Solving Tutorial Design Issues with Respect and Clarity

Solving Tutorial Design Issues with Respect and Clarity

I’ve shipped games with tutorials I’m proud of and, frankly, some I’m not. The worst tutorials? They treated players like they were idiots. Or they threw everything at them upfront. Both are design failures that stem from a lack of respect and a misunderstanding of how people learn. Let’s break down how to create tutorials that actually teach without talking down.

The Pitfalls of Information Overload and Condescension

Information overload is tutorial death. You cram every mechanic, every nuance, every hidden feature into the first five minutes. Players tune out. They forget. They get frustrated. The indie roguelike Caves of Qud is notorious for this. While it has a deeply rewarding gameplay loop, many players struggle initially due to the sheer volume of information presented at once.

Condescending language is equally damaging. It’s the tutorial that uses phrases like “As you obviously know…” or forces players through painfully slow, pre-scripted actions. Nobody wants to be patronized. Games that assume a player’s ignorance are doing it wrong.

Progressive Disclosure and Just-in-Time Learning

The solution? Progressive disclosure and just-in-time learning. Introduce mechanics gradually, only when the player needs them. Baba Is You excels at this. The early levels teach the core concept of manipulating rules in a simple, intuitive way. As you progress, new elements are introduced, building upon the foundation you’ve already established.

Just-in-time learning means presenting information exactly when the player encounters the associated mechanic. Don’t explain crafting until the player finds their first crafting recipe. Don’t explain advanced combat maneuvers until they face an enemy that requires them.

Clear Objectives and Meaningful Feedback

Every tutorial step should have a clear, concise objective. “Move to the marked location.” “Combine these two items.” Avoid vague instructions. Celeste does this exceptionally well. Each screen presents a clear, achievable goal, and the game provides immediate feedback when the player succeeds (or fails).

Meaningful feedback is crucial. Let the player know why they succeeded or failed. Did they time their jump incorrectly? Did they not have enough resources? Provide constructive criticism that helps them improve.

Player Agency: Let Them Experiment

Don’t force players down a rigid path. Allow them to experiment. Give them opportunities to fail and learn from their mistakes. The original Portal is a masterclass in this. The early test chambers are designed to be solved in multiple ways, encouraging players to explore the game’s mechanics and find their own solutions.

Learning from Past Mistakes and Avoiding Repetition

After releasing my first game, I realized the tutorial was a disaster. Players were confused, frustrated, and quitting early. I hadn’t tracked my design decisions or user feedback systematically, so I made similar mistakes in my next project. That’s when I started keeping a detailed game dev journal.

The Power of a Game Dev Journal

A game dev journal isn’t just a diary. It’s a tool for critical self-reflection. It’s where you document your design choices, your reasoning behind them, and the feedback you receive from players.

Here’s what you should track in your game development log:

• Design decisions: Why did you choose this particular tutorial structure? What were your goals for each step?
• User feedback: What are players saying about the tutorial? Where are they struggling? What are they enjoying?
• Iterations: How did you change the tutorial based on feedback? What were the results of those changes?

By consistently tracking your progress, you can identify patterns, avoid repeating mistakes, and refine your design process. You’ll also have a valuable resource to consult when working on future projects.

Staying Consistent with Devlogs

Consistency is key. Even short, regular entries are more valuable than infrequent, lengthy ones. Treat your game development log as a living document, updating it as you work. Don’t just record what you did; reflect on why you did it.

Organizing Your Creative Process

A disorganized journal is useless. Use headings, bullet points, and tags to keep your entries organized. Date each entry and clearly identify the topic. Consider using a dedicated tool to manage your game development log.

Properly maintaining a game dev journal is more than just recording what happened; it’s about learning from your experiences and making informed decisions that enhance your game. It helps in understanding what works, what doesn’t, and why.

Ready to take your game development process to the next level? Start documenting your journey and make smarter decisions. Try our game development journal tool today! It’s designed to help you track your progress, stay consistent, and learn from your mistakes, ensuring your tutorials (and your game as a whole) are clear, respectful, and engaging.