When it comes to video games, there’s a lot of focus on graphics. However, an equally important element of game design is the user experience. A good user experience makes your game engaging from the first second and keeps the player coming back for more. In other words, a well-designed user interface lets users easily understand what they need to do next in order to succeed in your game, while also helping them avoid unnecessary steps or help screens that can take players right back out again. Although many new games fail miserably at this—and we’re not just talking about Flappy Bird here—a great user experience can take any mobile game from good to great. Read on to know the most important rules of mobile games design you need to know:
A good user experience balances three key elements
While graphics and animation are important parts of your game’s design, they can’t do the work of a well-designed user interface. In order to be successful, your game’s user interface should incorporate a balance of three key elements: usefulness, clarity, and ease of use. These elements not only make up the core of your game’s UI design, they also play a huge role in making your game fun and interesting for players.
Keep the core gameplay simple
Don’t try to create a complicated user interface for your game. Instead, keep the interface simple and easy to understand. You can do this by keeping the core elements of your interface as few as possible. For example, just like in Sbobet and Clash of Clans, your user interface should include the following elements:
- A place to launch the game
- A place to view the game’s profile page
- A place to view the game’s profile page, with the option to edit it
- A place to collect and manage resources
- A place to send resources to your troops
- A place to view your troops and train new ones, with the option to send them out to battle
- A place to view your troop’s stats, including their level and how much more they need to level up
- A place to view your resources, including how much gold and elixir you have
- A place to view the news and events, with the option to create a new event
Test and measure your game’s UX constantly
As you’re designing your game’s user interface, you should always be testing out different elements and designs in your game. You can’t know for sure whether your interface is easy to understand or not until you test it out with real players. While you’re testing your game’s user interface, you can also keep track of how many steps your game requires from the user. It’s recommended that the game’s core gameplay be as simple as possible and that the interface requires as few steps as possible. In order to keep the pace of the game constant and avoid unnecessary complexity for your players, you should also make sure to modify your game’s core gameplay and interface based on how your players are performing in the game.
Keep the pace of the game constant
As you’re redesigning your game’s user interface, you should keep the pace of the game constant. This means that you shouldn’t make any drastic changes in the game’s core gameplay while you’re redesigning your game’s user interface. If you do, you may confuse your players and make their experience in your game less fun and engaging.
Provide clear feedback to players
Your game’s user interface should provide clear feedback to your players at all times. Clear feedback should help your players stay motivated and avoid unnecessary frustration in your game. For example, Clash of Clans’ user interface should provide clear feedback on the following areas:
- What the next step is
- How far along your player is in the game
- How many resources or troops your player has collected so far
- Which resources or troops your player currently has at their disposal
- What your player’s next move is
- What the outcomes of your player’s next move will be
Offer an option for players to quit your game at any point
A game’s user interface should provide clear options and exits for your players at all times. When you’re designing your game’s user interface, you should include an option for your players to quit your game at any point. This option should be available at all times, even when the game is loading or in the middle of playing. A well-designed user interface lets players easily quit your game at any point and exit your game whenever they want while also keeping them engaged in your game. This way, players don’t feel trapped in your game, but can choose when to exit and come back to it.
Wrapping Up
When it comes to mobile game design, there are a lot of important rules you need to know. The most important rules of design are the ones that will make your game as engaging and fun for your audience as possible. These include a good user experience, keeping the core gameplay simple, testing and measuring your game’s UX constantly, keeping the pace of the game constant, providing clear feedback to players, and offering an option for players to quit your game at any point. These rules will help make your game as engaging and fun as possible.