What are the best ways to design social games that build community?

1 Define your community goals

The first step to design a social game that builds community is to define your community goals. What kind of community do you want to create and support with your game? Who are your target players and what are their needs, interests, and preferences? How do you want them to interact and communicate with each other and with the game? How do you want to measure and evaluate the success of your community? These questions will help you shape your game vision and direction, as well as to align your game features and mechanics with your community goals.

2 Design for social presence

Social presence is the degree to which players feel that they are connected and engaged with other players and the game world. It is a key factor for building community, as it enhances the sense of belonging, trust, and empathy among players. To design for social presence, you need to provide players with various ways to express themselves, to communicate with others, and to perceive the social cues and feedback from the game and the players. For example, you can use avatars, profiles, chat systems, emojis, gestures, voice chat, or other forms of representation and communication. You can also use game elements, such as sounds, animations, rewards, or notifications, to convey the social activity and status of the game and the players.

3 Design for social interaction

Social interaction is the process of exchanging information, ideas, or emotions with other players through the game. It is a vital aspect of building community, as it fosters learning, collaboration, and creativity among players. To design for social interaction, you need to create opportunities and incentives for players to interact with each other and with the game in meaningful and enjoyable ways. For example, you can use game mechanics, such as quests, challenges, puzzles, or competitions, to encourage players to cooperate or compete with each other. You can also use game features, such as leaderboards, badges, ratings, or comments, to motivate players to share their achievements, opinions, or feedback with others.

4 Design for social identity

Social identity is the sense of belonging and affiliation that players feel with a group or a category of players within the game. It is an important factor for building community, as it influences the players' attitudes, behaviors, and loyalty towards the game and the group. To design for social identity, you need to support players' autonomy and diversity, as well as to create a sense of cohesion and commonality among players. For example, you can allow players to customize their avatars, profiles, or preferences, to reflect their personal identity and style. You can also create groups, clans, guilds, or teams, to enable players to form and join sub-communities based on their interests, goals, or values.

5 Design for social impact

Social impact is the effect that players have on the game world, the other players, or the real world through their actions and choices in the game. It is a crucial factor for building community, as it empowers players to make a difference and to contribute to a larger cause or purpose. To design for social impact, you need to provide players with meaningful and consequential choices, as well as to show them the results and implications of their actions. For example, you can use game mechanics, such as resource management, moral dilemmas, or branching narratives, to challenge players to make decisions that affect the game world or the other players. You can also use game features, such as feedback, statistics, or stories, to show players the outcomes and consequences of their actions.

6 Design for social evolution

Social evolution is the process of change and adaptation that the game and the community undergo over time, in response to the players' actions, feedback, or needs. It is a vital factor for building community, as it ensures the longevity and relevance of the game and the community. To design for social evolution, you need to monitor and analyze the game and the community data, as well as to solicit and incorporate the players' input and suggestions. For example, you can use game analytics, surveys, or reviews, to collect and evaluate the game and the community performance, behavior, and satisfaction. You can also use game updates, patches, or expansions, to add or modify the game content, features, or mechanics, based on the players' feedback or requests.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?