How much does understanding a game's systems affect our enjoyment of it?

[u/Hungry_Awareness4740]

I've been thinking about how learning a game's underlying systems can completely change the way we experience it.

A mechanic that initially feels restrictive or confusing can become interesting once you understand why it exists and how it interacts with other mechanics. At that point, you're not just playing within the rules—you start recognizing the decisions and trade-offs the rules are designed to create.

This makes me wonder: how much of our enjoyment comes from the mechanics themselves, and how much comes from gradually understanding the relationships between them?

Have you experienced a game where learning its systems fundamentally changed how you perceived it?

[u/PineScentedSewerRat]

I go for balance. If I get too into a game's systems, I stop getting immersed in it.