Level Up Tutorials: Think UX Flow, Not Just Walkthrough.

Level Up Tutorials: Think UX Flow, Not Just Walkthrough

Frustrated players are a game developer’s nightmare. Linear, walkthrough-style levels often lead to this, creating a frustrating experience instead of an engaging one. Indie developers need to shift their focus from simply guiding players through a level to crafting experiences that prioritize player-driven UX flow.

This means focusing on clarity, choice, and consequence in your level design. Forget forced paths and unclear objectives. Let’s explore how to build better levels.

The Problem With Walkthrough Levels

Walkthrough levels treat players like passive observers. They are often a string of disconnected challenges with little room for player agency. This leads to:

• Confusion about objectives: Players don’t know what they are supposed to do or why.
• Frustration with forced paths: The player feels like they have no options and are being led by the nose.
• Disengagement: The game becomes a chore instead of a fun experience.

These problems are avoidable. The solution lies in understanding and designing for UX flow.

UX Flow: Clarity, Choice, Consequence

UX flow emphasizes clarity, choice, and consequence in level design. Players should always understand:

• What they need to do (clarity)
• How they can achieve it (choice)
• What will happen as a result of their actions (consequence)

This empowers the player and makes the game feel more engaging.

Actionable Steps for Better UX

Here’s how you can improve the UX flow of your levels:

1. Prototype with Paper: Before touching your game engine, sketch out your level on paper. Experiment with different layouts and pathways.
2. Playtest for Player Confusion: Observe playtesters carefully. Where do they get stuck? What do they try to do that doesn’t work?
3. Implement Clear Visual Cues: Use lighting, color, and environmental storytelling to guide players.
4. Provide Feedback Mechanisms: Let players know when they are on the right track. Use audio and visual cues to confirm actions.

Mapping Out UX Flows: A Step-by-Step Process

The key to great UX flow is iteration. Here’s a process for mapping out and refining your level design:

1. Write Down Your Assumptions: Before you start building, list all your assumptions about how players will interact with the level. For example: “Players will naturally try to jump across this gap,” or “Players will understand that this switch opens the door.”
2. Build a Quick Prototype: Create a basic version of your level with the core mechanics.
3. Playtest, Playtest, Playtest: Watch players interact with your level. Note any deviations from your assumptions.
4. Journal Your Design Changes: Document every change you make and why you made it. This will help you track your progress and learn from your mistakes. For example: “Moved the key because players were consistently missing it.” Or, “Added a visual cue to indicate that the lever opens the gate because the player was not understanding that.”

The Power of a Game Dev Journal

Tracking your game development progress with a game dev journal can be incredibly valuable, especially when focusing on UX. It’s more than just a log of what you did; it’s a record of your thought process, design decisions, and the “why” behind them.

A game development log allows you to:

• See how your design evolved over time.
• Identify patterns in player behavior.
• Remember why you made certain design choices.
• Communicate your progress to others (if you share your devlog).

Many solo developers skip the journaling process. This is a mistake.

Staying Consistent With Your Devlog

Consistency is key when it comes to game dev journals. Even short, regular entries are more valuable than infrequent, lengthy ones. Aim to write something every day or every week. Treat it like a habit.

Organizing Your Creative Process

A game dev journal helps you organize your thoughts and creative process. Use it to:

• Brainstorm ideas.
• Outline features.
• Track bugs.
• Plan your next steps.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

• Pitfall: Not documenting assumptions. Solution: Always write down your assumptions before building anything.
• Pitfall: Forgetting why you made a certain change. Solution: Journal every design decision.
• Pitfall: Getting discouraged. Solution: Use your journal to track your progress and celebrate small wins.

Level Up Your Design

Creating engaging levels is an iterative process. Embrace the power of UX flow, document your design decisions, and learn from your playtests.

If you’re looking for a way to easily record and track your assumptions and design changes during playtesting, you should give our free Game Dev Journal a try. With it, you can journal your design process, take notes during playtesting, and track all the changes you need to make to ensure that your game provides a great UX for your players.