Have you ever spammed random buttons in the hope of performing an action in a game?
Congratulations, you’ve performed button mashing! Let’s explore this term together.
What is Button Mashing?
Button mashing is a phrase used to describe pressing buttons on a keyboard or a controller rapidly, and usually randomly, to perform various actions in video games. As it may overwhelm the game’s input system with rapid commands, this kind of behaviour is also called input spam.
Is Button Mashing Common?
Button mashing is not a rare occurrence. While – often frantic and fueled by excitement or desperation – button mashing is sometimes frowned upon as a tactic used by inexperienced players, it can also be a deliberate choice in game design.
A particular type of button mashing requires players to press a button or buttons as fast as possible as a QTE (quick time event), typically to break free from holds or restraints, or interact (destroy, open, push, and so on) with an object. This mechanic is sometimes criticized as it may contribute to the wear of controlling devices and limit accessibility for some players.
Button mashing meaning in games
Players can perform input spam in many games of various genres. Here are some examples:
- Fighting games – probably the most well-known example of button mashing is related to combat games, especially arcade-style fighters like the Mortal Kombat or Street Fighter series. As performing special moves requires memorizing and recreating usually complicated combinations, casual or beginner players tend to mash random buttons in hopes of performing such moves by accident.
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – a button mashing mechanic was intentionally implemented into the game and is not a rare occurrence. In order to quickly break free from grapples or stun effects, players have to hit multiple buttons in a frantic manner.
- God of War – scripted combat sequences are full of QTE-style button mashing, succeeding in which is required to perform a cinematic finishing move, dodge, et cetera.