Player's Poll

[justlexi]

Lets vote to see what is the most important aspect of a game:

Gameplay or Graphics, what is your personal preference?

 

[DLPB_]

Gameplay is and it's not even close.  Graphics alone couldn't start the franchise in the first place.  Think Pong.

 

[Sega Chief]

It's gameplay; the graphics are an aspect that can improve gameplay experience.

 

[LordUrQuan]

Gameplay all the way.  Games like Alleycat and Quest for Glory (fka Hero's Quest) are the reason I keep DOSbox around

Gameplay is and it's not even close.  Graphics alone couldn't start the franchise in the first place.  Think Pong.

I'm not sure 'Pong' is quite the franchise-defining game you're looking for here.  Perhaps something more like Breakout, which gave rise to arcade derivatives like Arkanoid, and even PC clones like Bananoid.

 

[Gensoul]

Gameplay. Simple graphics with great gameplay can still be great. The mind's eye can add a lot.

Maybe the ultimate example: NetHack


Though I admit sometimes great graphics can save a mediocre gameplay game for me -- at least if it's a shorter game.

 

[Chrysalis]

Dont forget audio, audio can be and often is as important as graphics.

 

[gjoerulv]

No contest,  gameplay.

 

[Kaldarasha]

Gameplay mostly. If the graphic supports the gameplay in a good way, then it isn't important how good or technical advanced the graphic is. I currently play  Children of Morta on my pc or on my mobile Stardew Valley and both games have more functional than good graphics. Though, if the graphic doesn't support the gameplay then the whole game isn't fun to play.  There were a few games which I stopped playing because the graphical side was just awful. Regions of Ruins come into my mind. No idea why people actually like the game. Gameplay and graphics are just pure basic.

Dont forget audio, audio can be and often is as important as graphics.

I deinstalled Goken because the music destroyed the whole ambient.

 

[Covarr]

Obviously gameplay is more important, but I firmly believe the two do not have to be at odds with each other unless you've got a seriously messed up development workflow like FF13.