Why Your Game's UX Isn't Clear (and Fixes)

Why Your Game’s UX Isn’t Clear (and Fixes)

Many indie developers fall into the “polish later” trap for user experience (UX). This mindset often leads to frustrated players and a game that feels clunky, even if the core mechanics are strong. Unclear UX isn’t just an aesthetic issue; it directly impacts player engagement and retention.

The “Polish Later” Pitfall and Player Pain Points

The most common mistake is deferring UX clarity until the final stages of development. This is a critical error because UX isn’t a coat of paint; it’s the foundation of how players interact with your game. When players encounter unclear menus, confusing tutorials, or inconsistent feedback, they experience significant pain points.

These pain points manifest as players not understanding core mechanics, missing important information, or feeling lost about their next objective. They might abandon your game simply because they can’t figure out how to play it effectively. This happens frequently when developers assume players will instinctively grasp their intended design.

The Value of a Game Development Journal

A robust game development log is your first line of defense against unclear UX. It’s a dedicated space to track game development progress and capture insights. Think of it as your personal UX observation deck, allowing you to record specific instances of player confusion or your own design questions.

This game dev journal isn’t just for big ideas; it’s for logging minute observations. Dedicating even 15 minutes a day to recording player feedback, testing notes, and your own UX hypotheses can be revolutionary. This consistent practice helps you identify recurring patterns of confusion that you might otherwise overlook.

Starting Your UX Journaling Habit

Begin by noting down every instance where you, or a test player, hesitated, asked a question, or performed an action differently than you expected. Did they click the wrong button? Did they miss a tutorial prompt? These small friction points are goldmines for improving UX clarity. Organize these observations by specific game features or player interactions.

For example, if you’re testing a new inventory system, record specific questions like “Player couldn’t find the ‘equip’ button” or “Player tried to drag an item that wasn’t draggable.” This level of detail helps pinpoint exact areas for improvement. Over time, you’ll build a comprehensive log of UX issues.

Integrating Journaling into Your Workflow

Make journaling a non-negotiable part of your daily development routine. Before you dive into coding or art assets, spend a few minutes reviewing your last UX observations. After a playtest, dedicate time solely to transcribing player feedback into your journal. This dedicated time ensures that UX improvements remain a priority, not an afterthought.

You can categorize entries by “Problem,” “Observed Behavior,” and “Potential Solution.” This structured approach to your game development journal makes it easier to track progress and identify trends in player confusion. This systematic logging helps you prioritize which UX elements need attention first.

Actionable Steps for Improving Clarity

Once you have a collection of UX observations in your game dev journal, it’s time to act. Prioritize issues based on their impact on player experience. A player not understanding how to start a new game is a higher priority than a slightly confusing quest log, for instance.

Implement small, iterative changes to address these issues. For example, if players are missing a tutorial prompt, try making the text larger, adding an arrow, or incorporating a subtle animation. Test these changes immediately. The goal is continuous improvement, not a single massive overhaul.

Early and Continuous UX Testing

Never wait until your game is “finished” to start testing UX. Begin testing as soon as you have playable mechanics, even if they’re rough. Early testing uncovers fundamental design flaws before they become deeply embedded in your game. This prevents costly rework later on.

Recruit friends, family, or fellow developers for your initial tests. Observe them closely, and make sure to log every observation in your game dev journal. Encourage them to vocalize their thoughts and frustrations. Their fresh perspective will highlight areas of unclear UX that you, as the creator, might be blind to.

The Power of Iteration

UX improvement is an iterative process. You won’t solve every problem in one go. After implementing a fix, test it again. Did it solve the original problem? Did it introduce new ones? This continuous cycle of observe, implement, test, and iterate is crucial for achieving true clarity.

Think of each iteration as refining a rough sketch into a clear blueprint. The more you iterate, the more intuitive and polished your user experience will become. This disciplined approach to UX ensures that your game is not only fun but also easy to understand and navigate.

Beyond Notes: Organizing Your Creative Process

Beyond simple notes, a structured game development log can help you organize your entire creative process. Use it to map out player flows, sketch UI layouts, or even brainstorm tutorial designs. This centralization of information prevents valuable insights from getting lost.

A well-maintained journal becomes a living document of your game’s UX evolution. It helps you remember past decisions, track the impact of changes, and maintain consistency across different game elements. This systematic approach is invaluable for solo developers juggling multiple tasks.

If you’re serious about transforming your game’s UX from confusing to crystal clear, you need a dedicated system for tracking your insights. Start journaling your UX observations and testing notes today with our specialized game dev journaling tool. It’s designed to help you streamline your process, stay consistent with your devlogs, and ensure no critical UX feedback slips through the cracks. Take control of your game’s clarity and see the difference a focused approach makes.