How do you analyze games to create and test new ideas?

1 Collect data

The first step to analyze games is to collect data that can help you understand the game better. Data can include statistics, metrics, scores, timings, objectives, kills, deaths, assists, damage, healing, gold, items, wards, and more. You can use tools like replay software, match history websites, or game-specific apps to collect data from your own games or from other players' games. Data can help you answer questions like: What are the common patterns, trends, or anomalies in the game? How did you or your opponent perform in different phases of the game? What factors influenced the outcome of the game?

2 Review replays

The second step to analyze games is to review replays of the games you want to study. Replays are recordings of the game that allow you to watch it from different perspectives, pause, rewind, fast-forward, and zoom in or out. You can use replays to observe the game in more detail, focus on specific aspects, and compare different situations. Replays can help you answer questions like: What were the key moments, decisions, or actions in the game? How did you or your opponent react to them? What were the strengths and weaknesses of your or your opponent's strategy, tactic, or mechanic?

3 Experiment with scenarios

The third step to analyze games is to experiment with scenarios that can help you create and test new ideas. Scenarios are hypothetical situations that you can create or modify in the game to try different options, variations, or alternatives. You can use scenarios to test your assumptions, hypotheses, or questions, and to explore the consequences, benefits, or drawbacks of your or your opponent's choices. Scenarios can help you answer questions like: What if you or your opponent did something differently? How would that affect the game? What are the best or worst possible outcomes? What are the trade-offs or risks involved?

4 Evaluate results

The fourth and final step to analyze games is to evaluate the results of your experiments and observations. Evaluation is the process of assessing the quality, effectiveness, or value of your or your opponent's ideas, based on the data, replays, and scenarios you collected and reviewed. You can use evaluation to measure your progress, identify your strengths and weaknesses, and determine your goals and actions. Evaluation can help you answer questions like: How did your or your opponent's ideas work in practice? Did they achieve the desired results? What did you learn from them? How can you improve them or apply them to other games?

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?