Category	Definition	Characteristics	Examples
Permanent Goals	Goals that remain achieved once successfully completed.	- Often tied to overarching game objectives. - Success persists across play sessions.	Finishing a narrative game like Bastion. Completing a story campaign in The Witcher 3.
Transient Goals	Goals achieved only within a specific instance or session of the game.	- Success is temporary. - Needs to be reattempted in subsequent game instances.	Winning a match in Soccer. Defeating opponents in Heroes of Newerth.
Undeniable Goals	Goals that must be pursued to continue playing the game.	- Essential for progression. - Directly tied to maintaining the game state or advancing in the game.	Preventing the ball from falling in Pinball. Completing stages in Scramble.
Deniable Goals	Goals that are optional and do not affect the player’s ability to continue the game.	- Not essential for progression. - Often related to achievements, rewards, or additional challenges.	Achieving a high score in Tetris. Collecting coins in Super Mario Bros.
Proximate Goals	Sub-goals that must be completed to achieve the ultimate goal of the game.	- Intermediate objectives. - Sequentially lead to the ultimate goal.	Destroying fortresses in Heroes of the Storm before eliminating the core. Capturing bases in RTS games.
Ultimate Goals	The final objective that concludes the game.	- Represents the end condition of the game. - Achieved after completing all necessary proximate goals.	Defeating the final boss in Dark Souls. Winning a campaign in Civilization.
Imperative Goals	Common, formalized objectives across games, derived from analyzing diverse game genres and modes.	- Abstracted from specific gameplay. - Serve as foundational actions that recur across games.	- Examples of Imperative Goals (Abstract): - Obtain object (e.g., “capture the flag”). - Reach location (e.g., “escort a payload”). - Eliminate enemy (e.g., “defeat all opponents”).