CultureAugust 20, 2026
macguffin
muh-GUFF-in
Definition
An object, device, or goal that serves as the primary catalyst to propel the plot forward, often having little intrinsic importance to the characters or audience.
Etymology
Coined in the early 20th century, likely by screenwriter Angus MacPhail, and popularized by director Alfred Hitchcock to describe a plot device that motivates characters but is otherwise arbitrary.
In the news
The article uses the term to describe the objective in the game's gameplay loop, where players must collect spheres to destroy containers and reach a target item.
Nights into Dreams, a Thirty Year Reunion
Read the full article ↗WayTooManyGames