As digital creators, we constantly seek new ways to design interactive experiences. Many believe that video games are the pinnacle of interactivity because they allow players to make meaningful choices, which evoke a range of emotions. As a UX designer who also creates games, I see how lessons from games can enhance user interfaces (UIs) and experiences (UX) in ways we may not always consider.
While the tools for video game development weren’t as accessible in the early 2000s, this didn’t stop me from brainstorming game ideas and keeping them in notebooks throughout my school years. Over time, I shifted my focus to web design and UX, applying interaction design principles that I learned from games. And as game development tools became more accessible, my dual journey in UX and game design came full circle.
Let’s explore how game design elements and UX overlap, and how designers can draw inspiration from games to make digital products even more engaging.
Game Design Elements and UX
Like UX design, game design revolves around how users interact with an interface. But games go beyond functional interactions—they immerse players in experiences, allowing them to explore, make choices, and experience emotions. While UX focuses on usability, games prioritize meaningful experiences and how users feel as they engage with the game world.
To understand the similarities between UX and game design, it’s helpful to break down the core elements of game design:
- Characters: The objects players interact with or control. Whether the protagonist or NPCs (non-player characters), these characters shape the user’s experience in a game.
- Rules: Games operate within constraints, and the rules establish what players can and can’t do. Similarly, digital products have rules that govern user behavior, whether it’s a workflow in an app or the structure of a website.
- Goals: These give players purpose. In a game, it might be defeating a boss or completing a quest. In a UX context, goals are user objectives—what are they trying to achieve with your product?
- Mechanics: These are the interactions within the system, determining how characters or elements function. For example, how pieces move in chess are mechanics. UX design also relies on mechanics—how users navigate, click, or swipe through an interface.
- Narrative: The story and setting provide context for players, influencing how they feel during the game. Similarly, a brand’s story or the way a product is framed in UX can enhance the user’s emotional connection.
What UX Designers Can Learn from Games
While game design elements like characters and narratives help build immersive worlds, UX designers can apply similar principles to make digital products more engaging. And while gamification (e.g., scoring systems, points, and achievements) is often referenced in UX, there’s so much more we can learn from game design beyond adding points to an interface. Here are a few key lessons UX designers can take from games.
Lesson 1: Document Everything
In game design, documentation is essential for outlining how the game functions, defining characters, mechanics, and goals. Similarly, UX designers should create detailed documentation that covers personas, user goals, design decisions, and project requirements. This helps teams stay aligned and ensures consistency across a project.
Good documentation also provides a historical record of decisions. Just as games include changelogs to update players on new features or fixes, UX designers should share updates with their teams. Documenting design changes and sharing key statistics or research insights keeps everyone on the same page, leading to smoother collaboration.
Lesson 2: Simple Isn’t Always Best
While UX often emphasizes simplicity, complexity in games can be a challenge for players to overcome. Well-designed games introduce complex mechanics but balance them to offer a rewarding experience. Similarly, not every digital product needs to be stripped down. In some cases, complex features—like those in advanced design tools—provide a sense of accomplishment when mastered.
Think about tools like Sketch. As a designer, discovering new features or shortcuts feels rewarding, adding depth to the experience. For UX designers, it’s essential to recognize when complexity enhances value and user satisfaction.
Lesson 3: Connect Through Emotion and Personality
Good games evoke strong emotions, from the suspense of Amnesia to the playful joy of Rayman Legends. UX designers can also design with emotion in mind. By conducting journey mapping, designers can chart out how users feel at each touchpoint, enabling them to improve emotional moments or resolve friction points.
Additionally, personality matters. People connect with products that have personality—whether that’s through humor, unique copy, or playful interactions. In games, easter eggs are hidden secrets that create an additional layer of engagement for players. While not every product needs hidden surprises, adding moments of delight can foster a deeper connection with users.
Lesson 4: Provide Feedback
In games, feedback is critical for immersion. Known as “game feel” or “juice,” feedback can come in the form of screen shakes, changes in color, or sound effects. This responsive interaction tells players their actions are meaningful and acknowledged. Similarly, in UX, feedback—whether through animations, sound, or visual cues—makes interactions more intuitive and satisfying. Facebook Messenger’s growing emoji when held is a perfect example of playful feedback that enhances user experience.
Lesson 5: Be Intentional
Game elements are only effective when they’re used with purpose. If game mechanics are added as gimmicks, users will notice, and the experience will feel hollow. The same goes for UX design. When introducing game-like elements to a digital product, they must serve a clear function.
For example, Habitica transforms tasks into RPG-style quests, where users can level up their character by completing to-do lists. This use of game dynamics is intentional and enhances the user’s experience, rather than feeling forced. On the other hand, slapping on a score or leaderboard without purpose (as Snapchat did with its Snapstreaks) can feel disjointed and unnecessary.
Dive Deeper: Learn from Game Development
Game design offers UX designers a wealth of insights on how to create engaging, interactive experiences. As game development tools have become more accessible, designers can experiment with game creation themselves. Tools like Construct, GameMaker Studio, and Unity allow you to build games without coding, making game design more approachable than ever.
In both UX and game design, it’s about crafting experiences that matter. Whether you’re designing a mobile app or a platformer, the lessons from games—documentation, complexity, emotional connection, feedback, and intentionality—can help you create better, more meaningful user experiences.
By applying these lessons to your design process, you’ll craft more engaging interfaces that resonate with users and leave a lasting impact. Games are powerful examples of how interaction design can immerse, delight, and challenge users—let’s bring some of that magic into the world of UX.