Quick definition:A player who aims to finish everything a game offers, including all side quests, collectibles, achievements and secrets, rather than only completing the main story.
Meaning
A completionist is a player who tries to do everything in a game. That includes finishing every side quest, collecting every item, discovering every location, defeating every optional boss and unlocking every achievement or trophy that the game has to offer.
Many games support the habit with completion percentages, collection menus and checklists. The goal brings a sense of mastery and encourages careful exploration, though it can turn play into a chore when collectibles are hidden in dull or tedious ways that have little to do with the fun of the game.
The term is also used for full-completion runs, where players, sometimes on video, finish everything in the quickest possible time. Not all players share the instinct, and some find it more rewarding to leave parts untouched and enjoy the game at their own pace without worrying about a final percentage.
Origin:Completionist is formed from complete, with the ending ist used for a person devoted to something. The word was used outside games for collectors who sought a full set, and gamers adopted it as games added more optional goals. Its first use in gaming is not clearly documented. Example:After finishing the story, Priyanka sees that her completion total stands at ninety-one per cent. She opens a checklist, finds the last missing feather in a hidden cave and spends another evening hunting down one stubborn achievement. At last the counter reads one hundred, and she smiles and starts another game.
Did you know?Completionists are often contrasted with players who care only about the story. Some games encourage them with percentage counters and rewards, while others remove the pressure so that exploring remains optional and enjoyable.
