Why are loot systems so addictive?

It’s no surprise that loot-driven games have some of the most dedicated player bases in gaming. If recent demand for Destiny 3 is any indication, looter-shooters and ARPG players are extremely protective of the games they play and their potential sequels and expansion updates. A plausible reason could be that their gameplay loop and loot systems are highly addictive.

In 1996, Diablo’s loot system popularized this emerging sub-genre, and since then, things have become increasingly popular for it and almost every ARPG and looter-shooter that followed in its footsteps. Color-coded loot and loot systems have unabashedly seeped into every genre, be it MMOs or single-player action-adventure titles.