How can you design games for all types of players without leaving anyone out?

You can't. Period. There are no games that will appeal to everyone. It's a pointless task. Find your niche / market and work with that.

There is an adage that if you design for everyone, you design for no one. When you set out to make a game, figuring out who your target demographics are is key, but in order to make a compelling game, that will obviously not include everyone.

Actually, you can't please everyone. You have to pick who's your demographic target of the game. Trying to make your game for everyone will result in mediocre game that will not be strong in any tangent. Choose your demographic target and stick to it and know that you won't please everyone. It is okay to be polarizing and possibly not great at certain aspect than mediocre in everything.

I think the question needs further refinement. If we ask, "how can I maximize the number of players who will engage in my ____ game?" Now we are looking at some parameters that might be useful and we can find case studies that help us determine what creative angle we might need to take to gain the maximum number of players. As well, we can further refine the parameters by investigating how much flexibility you are willing to bring to your creative vision. Pick your creative must-haves and find case studies of successes to emulate. I.e: zombies? "Plants vs. zombies" location-based? "Pokemon go" Action RPG? "Mass Effect" Some games choose a limited audience deliberately, this is true for all art. Bigger audience = more commercial design.

I truthfully don't think that this is possible. Video games are a product just like everything else. Products are going to have a specific audience, and games are no exception. Certain types of games appeal to certain types of players, there is no "one size fits all" game.

In a project I worked on, integrating customization and accessibility was key to addressing diverse player needs. We implemented features like adjustable difficulty, control customization, and colorblind modes, alongside subtitles and remappable keys. This approach not only made our game more inclusive but also broadened its appeal. By prioritizing these elements, we ensured our game was accessible to a wider audience, reinforcing the importance of inclusivity in game design.

An important factor from my perspective is to consider players with sight challenges, such as dyslexia and color blindness. This makes the size and type of letter fonts important, the surrounding area, patterns and shades are a necessary consideration. Additionally with respect to colors, I suggest a color therapist is engaged to minimise difficulty for the variations in different types of color blind types. Many solutions can be achieved with line, symbols and image clarity. Designers/publishers could also consider Braille in some instances.

The most important part of designing for accessibility is to ask players of all kinds. To let people play your game and adapt the game according to what you see them do--not necessarily to what they suggest. You (the designer) will never be able to understand the nuances of different accessibility needs on your own.

Include game mechanics that encourage learning and cognitive development, making the game valuable for more than just entertainment. Take into account incorporating features that cater to players with emotional sensitivities. Options to adjust the intensity of violence, horror, or other potentially overwhelming content can ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone. Empower your player community to contribute to accessibility solutions. Allow players to create and share custom mods, control schemes, and visual modifications that address specific needs, fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment.

Customizable Controls: Allow players to remap controls to accommodate various preferences and physical abilities. Multiple Difficulty Levels: Implement easy, medium, and hard modes to cater to players with different skill levels. Text and Language Options: Provide adjustable text sizes, font styles, and language settings to enhance readability for diverse players. Colorblind Options: Include settings to address different types of color blindness, ensuring essential information is discernible to all players. Subtitles and Audio Descriptions: Incorporate subtitles for dialogue and audio descriptions for visually impaired players to enhance the gaming experience.

In a key project, balancing challenge and reward was crucial. We tailored difficulty to suit diverse abilities, ensuring rewards felt meaningful. This strategy, aimed at providing a fair challenge and satisfying achievements, significantly enhanced engagement across various player types. By carefully adjusting these elements, we ensured the game was both compelling and rewarding, demonstrating the importance of balancing gameplay to cater to different preferences and motivations.

It's important to use smaller rewards as well as bigger ones. I think of it as "time to ding" - players are motivated by quick and easy access to some sort of reward system, and even in failure it's possible to create that. A reward can be as little as learning the nature of the challenge, but players should come away from each experience with something positive even if they lose.

