You can create a story line of what you believe could be the best game ever but at the end of the day, if the player experience and overall game flow is poor, then it won’t be a success. There are different ways to approach game design and many successful games have their own unique elements that make them stand out.
In this helpful guide, we will explore 9 brilliant game design examples and discuss what makes them great. So without further ado, let’s dive in and discover what elements make a game truly successful.
1. Super Mario
Despite the fact that we’ve entered into the world of Web3 and the benefits that come with it, UX designers should still look towards classic games like Super Mario for inspiration. Even today, the simplicity and intuitive gameplay mechanics of this game continue to make it a favorite among players of all ages.
The different levels, power-ups, and obstacles in Super Mario create a well-paced gameplay experience that keeps players engaged from start to finish. The game also offers a sense of accomplishment as players progress through levels, making it a rewarding experience.
It’s clear exactly which way to go and what abilities are needed to advance, making it easy for players to navigate the game. Although some puzzle games are great, a poor game design where players find themselves running around a dark room just to find a lever to a door that should be obvious is not the way to go.
It does a great job at finding the perfect balance between difficulty, and fun, helping players enter into a ‘Flow’ state. This enhances the overall player experience and keeps them engaged for longer periods. Having this concept in mind while building the core game mechanics can greatly improve the overall gameplay experience. This is important if you are trying to reach a mass market of casual gamers.
The sound effects of this game design is also what makes it brilliant. The tune of collecting coins, jumping on enemies, and the iconic ‘game over’ music all contribute to creating an immersive experience for the players. This is why it’s essential to carefully consider audio elements in game design. It’s an easy dopamine hit for players and adds to the overall satisfaction of playing the game.
2. Minecraft
Minecraft is another example of a game that has stood the test of time. Although the core game mechanics creativity and randomness over a clear path puts Minecraft in a different category than traditional puzzle games, it still offers a similar sense of accomplishment and satisfaction for players.
By allowing the freedom to build and create anything the player desires, Minecraft taps into our innate desire for creativity and expression. This open world design encourages players to think outside the box and experiment with different ideas, providing endless possibilities for gameplay.
One of the key elements that make Minecraft successful is its community-driven content. With a dedicated modding community and user-generated content, players can constantly access new and exciting features, keeping the game fresh and engaging.
Moreover, Minecraft also incorporates elements of survival gameplay, adding an extra layer of challenge for players. This balance of creativity and survival gives players a sense of purpose and progression, making them feel invested in the game.
The simplistic yet charming graphics of Minecraft also play a significant role in its success. The blocky world and pixelated textures add to its nostalgic appeal while also making it accessible for all ages and devices.
Lastly, Minecraft’s multiplayer feature allows players to connect and collaborate with others, adding a social component to the game. This further enhances the sense of community and camaraderie among players. The user experience is further enhanced by frequent updates and bug fixes, making sure players always have a smooth and enjoyable experience.
3. Marvel Avengers
Jay Van Hutten is an experienced game and level designer that has been credited in many amazing titles, including Marvel Avengers (2020, PlayStation 4). In his game designer portfolio website, he expresses that he “Always tries to tell a story.”
With that being said, we can take a better look at Marvel Avengers and how different character profiles make this game so unique and compelling. Marvel Avengers is an action-adventure game that allows players to take control of iconic characters from the Marvel universe, including Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, and more. Each character has their own unique abilities and playstyle, making the game diverse and exciting.
Moreover, Marvel Avengers also has a strong emphasis on storytelling. The game’s main campaign follows an original storyline that sees Earth’s mightiest heroes coming back together to save the world from a new threat. The narrative is well-crafted and engaging, with compelling character developments and interactions.
Consider if different characters should have different game elements. For example, Iron Man can fly and shoot repulsor beams, while Hulk can smash and jump great distances. This adds a layer of strategy to the game, as players must strategically choose which character to play based on the situation. It also allows for different playstyles and encourages players to try out different characters.
It’s also helpful to note that this game did receive negative reviews at launch but by pivoting the game elements to focus more on story telling arcs, reducing paywalls for skins and characters, and adding new content such as DLCs, it has since gained more positive reception from players. Sometimes you won’t know how game elements will be received until the game is actually released and then you can pivot and make changes based on feedback.
