You can usually tell when a game knows what it wants to be. Not because of its story. Not because of its graphics. Because every system seems to be pulling in the same direction. The opposite is also true. Some games have perfectly functional combat, progression, crafting, and exploration systems, yet the experience feels strangely hollow. Nothing appears broken, but nothing feels meaningful either. The player is busy, but they are not immersed. This is often a simulation meaning problem. Simulation meaning is what happens when the rules of your game world express the deeper purpose of the experience. It is not enough for a system to be fun in isolation. It needs to support the fantasy the player is stepping into. The meaning comes from how the player interacts with the world, not just what the story tells them...
