Definition of Progression & Sharing
What is Progression?
Game progression is a crucial aspect of any engaging game, as it allows players to build mastery and feel a sense of accomplishment. From a player's perspective, progression is essential because it provides a clear direction and motivation to continue playing. As players complete challenges, defeat enemies, or achieve milestones, they earn rewards, unlock new content, and upgrade their abilities. This sense of progress fosters feelings of growth and competence, which in turn motivates players to keep coming back for more.
By providing a sense of agency and control over their in-game experience, progression systems enable players to develop a deeper connection with the game world and its mechanics. Moreover, the satisfaction of overcoming obstacles and achieving goals releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward, which reinforces the desire to play and return. Ultimately, well-designed game progression systems can lead to increased player engagement, retention, and overall enjoyment.
What is a Core Loop?
The root of any good progression system is a solid “core loop”. A core loop refers to the repetitive sequence of gameplay mechanics and activities that players engage with repeatedly throughout the game that form the backbone of the “earned economy”. It is frequently the central, most engaging, and rewarding part of the experience that keeps players coming back for more.
A core loop typically consists of three key elements:
- Motivation: A clear goal or objective that drives the player's actions.
- Action: The gameplay mechanics and activities that the player performs to achieve the goal.
- Reward: The satisfaction, progress, or benefits that the player receives as a result of completing the action. Users feel a sense of commitment and ownership when they have invested time and effort into gaining items. Often feedback, either as a positive reinforcement or even an experience like losing a boss fight, can act as a reward that motivates players to move forward.
Ask yourself the following questions to build out an engaging core loop:
- What is the core thing you want your players to “do” in the world?
- What do they get when they “do” that thing well?
- How does that thing they get make “doing” the thing more fun?
Notably, the idea of progression can take place over a single session or over a longer period of time. There can even be overlapping core loops, with some providing short term feedback and others setting a direction for long-term growth. The rewards, in the form of achievements, power-ups, changes in difficulty level, and/or a compelling storyline keep players engaged in a single play session, and coming back for more play sessions over time.
What is a Shareable World?
When it comes to creating mobile games that resonate with users, there are several strategies that can increase engagement and shareability. In the Best Practices section, we explore several themes that have been identified in popular mobile content. However, it's essential to remember that what makes something desirable to share is inherently subjective and often unpredictable. As a result, these tips should be viewed as guidelines rather than requirements. It’s important to experiment and find a unique blend of elements that feels authentic to the content you create.