Balancing challenge and reward is essential for a compelling gaming experience. Begin by establishing a gradual difficulty curve, introducing challenges that align with the player's skill progression. Offer meaningful rewards for overcoming obstacles, motivating players to tackle tougher challenges. Ensure that challenges are neither too easy nor overwhelmingly difficult, maintaining a sense of accomplishment without frustration. Integrate dynamic difficulty adjustments to cater to varying player skills, preventing monotony for both beginners and experts.

You can follow these points for a balanced and rewarded design for players: Difficulty Levels: Offer multiple settings (easy, medium, hard). Some players seek a relaxed experience, while others crave intense challenges. Progression: Balance challenges with satisfying rewards. Unlockables, achievements, and story progression keep players engaged. Avoid Frustration: Ensure challenges are fair and not overly punishing. Nobody likes hitting a wall of frustration!

It's a shame that game design is often boiled down to friction. "Challenge" and other types of friction are merely some of the tools in our toolbox. We don't have to consider them at all. Some games thrive on immersion, role play, social dynamics, etc., without going into any kind of second-to-second "degree of difficulty." Consider the verbs your player will be engaging with and consider how to provide an interesting experience. Whether that's based on challenge or something else is a different discussion!

This is important in OpenWorld action adventure titles, for ex. the surroundings should be different at different places you visit, & should not feel copy pasted, implicating same for characters as well, giving a sense of geographical and cultural diversity in the game world, take for example in a task you are supposed to visit a store and buy an item, now here there should not be a visual feeling that the shop owner was waiting for you to come and buy that item but instead he should act like a real shop owner and carry on his day-to-day routines like interacting with other non-playable characters, this implementation gives you sense of realistic immersion and that the world is not revolving around you, but you are the part of the world!

Go beyond using token characters and instead collaborate with diverse communities to create narratives and characters that truly reflect their lived experiences. Allow them to express their unique identities through a combination of physical appearance, cultural background, pronouns, and personality traits. Design game mechanics that cater to different playstyles and abilities. Consider alternative control schemes, adjustable difficulty settings, and narrative choices that do not discriminate against players based on their background or physical limitations.

For Unique representation of your design you must keep this points in your mind: Characters: Create diverse and relatable characters. Represent different genders, ethnicities, abilities, and backgrounds. Storytelling: Explore varied narratives that resonate with a wide audience. Avoid stereotypes and clichés. Inclusive Art and Music: Include visuals and soundtracks that celebrate diversity.

The fourth step in designing inclusive games is embracing diversity and representation. In a project I was involved in, we prioritized showcasing a range of genders, races, ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientations, ages, and abilities. We aimed to portray these characteristics respectfully, avoiding stereotypes and biases. This commitment to diversity and representation was crucial in making the game reflect the varied player base and the world at large, fostering a connection between the game and its audience. Embracing diversity not only made our game more respectful and relevant but also broadened its appeal to a wide range of players, highlighting the importance of inclusivity in game design.

Diverse Characters: Populate your game with characters from various backgrounds, ethnicities, genders, and abilities, fostering a rich and inclusive narrative. Inclusive Storylines: Develop storylines that resonate with a broad audience, addressing diverse themes and experiences to create a more relatable and engaging narrative. Player Customization: Allow players to customize their avatars, embracing a variety of appearances and identities to reflect the diversity of your player base. Cultural Sensitivity: Approach cultural representation with respect and accuracy, consulting with experts to avoid stereotypes and ensure authentic portrayal.

Most of the time, we test and iterate to improve (or eliminate) features. But if we're testing for player preferences, then what we're actually doing is iterating our audience. Whatever was planned as the initial target demographic will either change or get confirmed here, and it's a process that includes more than the design team -- project leads and stakeholders need to be involved. This is also where games will hone in on certain "ratings" -- like ESRB -- and make sure the content fits the desired audience. Essentially, it's about narrowing your audience and moving *away* from "all types of players."

The fifth step in creating games for all player types is rigorous testing and iteration of your game design. Testing involves evaluating your game with real or potential players through prototypes, alpha and beta versions, usability tests, focus groups, surveys, and reviews. Iteration is about refining your game design based on test results and feedback, employing methodologies like agile, lean, or waterfall. In one of my projects, we extensively tested with diverse player groups and iterated based on their insights, which significantly enhanced the game's appeal across different player types. This process of testing and iterating is crucial for fine-tuning your game to meet the varied needs and preferences of your audience.

