The Finals Returns for Season 4, and Other Team-Based Shooters Need to Take Note

In a world where team-based shooters are often considered to be a saturated genre, it takes a lot to introduce a game that sets itself apart. The Finals follows a philosophy that keeps it chaotic, creative, and unpredictable. These quirks turn into a solid part of a gameplay loop.

The result? More than 18000 players at a 24-hour all-time almost a week before The Finals Season 4 arrives. So, what’s bringing in so many players all of a sudden? There are many things the game gets right, and it can be a lesson in game design for developers trying to do the same.

Salvaging Style and Substance

Almost a year ago, the arrival of The Finals marked experimentation in modern-day shooters. The developers wanted to create something memorable and engaging that kept the players’ attention throughout its gameplay.

Elements like highly destructible buildings that can be reduced to rubble and walls that can be blown up to create traps quickly became a mechanic gamers could use, rather than something the game forced them to. This led to a lot of creative plays that kept the game’s charm intact throughout the first three seasons.

Moreover, Embark Studios wanted The Finals to thrive on a game show aesthetic. Based on this, the maps were designed to look and feel like a tournament taking place in a sci-fi reality, a style that’s still prevalent through and through.

The Finals Season 4 Brings Sponsors to the Spotlight

The game show brilliance wouldn’t have been possible without the fictional executives funding The Finals. So, the upcoming season will feature three CEOs from reputed companies – Quemby Rutile (HOLTOW), Ichikawa Natsume (ENGIMO), and Yun Beom-seok (ISEUL-T).

Based on the sponsor contestants sign up with, they will earn unique in-game rewards. Additionally, there’s a lot more players can look forward to in the upcoming season. In Embark Studios’ words:

Once you’ve chosen your sponsor, duke it out in Fortune Stadium, the new map that features sectors dedicated to each generous sponsor! Slide through the halls of HOLTOW, browse the aisles of ISEUL-T, and check to make sure the lights are on at ENGIMO’s complex! 

Along with cosmetics and map updates, The Finals will also see the introduction of new weapons and a fresh tutorial update that eases the process of new players getting into the game for the first time.

(Game) Show and Tell – Lessons for Fellow Developers

They say good design is often invisible. In the case of The Finals, it’s the opposite, since much of what the game gets right is proudly in front of players. The destructible environments don’t just exist for vanity. They form an important part of the gameplay loop that keeps a match feel so lived-in.

You may have the best strategies in mind, but if a contestant chooses to sledgehammer their way through a building and drop the objective someplace else (or on someone—Ouch!), you’ll have to adjust your moves accordingly. This unpredictability and rule-breaking are rare in modern shooters.

Sure, a limited-time mode (LTM) can shift gears a little, but what if an entire game felt like an LTM and never stopped feeling enjoyable? The likes of Call of Duty and Battlefield understand that to an extent, but not every upcoming studio will get this right.

Lastly, The Finals understands how to reward creativity. When you have tools like Data Reshapers and Goo Guns in a game, what’s stopping you from treating it like your playground? The game perceives it well and praises this behavior, giving creative players an advantage over those who usually stick to the rule book of run, gun, and respawn.

How has your experience with The Finals been so far? Do you think the game as an edge over other titles in the genre? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.