Collection-fest

In video games, a collection-fest or collectionfest is a game where the majority of the gameplay involves collecting items to advance the game; in particular, the term is often used as a complaint when a game features a plethora of items to collect that have little or no use to the player, other than as an arbitrary lock-and-key system that limits progression. Usually, the game would have one major item that must be collected in each level to proceed through the level, and a number of minor items that can unlock certain bonuses.

If done in moderation, item collecting can be a good play mechanism; but when used in excess it tends to make the game a chore by making the player perform similar tasks that seem to have no relevance in the game other than "you just have to do it". Ammunition and health items do not count, neither does money, unless money is the item you have to collect to advance the game. Collection-fests are usually platform games, although it is sometimes applied to RPGs that feature many fetch quests.