What's better: hints or explosive barrels? Rock Paper Shotgun Support us Join our newsletter Visit our store Sign in / Create account If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. What's better: hints or explosive barrels? We're still working to decide the single best thing in games Feature by Alice O'Connor Associate Editor Published on July 6, 2022 71 comments With your help, I'm on a mission to answer the biggest question: what's the best thing in video games? With a wholly sensical face-off between two things each week, we'll surely soon discover the absolute best thing. Last time, you decided that secrets behind waterfalls are better than boss battles as skill checks. I'm not sure I agree but I can't disagree. We're doing difficult work here. This week, it's a question of a helping hand when you're stuck versus something so unsubtle that it'll take your face off and you'll be glad for it and even be miffed if it doesn't happen. What's better: hints, or explosive barrels? Watch on YouTube Hints Video games do want you to finish them. Oh sure, many want to challenge you and some even want to punish you, but they do largely want you to be able to finish them. Sometimes, for whatever reason, you hit a stumbling block. That's when the game might offer a hint. Hmm! The purest example is puzzle and adventure games where you can simply click a button to request a hint. Handy, that. I particularly like how Machinarium's hints are little cartoon thought bubbles. Machinarium even offers the option to be outright told the solution in exchange for completing a minigame. An elegant solution is tile-moving puzzle games like Bejeweled flashing a possible solution if you've not made a move for a while. Then games with other characters can run wild with all sorts of helpful hints. Narrators who drop thoughts, bosses who shout directions, people who call you on the radio, companions who idly muse and rule out incorrect solutions, and chums who unsubtly stand by objectives and gently kick them while saying "Huh...!" They really would like you not to be stuck. Hints can be patronising. Hints can be over-eager. Hints can annoy me while actually I know the solution thank you but I'm busy checking out the silly brands in this drinks machine if you could just be quiet for one minute thanks thank you thanks. But I'll not pretend that hints haven't saved me at times I've been a total idiot. Hints help smooth over potential differences between how a game's makers understand it and how players might, and help us align. Thanks for having my back, hints. Explosive barrels Orbs are to be collected. Waterfalls should have secrets behind them. Fruits are delicious. Barrels should explode. That's just video game rules. But which is better If I see a barrel in a game with violence, I will immediately attempt to explode it. I must understand this world and its rules. And if its rules don't say that barrels should explode, I will judge it, and I will be disappointed. How about you? Pick your winner, vote in the poll below, make your case in the comments to convince others, then we'll reconvene next week to see which thing stands triumphant-and continue the great contest. To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Manage cookie settings To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Manage cookie settings More Features What are we all playing this weekend? Well? Alice O'Connor an hour ago 21 You're probably better than me at One Many Nobody You go on without… uh, you? Sin Vega 17 hours ago Have You Played... Star Trek Online? Boldly going where no PC has gone before CJ Wheeler 17 hours ago 27 Supporter podcast - The Nate Files episode 13: dry bones Bad science is also FUN science! Alice Bell 18 hours ago Latest Articles What are we all playing this weekend? Well? Alice O'Connor an hour ago 21 Past Wordle answers Here's an archive of previous Wordle words Ollie Toms 2 hours ago 1 Wordle answer today (Saturday 15 October) Hints and the answer to today's Wordle word Rebecca Jones 9 hours ago Overwatch 2 hero tier list Which are the best heroes in Overwatch 2? Ollie Toms 16 hours ago Supporters Only You're probably better than me at One Many Nobody You go on without… uh, you? Sin Vega 17 hours ago Supporter podcast - The Nate Files episode 13: dry bones Bad science is also FUN science! Alice Bell 18 hours ago Japanese dating show Love Wagon has surprising parallels with Yakuza and Persona My new obsession Ed Thorn 2 days ago If you're hankering after Bayonetta 3, Valkyrie Elysium might be a good substitute It's not out on PC until next month, but the console demo has been a surprise charmer Katharine Castle 1 week ago 4 We've been talking, and we think that you should wear clothes Total coincidence, but we sell some clothes Buy RPS stuff here