4. Flappy Bird
The premise of the game is simple: navigate a pixelated bird through a never-ending series of obstacles by tapping to flap its wings. The catch? If you touch any obstacle, it’s game over. With its easy-to-learn but difficult-to-master gameplay, Flappy Bird quickly gained a cult following and became one of the most downloaded apps on both iOS and Android.
Despite its immense success, Nguyen famously removed the game from app stores in 2014, citing its addictive nature as the reason. However, we can still learn why the game elements of Flappy Bird were so effective beyond the addictive gameplay.
Firstly, the game’s simple design and mechanics made it easy for anyone to pick up and play, regardless of age or gaming experience. This accessibility was a key factor in its widespread appeal.
Secondly, the game’s challenging nature and high difficulty curve kept players coming back for more. The desire to beat a personal best or surpass a friend’s score was a major driving force behind its addicting gameplay.
Consider if the complexity of your game is stopping you from reaching the intended target audience. Simplifying the design and mechanics may lead to a wider appeal and ultimately more success. Clearly displaying personal bests and encouraging friendly competition can also help keep players engaged and coming back for more.
5. Need For Speed
As a racing game, Need For Speed offers players the opportunity to experience the thrill and excitement of high-speed driving. With realistic graphics, detailed car models, and various customization options, players can immerse themselves in a virtual world of fast cars and intense races.
When it comes to the design elements of the game, Need For Speed stands out with its attention to detail. From the sound of engines revving to the realistic handling of different cars, every aspect adds to the overall immersive experience.
One of the most appealing aspects of Need For Speed is its wide selection of cars from various brands, both classic and modern. Players can collect and customize their dream car collection, adding a sense of personalization to the game. Even if you aren’t designing a racing game, you can think about how you can add an element of time scarcity and collectable items to your game design.
For example, in a puzzle game, players could be required to collect certain artifacts before the time runs out in order to progress to the next level. It’s a more focused gameplay style but can add an element of challenge and engagement to the overall experience.
6. Skyrim
As agreed by many as the most well-received role playing game ever, Skyrim sheds plenty of light on how open-world games can be such a huge success. The game presents an expansive and immersive world, allowing players to fully immerse themselves in the game’s rich lore and vast environment.
Skyrim offers endless exploration possibilities with its diverse landscapes, from snowy mountains to lush forests. The game also features a dynamic weather system that adds to the immersive experience. With its open-world design, players have the freedom to create their own journey and becomes one of the best story games of this generation.
Furthermore, Skyrim’s character customization and progression system allows players to tailor their gameplay experience according to their preferences. This, along with the game’s multiple questlines and side quests, creates a unique playing experience for each player.
In addition to its captivating gameplay, Skyrim also boasts stunning visuals and an epic soundtrack that adds to the overall immersive experience. The game’s popularity has led to numerous mods created by players, further expanding the game’s content and ensuring its longevity.
7. A.I Arena
At Helika, we released a case study about how using analytics to better enhance gameplay elements led to significant savings for an Indie Studio. The game’s complexity generated vast amounts of in-game telemetry data, but turning this data into actionable insights posed a significant hurdle.
View Full Case Study: How AI Arena Saved $300k a year, Enhanced Gameplay, and Optimized AI-Driven Battles with Helika’s Advanced Telemetry and Analytics.
Helika’s data analysts provided strategic recommendations to optimize retention and engagement, leading to an impressive 188,000 matches played in just 4 days—an average of 32.5 matches per minute during cycle 1 of the competition. Helika provided AI Arena with swift, actionable insights, empowering their team to make informed decisions on development and game design.
As you can see, a deep understanding of behavioral psychology can make a massive difference in game design but as we progress into the age of A.I, it’s advantageous for game developers to use the tools and techniques of A.I. to enhance the player’s experience and satisfaction. Helika is the perfect partner to help game developers achieve this.
