I started playing Hattrick because some of my co-workers absolutely wanted to introduce me to Hattrick. When I finally tried, it was the Valentine's Day of 2009 … and I am still here, ten years later!
I love Hattrick because it's simple. It is not taking much time to learn the dynamics, but you can tweak it forever. I love Hattrick because to me it is like Subbuteo or Risk. It is simple to learn but hard to master. It's still exciting to wait for 90 minutes to see the result of a game, four months to see the end of a season. I love Hattrick because it is possible to set goals for several years, to see your team growing up, to learn the names of the players, and to build memories about them.
One reason I play Hattrick is because I like the cyclical nature of the game. You start with an idea about what kind of team you want to build, then you train long-term (up to 3 years in real life!). While you build, you can test and try to comprehend the aspect of the match simulation that you want to master. I also like the tactical choices you have to make for each match. But the most important component is the community.
What I like about the Hattrick community is that there are real people and you don't just compete against the computers. You play against each other, but you can also help each other in the forum and talk about everything.
My biggest achievement in Hattrick was when I reached the semi final of our national Cup in the Netherlands, the KNVB Beker. I lost it against Rodenburcht, who is the most competitive team we have in our league. I also played 8 seasons in Division II.
The Hattrick community is colourful, it really helps expand the Hattrick world. You can find plenty of helpful managers that can help you with Hattrick and real life questions.