Players can accept failure.

What they hate is failing without understanding why.

A hidden rule is any rule the game expects the player to know,

but doesn’t teach, signal, or make readable.

Examples:

- a hazard looks harmless but kills instantly

- one attack can be parried, another identical one can’t

- a puzzle object works only in one special spot, but the game never hints at it

When this happens, players don’t feel challenged.

They feel tricked.

✅ Quick fixes:

- show the rule once in a safe situation

- make the rule visible through feedback

- keep similar-looking things behaving consistently

- if one case is special, signal it clearly

🎯 Rule to remember:

A hard rule is fine.

A hidden rule breaks trust.