Playtesting is a crucial part of game development, providing invaluable insights into player experience and helping identify areas for improvement. At Getgud.io, we’ve analyzed data from countless playtesting sessions across various games. Here are the top 10 best practices we’ve identified for effective game playtesting:
1. Stay Silent and Observe
One of the most important rules in playtesting is to let players experience the game without interference. Resist the urge to explain or defend your design choices. Instead, silently observe and take notes on player behavior and reactions.
Getgud.io Tip: Use our session recording feature to capture playtests. This allows you to review player actions and reactions in detail, without the need for constant note-taking during the session.
2. Encourage Honest Feedback
Create an environment where playtesters feel comfortable providing honest, even critical, feedback. Assure them that their input is valuable and that there are no wrong answers.
3. Ask Open-Ended Questions
When seeking feedback, use open-ended questions that encourage detailed responses. Instead of asking “Did you like the combat system?”, try “How did you feel about the combat system?”
4. Test with a Diverse Group
Ensure your playtesting group represents a diverse range of gaming experiences and backgrounds. This helps identify issues that might affect different segments of your target audience.
5. Test Early and Often
Don’t wait until your game is nearly complete to start playtesting. Begin early in the development process and test regularly as you implement changes.
6. Focus on Player Behavior, Not Just Feedback
While verbal or written feedback is important, pay close attention to how players actually interact with your game. Their actions often speak louder than words.
Getgud.io Tip: Our heatmap and player path analysis tools can help you visualize how players move through your game, identifying areas of interest or confusion.
7. Test in a Realistic Environment
Try to create a testing environment that mimics how players will actually experience your game. If it’s a mobile game, have them play on a mobile device. If it’s a console game, set up a living room-like environment.
8. Don’t Just Focus on Bugs
While identifying technical issues is important, playtesting should also focus on the overall player experience, including engagement, difficulty, and enjoyment.
9. Analyze Quantitative and Qualitative Data
Combine objective metrics (like time spent on levels or number of deaths) with subjective feedback for a complete picture of the player experience.
Getgud.io Tip: Our comprehensive analytics dashboard combines quantitative metrics with qualitative feedback, allowing you to see correlations between player actions and opinions.
10. Iterate Based on Feedback
Use the insights gained from playtesting to make informed decisions about game improvements. Be prepared to make changes based on consistent feedback, even if it challenges your original vision.
By following these best practices and leveraging the tools provided by Getgud.io, you can conduct more effective playtesting sessions and gain deeper insights into your players’ experiences. Remember, the goal of playtesting is to create a better game for your players, and being open to their feedback is key to achieving that goal.
For more information on game development and playtesting, check out these resources:
- GDC Vault: Playtesting for Game Design
- Extra Credits: Playtesting – How to Get Good Feedback on Your Game
Ready to take your playtesting to the next level? Sign up for a Getgud.io account and start optimizing your game development process today!
