or graphics?

That should decide the debate for most. Half-Life, Red Dead, Super Mario Bros 3, GTA San Andreas, Dark Souls, Oblivion, Fallout 3, MGS3, PES6, Bioshock etc... These are my favorite games and considered by many to be the greatest games out there. Its not because of the graphics i loved these games, its because of solid and immersive gameplay all day long, and with a lot of them its also great stories and characters on top of that.

[medman]

This articles title is the problem. Why does it have to be either/or? Hopefully, this won't be an issue next gen.

[Red_Devilz]

Great Example: Assassins Creed III. Amazing graphics, pathetic gameplay, stupid characters, boring stroryline.
Result: I stopped playing in the middle and deleted the game from my PS3.

[SonyPS4]

Graphics should enhance the experience, not be the experience.

[madpuppy]

the problem is that the people that say gameplay is the "only" important aspect of a video game say it like if you enjoy good graphics with your games your a graphics whore and don't care about gameplay. and that is NOT the case, I love great graphics, music, voice acting, hight quality textures, good AI, a well thought out control setup, quality hit detection, great story ect...
but, you are right, all those things are moot without quality gameplay.

[isyourhouseonfire]

Who cares? If you buy a game like Black Ops 2 you get graphics AND gameplay AND insane framerate. Stick to the big boys and you won't have to write these stupid articles.

[KillrateOmega]

Gameplay is the more important of the two, but graphics still matter quite a bit as well.

[ZBlacktt]

Game Play always. This is why MAG > BF and COD.

[Twinzclipz]

Gameplay
if i want a good graphic then i go watch Avatar

[Stoppokingme]

Why can't we have both?

[smashcrashbash]

I don't know why we can't have both.Everyone wants good gameplay but why can't it have breathtaking views and environments too? God of War wouldn't have been half as epic if it didn't have such towering, epic environments

[Kidmyst]

Gameplay, heck look at some classic games that are still loved Today. They had fun gameplay that made them classics. I'll take gameplay over graphics anyday. Some games like Uncharted, Skyrim for example when you get to a big open area, something catches your eye and you pan around looking at the mountains or something thinking "Damn this looks nice", but at the end of the day it's how the game played matters.

[kupomogli]

Gameplay, but there are times that graphics take a major role in the games gameplay.

Graphics aren't just how pretty a game is, but is also the amount of detail in the games world map, dungeons, areas, etc. If you're playing through a game that has both poor textures and is made up of short hallways as you progress towards the next point, the games amazing gameplay won't help as much as if the areas you travelled through were a bit more detailed and gave a little bit of depth to them.

I'll use Uncharted as an example. Uncharted is based mostly on going from one location to the next. Point A to B, but the design of the worlds aren't just a straight hallway. You progress through a believable world in all three games, having to actually scale on both an x and y axis to get to areas that are all around you, even though there's no differentiation on where you're actually supposed to go. What if Uncharted was nothing but a straight hallway with pits you jumped over every few minutes, cover points in the hallways, and a bunch of enemies. The game clearly wouldn't be near the amount of fun it is right now.

Another example would be Hyperdimension Neptunia Mk2(only one I've played.) The first dungeon you enter is a path that is literally one minute in length with a dead end. There are very few dungeons in the game and each dungeon is as lackluster as this. The next dungeon is a hallway to one somewhat medium sized room with a hallway that goes to a dead end, next one is circular rooms with a small hallway connected to a duplicate circular room, the next dungeon is boxed rooms with hallways into other duplicate sized boxed rooms, etc. You get the idea. The dungeon layout of this game is awful and with as few dungeons as there are and both story missions and quests taking you back to these same dungeons repeatedly, it really drags down the game.

So while graphics don't particularly make the difference, if there isn't good detail in the stage, then the game is going to be much worse. So graphics do matter, atleast some, but gameplay does take priority.

[edgeofsins]

Without graphics you would have no image, therefore no gameplay.

[ThreshStar]

I'd say Gameplay.

Reason being: When a game doesn't look that great, a fan (or fans) create mods to make the game look even better.

If the gameplay is rough / awful then that's the end of that game. No modification needed.

[Tzuno]

Both but game-play should be the main focus I'd say 65% game-play 35%graphics.

[ATi_Elite]

Graphics mater most cause as the graphics improve then so does the innovation of gameplay.

.You didn't have FPS until 3D Rendering was invented
.You didn't have games like Heavy Rain or L.A. Noire until Facial Expression Graphics came about
.NO GTA games until NPC A.I. and large scale on screen graphics were possible
.No Gravity gun until Physics came about
.SSAO lighting effects make STALKER really creepy and realistic at night

SO as the Graphics improve then the gameplay improves, they go hand in hand.

[ziggurcat]

both matter.

[PersonMan]

Graphics, then animation, then physics, then gameplay... just kidding.

[PersonMan]

Seeing what I've seen now, it's hard to go backward and play old games with blocky graphics. My memory of those games is way better than going back and playing them again.

Like, I remember how great Tomb Raider was on the PS1. If I were to play it now (after having seen how amazing games look and play now) it would just look and feel like a cheesy game, but my memory of it is saying "Wow, that game was really fun".

[DarthBigE]

Gameplay over Graphics anytime

[Hydralysk]

This is really a pointless question as the answer can change dramatically depending on the game.

I don't give 2 craps about the graphics in shmups because I'm there to dodge bullets. It's the cruising between bullet patterns that gives the rush I crave in those games.

Then there's amnesia where the only gameplay is lighting candles/lamps, hiding, and walking through levels. The enjoyment(or terror) doesn't come from the gameplay, but from the atmosphere of the game. It's the lack of complex traditional gameplay mechanics to protect yourself that makes it so scary.

Then look at a game like Proteus, a game where you pretty much just wander around and enjoy the scenery and music. No real gameplay beyond moving, and thus the graphics and presentation are much more important than the gameplay.

This debate of story vs graphics vs gameplay is pretty much just as pointless as the debate on what is and isn't a game. The answer will inevitably change depending on the game discussed and the person discussing it.

[aLiEnViSiToR]

Everything matters !!! The more th things are done right the better the end result will be... EPIC story, gameplay, graphics, sound, music, animation, environment etc. = EPIC game simple. Q? Would your life matter more if you had better looks or brains :] ?
Like i said EVERYTHING MATTERS !!!

[HonestDragon]

Gameplay, duh. Sure, graphics need to be presentable and well done, but graphics are not the be all, end all of a video game. Look at the many games that don't have realistic graphics and have their own style. They more often than not meet with a lot of success.