We don’t often think of something as abstract as “freedom” as a game element but actually, “freedom” is a large part of games.
Games give you the freedom to fail, you can safely do something wrong and then start over again with minimal consequences and almost no longer term negative implications. But games provide more than the freedom to fail. They provide the freedom to explore different environments, different methods of thinking and different approaches to problem solving. The freedom to purposefully do something mischievous exists in many games and even the freedom to taunt others in a safe way or to brag about your accomplishments in a manner you might not do in everyday life.
Games give the freedom to play different roles or explore different approaches to life and to interacting with others. Games are a sandbox for life. You can try things that make you uncomfortable (like betting all your money on a few properties, or trying to corner the most valuable resource).
Tags: games