8. Board Games
Although many of you reading this likely are building the latest video games, we can’t ignore the success and brilliance of board games. In fact, some of the most well-known and beloved game franchises today started off as traditional board games before being translated into digital form.
One example is the game “Risk,” which has been around since 1957 but still remains popular to this day. The reason why this game was designed so well is because of its simple yet strategic gameplay mechanics. Players must balance between attacking and defending different territories on the game board, while also managing their resources wisely.
This combination of strategy and luck makes for a highly engaging and competitive game experience. When designing your game elements, think about how to integrate the risk/reward factor and make it a core mechanic that keeps players coming back for more.
9. Call of Duty Series
Finally, let’s talk about one of the most successful game franchises in history – Call of Duty. This first-person shooter series has consistently delivered high-quality gaming experiences with its realistic graphics, intense action, and immersive multiplayer gameplay.
But what sets the Call of Duty games apart from others first person shooters is that their game design is constantly evolving and improving with each new release. From adding new game modes and weapons to implementing innovative features like “Zombies” mode, the developers behind the series understand the importance of keeping their game fresh and exciting for players.
The game element of forming team members was also implemented into the lobby screens of Call of Duty games, with clan tags and customization player profiles. This added a sense of community and camaraderie among close knit friends, going to war together in the virtual battlefield. Consider how you can create the ability for your players to build tribal identity and bonds when designing your games. The desire to be a part of a group is innate to human nature, and it’s no different in the world of gaming.
Subtle dopamine enhancing features such as hit-markers, kill streaks, prestige leaderboards, and leveling up systems also keep players engaged and motivated to keep playing. These elements not only add a sense of accomplishment, but also create a competitive atmosphere within the game. When designing your own game, think about how you can reward those that are on a streak both during the heat of the action and as a bigger picture long term goal.
Best Practices For Game Developers
Now that we’ve explored some of the best game design examples, let’s briefly take a look at some best practices for game developers to keep in mind while creating their own games.
1. Understanding Your Audience
One of the most important things for game developers to keep in mind is their target audience. Who will be playing your game? What are their interests and preferences? By understanding your audience, you can tailor your game design and mechanics to better suit their needs and desires.
You can learn more about how to understand your game’s target audience with this article here: 7 Behavioral Segmentation Strategies For Game Developers
2. Create a Game Design Document
Before jumping into creating your game, it’s important to have a clear and well-defined game design document. This document should outline the overall concept of your game, including its theme, gameplay mechanics, and target audience.
3. Distinct Collaborative Docs with Your Creative Team
This group goes beyond just the concept art of creating the game. By combining brain power into a group designed specifically to create and develop the game, you will see better results from your team. This can also help to catch any potential issues or roadblocks early on in the development process. Each member can contribute something about human psychology that can be applied to the game design.
Solutions For Your Game Development Process
Whether you’re just starting out with your first game or you’ve been in the game dev industry for decades, Helika offers a variety of solutions to improve your game development process. Helika is a leading analytics platform empowering top Web3 game developers such as Maplestory, Ubisoft, Yuga Labs, Parallel and more to make data-driven decisions that enhance player engagement, retention, and monetization.
Our data and data analysts provide actionable insights and help studios to optimize and improve their gameplay mechanics. Helika’s on-chain analytics also improves the Web3 aspect of your game (if you are developing a blockchain game) by providing real-time data on player activity and in-game transactions. This allows you to make informed decisions and adjustments to your game design, based on how your players are interacting with the game.
In simple terms, we do analytics for web3 games. For example, we’ve found drop off points in games and this data helps devs to change features that will help users in games. We’ve used analytics to help with game-balancing, ensuring a fairer play experience for users.
Churn analysis helps retain users while AI/ML for bot filtering has been deployed to save developers’ resources. This suite of data analytics empowers game developers to reach their full potential and unlocks hidden areas of improvement.
Final Thoughts
Don’t let you hard work thus far go to waste just because you didn’t consider certain elements. By following some of these best practices and learning from the examples of successful games, you can create a game that not only entertains, but also engages and keeps players coming back for more.
Remember to always keep your audience in mind, stay true to your core mechanics, and continuously iterate and improve upon your game design.