User Testing: Regularly conduct user testing with a diverse group of players to gather feedback on various aspects of the game, including mechanics, difficulty, and accessibility features. Beta Testing: Release a beta version to a wider audience, allowing for real-world testing and the collection of valuable insights from a larger player base. Feedback Loops: Establish efficient feedback loops, encouraging players to share their thoughts and experiences, and promptly incorporating valuable suggestions into the game's development. Iterative Design: Embrace an iterative design process, making continuous improvements based on user feedback to enhance gameplay, fix bugs, and refine features.

Playtesting: Involve players from different backgrounds. Observe their experiences and gather feedback. Iterate: Continuously refine your game based on feedback. Address issues promptly. Accessibility Testing: Ensure your game is usable by players with disabilities (color blindness, hearing impairment, etc.).

Play the game. Play it a million times. Play it with lots of people, representing both experienced gamers and casual gamers. Be sure not to “overguide” them. Let some testers read the rules and play, without you telling them how to do it. That will tell you a lot about your rules, and how intuitive the game is. Take in all the feedback, and be open to change. And the changes should not necessarily involve adding complexity to your rules. A lot of the time, simplification is preferable. And remember: Even after testing, if you and the testers loved the game…you’re going to need thick skin. Once it hits the market, you’ll have people finding what they think are “problems.”

Consider these two major points for flexibility: Adaptability: Be open to change during development. Sometimes the best ideas emerge unexpectedly. Community Input: Engage with your player community. Listen to their suggestions and concerns. They’re your best resource for improvement.

Enhance games by constantly updating them based on player feedback, data analysis, and community-created content to keep players engaged long-term. Create a culture where player feedback is actively sought after and implemented through playtesting sessions, surveys, and community forums for continuous improvement.

Os jogos disponíveis atualmente no YouTube oferecem um excelente exemplo desse equilíbrio. Eles tendem a enfatizar a jogabilidade acessível e mecânicas simples, o que permite que uma gama muito ampla de pessoas possa desfrutar deles sem necessidade de conhecimentos prévios complexos ou habilidades especializadas. Ao projetar jogos com um foco na abertura e flexibilidade, é essencial considerar como diferentes elementos do jogo podem ser ajustados ou simplificados para atender a um espectro mais amplo de preferências e habilidades. Isso pode incluir desde a interface do usuário e controles até a complexidade da história e dos desafios apresentados.

There is no game that can cater to everyone. There is no meal that everyone can eat. No song that everyone has heard. No language that everyone speaks. You must choose. There are over 3 billion video game players worldwide. They are not playing the same game. Make your game. Your audience is there. Make your game.

You cannot. A game that is for everyone is a game that is for no one. Apparently I need to put some more words here. What are these dumb-ass articles anyway? Is this all AI generated?

Here is my biased statement and opinions. You can't! You can never design a game that is that good or that carefully catered for everyone, for the mothers that play at the bus station waiting, for the rage grind fans of MMORPGs for the million and billions different play styles there are, there is no game that can unite all of them, video game design is very very very limited in this regard, try looking at simpler games like tic tac toe, everyone can play it, everyone can understand it, I bet you will find even 1 person that says that he doesn't enjoy it. Any claiming to give you a recipe for infinite player reach with a game that can be enjoyed by anyone, is a lier. You can try to make a game that will be close, won't be a video game.

Targeting everyone is a recipe for failure, as I learned firsthand over 10+ years ago when my startup collapsed due to this approach. It was a painful but enlightening experience. Identifying and focusing on a specific target audience is far more effective. Understanding their behaviors and preferences simplifies marketing efforts, especially when resources are limited. This targeted approach increases the likelihood of success, even without an endless marketing budget.

If you target everybody then you target nobody. There is no chance to make everybody "happy". Market is Huge. There are lots of different types of Players who consume different types of entertainment. Chasing everybody at once is a foolish strategy. Focus on your goals, theme, message, idea and find/create an audience that finds your "way" attractive.