Gameplay Enhancement Suggestions from a Long-Term Life-Sim Player
-
Activities such as playing soccer, badminton, water gun fights, or snowball fights should allow players to directly control the characters (like play a mini sports or shooting game), instead of simply triggering preset animations. The game should also display the score of both sides. (This would greatly increase the fun and engagement—players will no longer feel like there’s nothing to do!)
-
Cooking a dish should require the correct ingredients and quantities; otherwise, the character can only order delivery or go out to eat. (This makes the game more realistic and motivates players to go shopping—shopping will feel more fun and meaningful!)
-
Characters should be able to use strangers’ belongings (e.g., sleeping on a stranger’s bed) instead of being completely restricted. However, this should lead to consequences: NPCs may scold, warn, or even become angry and try to fight if the behavior is too intrusive.
-
Characters should be able to jump, climb walls, cross fences, obstacles, and vegetation, and walk on any surface without being blocked by invisible “air walls” from buildings or stairs. Similar to GTA V’s high level of freedom, players should even be able to place characters on rooftops. (Most players dislike air walls—they break the sense of exploration and immersion.)
-
Add an FPS-style control option: the mouse cursor disappears, and all interactions between characters and objects are handled through keyboard controls.
-
Allow custom music playback within the game by letting players add their own audio files.
-
When too much spoiled or uncleaned food is left inside a house, characters should feel uncomfortable, unhappy, and even get sick.
-
At night, characters should turn off all the lights in their bedroom before going to sleep.
-
Characters can sometimes experience insomnia, sleep disorders, or even sleepwalking.
-
Since it’s often inconvenient to find a bed outdoors, allow characters to lie down and rest directly on the ground anywhere.
-
Certain books should require a minimum reading skill level before they can be read, just like advanced cooking recipes have requirements.
-
When family members eat food that is too expensive for the household’s budget, there should be an option to scold or reprimand them to correct such behavior. However, this may also cause dissatisfaction in the relationship. (Because I’m already struggling to pay off my loans, yet my family is still spending lavishly on food, which is driving me crazy!)
