Playtesting Tips For Players

Playtesting a game can be an engaging and unique experience! You get to see a creative new idea and make an impact on the game’s development.

You do not need any experience to play test a game! Just hop right in! However if you’d like to be an even more effective playtester, read the tips below.

General Expectations

• Prototypes are games in development. They are not finished. They will often be very rough in gameplay and production quality. Occasionally a game may not even be functional and may have serious design flaws.
• The focus is on testing. The goal is for the designer to observe and gather feedback to improve their game. The designer may change the rules during play, and even end the game early when testing is no longer productive.
• Playtesting is optional. You do not need to test any game. You are encouraged to speak up if a playtest is going on too long or seems unproductive. You can leave a play test at any time.

Before Playing A Game

• Learn about the game before joining. Ask what the game is about, its content, and how much time may be expected for the session. Ask what kind of participation would be involved, such as reading a rulebook or having to team up with a stranger. You may also want to ask the development status to get an idea of how finalized a game if that is important to you. You should only join tests you are actually interested in doing.
• Ask the designer important test questions. Ask any questions that may affect your willingness to play and help guide your feedback later, such as:
  • Are there any systems that you want more specific feedback on?
  • Are there types of feedback you aren’t open to for this game?
  • What are your design goals for this game?
  • Who is the target audience for this game?
  • Does the designer want you to play or participate a certain way (such as thinking out loud or playing a particular strategy)?

Playing A Game

• Keep your attention on the game. Try to stay focused on playing the game to make the best test. Avoid distractions and side conversations. Don’t interrupt with feedback unless the designer has requested doing so.
• Take notes if needed. If you have feedback you think would be especially valuable after the game that you might forget, you should take notes, as long as doing so doesn’t interfere.

Feedback Sessions 

After the game, the designer will likely want to do a feedback session. This is a chance for the designer to clarify their observations and gather additional information to improve their game.

• Participating in feedback sessions is optional. You can decide how much to participate in feedback. It is perfectly valid to skip feedback or end it early if you are disinterested, feel it is unproductive, or need to leave for any reason. You might be willing to talk but don’t want to do a written survey.
• Allow the designer to lead feedback. It is the designer’s test. Allow them to run the feedback session how they want, which will often involve asking specific questions. Focus on answering each question as it comes up, saving other thoughts for later questions or if the designer opens for comments.
• Allow all players to participate. Let and encourage other playtesters to speak too. Don’t interrupt them when they are speaking. It is OK and actually incredibly helpful to let the designer know if you have opinions different from other players.
• Focus on your problems and feelings. In general, focusing your feedback on the experience you just played is most helpful. You are not expected, and it is often not desired, to provide the designer with possible solutions and hypotheticals unless prompted.

If the designer opens for comments, some helpful things you might bring up are:

• Anything that was confusing.
• Anything that was frustrating.
• How you felt about the game length and game pacing.
• The part that was the most fun to you and why.
• The part that was the least fun to you and why.
• If there is anything you wanted to do in the game but couldn’t.

Be honest, but don’t be mean. Most prototype games need a lot of work, and many designers are new to making games. Making any prototype game and having the courage to show it to others is very difficult and a major accomplishment. While it is helpful to share your thoughts, and you should definitely share issues you have with a game, remember that being purposely negative and rude is not helpful. Definitely mention things you enjoyed as well.

Make sure to thank designers for sharing their game!