The raw point values
Every skill badge is worth 0.5 points, and every arcade game is worth 1 point. At first glance, arcade games look twice as valuable — and per completed item, they are. But point value alone doesn't tell the whole story. The real question is how many points you earn per hour of effort, because your time is the scarce resource, not the number of available activities.
Trivia games also earn 1 point each and are typically the fastest activity in the program — some can be completed in minutes. But trivia games are limited in quantity each month, so they're a supplement, not a strategy.
Points per hour: the real metric
A typical skill badge takes 60–90 minutes if you're new to the topic, or 30–45 minutes if you've already completed related badges in the same track. At 0.5 points per badge, that's roughly 0.4–0.8 points per hour for a beginner and 0.7–1.0 points per hour for someone with momentum in the track.
A typical arcade game takes 30–60 minutes. At 1 point per game, that's 1.0–2.0 points per hour — clearly the better return on pure point-earning. This is why the tracker's recommendations always suggest clearing arcade games first when you're close to a tier threshold.
Trivia games can be as fast as 10–15 minutes for 1 point — an unbeatable 4–6 points per hour — but only when they're available. Treat trivia as a bonus you grab whenever it appears, not something you can plan around.
When skill badges are the smarter choice
Pure points-per-hour favors arcade games, but skill badges have a hidden advantage: they often count toward facilitator milestone requirements. If your next milestone needs 8 skill badges and you only have 5, completing 3 more skill badges unlocks the milestone bonus — which could be worth 10+ points. In that scenario, the skill badges are worth far more than their face value because they're also unlocking the bonus.
Skill badges also build real skills that make future badges faster. Your first networking badge might take 90 minutes, but your third will take 40 because you already know the console. This compounding effect means skill badges get cheaper over time, while arcade games stay roughly constant.
A simple decision framework
Use this rule of thumb: if you're within 5 points of a tier threshold and there are arcade games available, do the arcade games first — they're the fastest path to crossing the line. If you're more than 10 points away from your next tier, focus on skill badges that build toward a milestone, because the milestone bonus will close the gap faster than grinding individual games.
Always grab trivia games when they're available regardless of your strategy — they're the highest points-per-hour activity in the program and there's no reason to leave them on the table. The tracker's monthly games grid shows which trivia games are live so you don't miss any.