Simplicable Guide

39 Gamification Techniques

John Spacey, December 20, 2015 updated on March 19, 2021

Gamification is the practice of designing game-like experiences for non-game applications. It is often employed as a strategy to make user interfaces more engaging to achieve goals such as building customer relationships or improving employee productivity. The following are common gamification techniques.

Collecting

The ability to collect things such as virtual goods or elements of gameplay.

Curiosity And Discovery

Stoking curiosity by creating a sense that there's much to be discovered.

Engagement Curve

Taking care to sustain engagement at all points in the game flow. In other words, avoiding annoyances and interruptions that cause engagement to drop.

Game Achievements

Building a sense of achievement by including milestones in the game flow.

Aesthetics

Games tend to be visually stunning with aesthetics that invoke emotions or create a sense of well-being and calm.

Game Anticipation

Building a sense of anticipation using techniques such as dramatic tension.

Game Challenge

In many cases, games adapt to the skill of the player to be slightly challenging to all.

Game Characters

Game characters are often highly developed with a history and personality.

Game Choice

Providing a large number of choices and paths of gameplay.

Game Competition

Instilling a sense of competition between players.

Game Cooperation

Allowing players to cooperate with each other.

Game Culture

Games often resemble a subculture with their own vocabulary and social conventions. This can help to build a strong sense of community amongst players.

Game Fairness

Instilling a sense of fairness by preventing cheating.

Game Fortune

Games typically have an element of luck that is balanced with skill driven results.

Game Goals

A series of escalating goals.

Game Karma

Improving a players luck based on their gameplay. For example, making those who cooperate with others more lucky.

Game Levels

Levels are a way to keep gameplay fresh. For example, a new setting, challenge and goals may be associated with a level.

Game Rewards

Constantly reward actions. For example, a player may collect points every few seconds during gameplay.

Game Rules

All games have rules that constrain play. These are typically learnable within the game itself without any reading. In some cases, minor tips are provided but these can be seen as an interruption and are avoided by many game designers.

Game Self Expression

Allowing players to express elements of their personality in the game. For example, many games allow players to customize their character.

Game Setting

Providing a setting such as an alternative reality that has a background story.

Game Skill

Games typically reward skill and memory. This boosts the replay value of a game as players progressively improve.

Game Speed

Games usually simulate real world speeds or faster.

Game Statistics

Provide users with extensive game play statistics.

Game Surprise

The element of surprise encourages a sense that the game has endless possibilities.

Game Time

In many cases, time is used to maintain a sense of urgency.

Game Vanity

Appealing to vanity with regular recognition of achievements.

Grinding

Grinding is the element of repetition that's found in most games. Games are generally expected to consume all of a player's attention and grinding is busy work in the game that commands attention. It is typically rewarded and is often variable length as users who are seeking rewards or status may grind for longer.

Imagination And Oddities

Games are first and foremost a playground for the imagination where the limitations of the real world don't exist.

Massively Multiplayer Environments

The social element of gaming is best accomplished with a technique known as Massively Multiplayer Gaming that allows users to engage others who are playing at the same time on a global basis.

Mini Games

It is common for a complex game to include smaller games that are independent. These improve the longevity of gameplay.

Quests

Quests are a mission within a game that potentially involve cooperation or competition with other players.

Role Playing

The chance to play the role of various characters in a game.

Status And Envy

Visible status such as a rank that can may cause a sense of envy amongst players.

Story And Plot

Games are typically wrapped in a storyline and gameplay often acts as the plot.

Unlockable

Status and achievements unlock new things such as abilities and hidden levels.

Virtual Economy

Games may include a system of currency and markets. In some cases, such virtual currencies have achieved real world value.

Virtual Goods

Games commonly allow players to collect virtual goods that may be traded in a virtual economy.

Real World

Games may be integrated with the real world using techniques such as augmented reality.

Overview: Gamification
Type	Experience Design
Definition	The use of game design techniques for non-game applications.
Value	Games are generally recognized as more engaging than a typically business application. As such, there is interest in replicating this success in areas such as employee productivity and marketing.
Risks	A business has far more constraints than a video game. Gamification strategies consider things such as laws, regulations, ethics and reputation that apply to the real world.
Related Concepts	Customer Experience Information Technology