The Bartle Quotient is a kind of test that figures out what kind of gamer you are and allows you to figure out what aspect of gaming you find most engaging. It gets its name from Richard Bartle, a professor and renowned game researcher from England.
After a battery of simple, multiple choice questions, Bartle Quotient test takers get a rating for what type of players they are. In my case, I was an “ESGA” type of player, which is a very accurate representation of my typical playstyle.
Let me explain …
Achiever
Achiever is my lowest scoring area, which has to do a lot with my playstyle. When I play a game, I play it for the experience, not the rewards. In fact, in Skyrim Special Edition, I literally have 0 achievements after 40 hours of play (Yes, I’m using mods, but that’s not the point).
My interests in a game have little to do with actually reaching game milestones – unless those milestones actually come with a reward that advances my player and their skills.
Explorer
My most favorite thing about gaming is the exploration/story aspect, which is why this is my highest rated attribute. I am a sucker for exploration and lore, which is what has kept me captivated by great RPGs like The Elder Scrolls series, The Witcher series, and the Fallout series of games. With so many dungeons to explore, quests to take and decisions to make, these games are incredibly satisfying to me and my natural sense of curiosity.
Griefer / Killer
My second lowest score was in the Griefer/Killer attribute. Rarely do I play a game that has a competitive aspect to it. At one point in time, I used to love playing MOBAs and team-based multiplayer games like Call of Duty and Battlefield 2, but I quickly lost interest in these games because it doesn’t fit my personality.
Games like this go hand in hand with achievement-based games, something else in which I scored low. Generally, these types of game are just too fast-paced and have little room for you to explore. While I can appreciate them for the skill they take to play, they simply do not interest me.
Socializer
I love the social aspects of games. I remember the first time I played an MMO, City of Heros, and I teamed up with other players to take on an elite enemy. It was glorious.
The social aspect of games is what enriched my interest in games like Reign of Kings and Rust. It allowed you to have fun and act out a quirky character.
Interesting side note: In Reign of Kings, I was “Steven the Mighty,” who was actually a pathetic errand boy for his father, the local lumber mill owner. Even the normally hostile bandit roleplayers took pity on Steven for his earnest, but exaggeratedly awkward presence.
I mean, that’s just awesome! (OK. It’s awesome to me, anyway …)
The Bartle Quotient Tells Us Who We Are (As Gamers)
When it comes down to it, the beautiful thing about gaming is that everyone experiences games in different ways – even if we’re all playing the same game. Whether you enjoy the thrill of exploration and getting lost in the journey, or testing your might against other players in PvP, games give us something to look forward to no matter what kind of gamers we are. If you haven’t taken the Bartle Quotient, take 2 minutes out of your day and try it.
How did you score on the Bartle Quotient and is it accurate to the type of gamer you are? Share your results in the comments below.
