I realized this when I played the currently popular 4 pics 1 word game. I was expecting clever lateral thinking using homonyms. Instead I got 4 blue pictures and the word is blue. But it pops up a U DID IT screen and gives you fake money, with the option to purchase more fake money from the app developer.

People ultimately want just enough veneer on their games that they can pretend it isn't just a big you win button that showers them in confetti.