Have you ever played a game without realizing that 5 hours have passed and you’ve been trying to find the ancient sword that will release a new level of magic? Then, you’ve just experienced game flow.
What is game flow?
In simple terms, game flow refers to the state of player immersion and engagement with a game. When a player is completely absorbed in a task and loses track of time, they have experienced game flow. Game flow is also related to Flow, which can occur in any activity that fully engages a person’s attention, such as running a marathon, hiking a beautiful trail, painting, coding, and more. In the context of games, we call this experience game flow.
Game flow doesn’t typically occur at the beginning of a game, as players are still learning and onboarding through the experience. During the onboarding or tutorial phase, players may forget certain tasks or controls. So the tutorials or onboarding of the game should be designed in a way where players would be able to independently play the game as they pass different challenges and levels. Once they have learned the controls and basic gameplay, players can fully focus on the immersion, storyline, objectives, and overall experience of the game. This is when they are most likely to unlock game flow.
What are the principles of Game Flow?
- A player needs to have clear goals and expectations to stay motivated and engaged in the game. Clear goals and objectives allow players to understand what they’re working towards and give them a sense of accomplishment and competence.
- A player needs to experience a balance between challenging levels and breather levels. There should be a clear balance between difficult and challenging levels at times, and less stressful levels or breather levels. For example, in Zelda Breath of the Wild, Link explores an expansive world where he fights and solves difficult puzzles at times and roams the world with his horse for a breather in the game.
- A player’s skills need to match the level of challenges as they progress in the game. Difficulty level should progress as the player skills progress as well. If the balance is off, players would get stuck and stop playing the game.
- A player needs to have a sense of autonomy and control over the decisions they can make in the game. Giving them choices and allowing them to make decisions will give them a sense of autonomy when playing the game.
- A player needs to feel rewarded for all the efforts they invest in the game. Rewards are a huge motivation for players. They need to feel that their hard work is compensated as they play the game. They also need to feel the incentives and be teased about other rewards in the game so they can have goals and purpose when playing the game. This is called extrinsic rewards and motivations.
- A player needs to feel intrinsic rewards such as unlocking and enjoying the storyline, completing levels, and facing captivating challenges in the game.
- There should be a sense of social interaction where players can connect with other players for online and multiplayer games. When designing single player games, game designers should create interesting and story-driven NPCs (non-playable characters) that allow players to connect with the game. NPCs can add depth and richness to the game world, providing players with a sense of presence and social context.
- Players needs to feel a sense of social validation, where they can see their achievements and progress compared to those of other players.
- And last but not least, the game interface, screen feedback and effects should be well-designed, have a purpose, balance, and be story-driven to connect with the overall game experience.
In summary, game flow is a crucial aspect of gaming that can greatly enhance a player’s experience. By understanding and implementing the principles of game flow, game designers can create a memorable, immersive and satisfying gaming experience that keeps players engaged and motivated to complete the game.