How do you boost player engagement in your games?

Watch and understand your community’s. As a old school community manager from the beginning #mmorpg days. I always kept telling my teams and bosses. the Community will always tell you what the would love to play they are here watching your games so the interest is there. Leverage this help, bring your community closer ask them what they think of a specific design if you are on the fence. It you want to thrive then LISTEN to your community, a community can make you or break you. And you can always recruit from your community and they seem to have this ability to learn your system better than some of the design team. Darren

Understanding your audience is just the tip of the iceberg. Marrying their preferences with innovative game mechanics can pave the way for novel core loops. Instead of merely catering to their likes and dislikes, pushing the envelope and surprising them with twists on the actions they already enjoy can lead to an addictive gaming experience that they never knew they wanted.

One design philosophy is to make sure that every action a player takes provide sufficient reward or satisfaction. It shouldn’t feel like a chore when executing the actions. Reward can be come in many forms, including visual or audio effects when the action is taken. It can also be more tangible such as coins, player points, materials for crafting, story or level progression.

The magic often lies in the unexpected. The core loop, though essential, doesn't always stem from the most apparent gameplay elements. Recognizing unconventional fun actions and embedding them in the core loop, while informed by audience research, can lead to profound player engagement. Furthermore, layering elements that either directly enhance or subtly complement this core loop can solidify the game's structure, making every in-game action feel intuitive and related.

i think first step is to know your player like/dislikes first. than comes, create fun gameplay with clear objectives and rewards. also try to implenent progression system to encourage player each time they play.

It's pivotal to ensure layers of engagement tie back to the core loop, either through direct impact or subtle synergy. When layers resonate with the core loop, the player's in-game actions feel coherent, deepening immersion. These layers shouldn't just be extraneous add-ons but integrative components that enhance the overall gameplay experience.

Progressions and rewards drive player engagement! but make sure it's not too harsh of a grind (Unless that is what your game is about). As always, listen to your community and see what parts of your game they love the most!

The game's introduction sets the tone. While the focus is often on complex game mechanics, it's the onboarding that shapes a player's initial experience. A convoluted tutorial can deter even the most enthusiastic gamers, while an overly simplistic one might leave them confused. Balancing complexity and clarity, all while ensuring relevancy to the core loop, can make or break the game's initial impression.

In the vast sea of game development, feedback and analytics serve as the North Star. They're more than just tools; they're a dialogue with the players. Instead of dreading negative feedback, embrace it as a golden opportunity for refinement. This continuous feedback loop, both quantitative and qualitative, isn't merely about validation but rather a dynamic conversation leading to the game's evolution and success.