This study investigates “How does defeat affect player motivation in the video game Shifting Sands?”, with the intent of getting a deeper understanding of players’ motivation and performance in relation to experiencing defeat, in the video game “Shifting Sands” (Fullscreen Studios, 2023). The findings of this study are going to be of use for the further development of the game as well as game designers interested in how defeat and challenge can affect motivation in players. This study was conducted using a qualitative approach, with a sample size of ten participants, utilizing a data-collecting method of observing the participants play the game followed up by semi-structured interviews. Gathered data was used to identify whether participants experienced flow or not, leading us to better understand their level of motivation. Different player archetypes were also considered to better understand individual motivation and the different effects that defeat had on it. The main findings of the study showed that defeat affected participants differently depending on their playstyle archetype, whether they experienced defeat in a state of flow or not, or if they experienced repeat defeat.