Team Fortress 2 – A Game Without much of a Grind
The other day, I was browsing through my Team Fortress 2 inventory, which is really a relic of history these days, since I don’t play any more. As I looked at them, I realized something odd. I never had to grind to get those items. I either traded for them, they were given to me or I got them as a random drop. Almost all weapons are basically random drops these days, although most cosmetic items are generally paid for, either via trades or from keys spent and used on crates.
While looking at my backpack, I came to a realization, that many multiplayer games these days all have something to grind for. Either levels or currency or resources. Team Fortress 2 has a level system but it doesn’t really mean anything. Heck, the ranks in competitive also don’t really mean that much, since we have outside competitive leagues. Leagues which, if you play in them, let you earn in-game badges and pins.
The closest that Team Fortress 2 has to a grind are contracts. But these tasks are completely optional when it comes to gameplay. Sure, the Second Banana is helpful, but so is a Sandvich. The more useful weapons are rewards from doing achievements, most of which you complete by just playing the game as normal. The contracts are very similar, and you can get them done also just by playing normally. But you don’t NEED any of these weapons. Stock weapons are perfectly fine to use. In my opinion, the only weapon I think you need is the Ubersaw, if only for those clutch saves.
Is Team Fortress 2 unique when it comes to grinds and stuff? Not at all. There are plenty of other games that don’t have any real grind. However, in the modern error of gaming, with games as a service? In that instance, yes, Team Fortress 2 definitely is unique.
Just take its closest competitor. Overwatch 2 (Team Fortress 2 outlived the original Overwatch), has a MASSIVE grind if you want the new hero and some potential cosmetics. Heck, you have to unlock most of the heroes, because, unless you were grandfathered in, the new Overwatch player starts with pretty much nothing. In Overwatch 2, you, somewhat ironically, need to grind out games and wins in order to unlock the whole roster. Just playing games will unlock heroes, the same way you unlock weapons in Team Fortress 2. However, the difference in not having a weapon and not having a character is a bit tricky, since there are definitely hard counters in Overwatch 2, that require a full roster to take advantage of.
But yeah, most games as a service require some sort of grind, to keep people playing the game. There’s a carrot on a stick and it has your name on it. You just need to play 50 games or whatever to earn it.
What I’m trying to say is that Team Fortress 2 doesn’t need a battle pass or anything like that, to get you playing the game. People just organically want to play the game. And that’s… kinda rare for a free to play game these days.