Learn some of the most effective onboarding techniques in game design, and how they can enhance the game UX, such as showing, rather than telling, and adapting to the players' needs.

Because of the current state of User Acquisition in mobile market, actually the best onboarding is to mask the game as Hyper casual game in both marketing creatives and the early onboarding. This step will make the total addressable player base as wide as possible, even though the game could be actually more core. It will be easy to understand from both creative and early core gameplay. Then in step 2 you slowly start to unfold the features. This will take literally days, its not your usual 30 minutes tutorial. This way you are able to not overwhelm the attention budget of the casual player and in the end step by step unfold the game. At this time the game could be literally something completely different or a 2nd core game as many do it.

A way to do so is to integrate tutorial elements seamlessly into the gameplay experience: 1- Gradually introduce game mechanics as players progress, using in-game scenarios to demonstrate interactions. 2- Highlight important elements or actions with visual cues like arrows or glowing objects. 3- Guide players through actions step by step with interactive prompts or tooltips, avoiding lengthy text explanations. 4- Provide immediate feedback through visual and auditory cues to reinforce learning and encourage experimentation.

What are the most effective onboarding techniques in game design?

Onboarding is the process of introducing new players to a game and teaching them the basic rules, mechanics, and goals. It is a crucial aspect of game design, as it can determine whether players will stay engaged, motivated, and satisfied with the game experience. In this article, we will explore some of the most effective onboarding techniques in game design, and how they can enhance the game UX.

1 Show, don't tell

One of the most common and effective onboarding techniques is to show, rather than tell, the players what they need to know. This means using visual cues, interactive elements, and feedback to guide the players through the game, rather than relying on text, voice, or menus. Showing, rather than telling, can make the onboarding more immersive, intuitive, and fun, as it allows the players to learn by doing, rather than by reading or listening.

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Leonardo Cunha

Creative Director | Game Designer | Game Producer | Project Manager | Product Manager
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A way to do so is to integrate tutorial elements seamlessly into the gameplay experience: 1- Gradually introduce game mechanics as players progress, using in-game scenarios to demonstrate interactions. 2- Highlight important elements or actions with visual cues like arrows or glowing objects. 3- Guide players through actions step by step with interactive prompts or tooltips, avoiding lengthy text explanations. 4- Provide immediate feedback through visual and auditory cues to reinforce learning and encourage experimentation.

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Aidin Rahimi

Lead Game Designer at Polydin Studio
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If your game is story-focused, your job is both easy and challenging. Think of ways to convey tutorial information without explicitly using the term. For example, Far Cry 3 ingeniously integrates tutorials into gameplay. In a thrilling scenario, the player learns to sprint while being chased by adversaries. To guide the player in shooting, the approach is to provide in-game situations that naturally motivate them to use firearms. Far Cry: Blood Dragon takes a unique approach, using comedic elements as a tutorial. The game humorously introduces mechanics through jokes, showcasing an innovative way to guide players while adding entertainment value.

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2 Use progressive disclosure

Another onboarding technique is to use progressive disclosure, which means revealing information and features gradually, as the players need them or are ready for them. This can prevent overwhelming or confusing the players with too much information or complexity at once, and allow them to focus on the core gameplay and goals. Progressive disclosure can also create a sense of curiosity and discovery, as the players uncover new aspects of the game as they progress.

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Amol Mody

Building Felicity Games | ex-dream11, loco
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Progressive disclosure not only helps in easing players into the core mechanics but also lays the foundation for understanding the meta-game. The gradual introduction of features ensures that players can absorb information at their own pace.

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3 Provide feedback and rewards

Feedback and rewards are essential for onboarding, as they help the players understand the consequences of their actions, and motivate them to continue playing. Feedback can be visual, auditory, or haptic, and should be clear, consistent, and timely. Rewards can be intrinsic, such as unlocking new levels, abilities, or items, or extrinsic, such as earning points, badges, or achievements. Feedback and rewards can reinforce the learning process, and increase the players' confidence and satisfaction.

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4 Adapt to the players' needs and preferences

Onboarding should not be a one-size-fits-all approach, but rather a flexible and adaptive one, that takes into account the players' needs and preferences. This can be done by providing different options, modes, or levels of difficulty, that suit the players' skills, goals, and interests. For example, some players may prefer a tutorial, while others may want to skip it and explore the game on their own. Some players may want to learn more about the story and the characters, while others may focus on the gameplay and the challenges. Adapting to the players' needs and preferences can make the onboarding more personalized and engaging.

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5 Test and iterate

Finally, onboarding should not be a static or final process, but rather a dynamic and iterative one, that is tested and improved based on feedback and data. Testing can be done by observing or interviewing players, or by using analytics or metrics, to measure how the players interact with the game, and how they respond to the onboarding. Testing can help identify the strengths and weaknesses of the onboarding, and reveal any issues or gaps that need to be addressed. Iterating can be done by making changes or additions to the onboarding, based on the testing results, and then testing again. Testing and iterating can ensure that the onboarding is effective, user-friendly, and enjoyable.

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6 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?

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Jakub Remiar

Product & Game Design Consultant 🕹 Mobile F2P 📱 Monetization = Game design
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Because of the current state of User Acquisition in mobile market, actually the best onboarding is to mask the game as Hyper casual game in both marketing creatives and the early onboarding. This step will make the total addressable player base as wide as possible, even though the game could be actually more core. It will be easy to understand from both creative and early core gameplay. Then in step 2 you slowly start to unfold the features. This will take literally days, its not your usual 30 minutes tutorial. This way you are able to not overwhelm the attention budget of the casual player and in the end step by step unfold the game. At this time the game could be literally something completely different or a 2nd core game as many do it.

Like

What are the most effective onboarding techniques in game design?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Show, don't tell

2 Use progressive disclosure

3 Provide feedback and rewards

4 Adapt to the players' needs and preferences

5 Test and iterate

6 Here’s what else to consider

Game Design

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What are the most effective onboarding techniques in game design?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Show, don't tell

2 Use progressive disclosure

3 Provide feedback and rewards

4 Adapt to the players' needs and preferences

5 Test and iterate

6 Here’s what else to consider

Game Design

Rate this article

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