How do you design game interfaces that are intuitive and accessible?

1 Know your audience

The first step in designing a game interface is to understand who your target players are, what their needs and preferences are, and what devices and platforms they use. Different types of games and genres may require different levels of complexity, realism, immersion, and customization in their interfaces. For example, a casual puzzle game may have a simple and colorful interface that works well on mobile devices, while a hardcore strategy game may have a detailed and sophisticated interface that suits PC gamers. You should also consider the accessibility and inclusivity of your interface, such as providing options for colorblindness, dyslexia, subtitles, and difficulty levels.

3 Test and iterate

The third step in designing a game interface is to test and iterate your interface with real users and data. You should conduct usability tests, playtests, and user research to evaluate how your interface performs, how your players interact with it, and how they feel about it. You should also collect and analyze data such as user feedback, metrics, analytics, and heatmaps to identify and improve the strengths and weaknesses of your interface. You should iterate your interface based on the findings and insights from your tests and data, and repeat the process until you achieve your design goals.

4 Learn from examples

The fourth step in designing a game interface is to learn from examples of successful and influential game interfaces. You can study and analyze how other games have designed their interfaces, what techniques and patterns they have used, and what effects and outcomes they have achieved. Additionally, you can draw inspiration from other sources of design, such as websites, apps, art, or nature. Popular game interfaces that have been praised and recognized include The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which has a minimalist and immersive interface that adapts to the context and environment of the game; Portal, which has a clever and humorous interface that uses the environment, the narrator, and the portal gun as the main sources of information; and Monument Valley, which has a beautiful and elegant interface that blends seamlessly with the gameplay and the art style. These interfaces use visual cues, gestures, and sounds to communicate with the player.

5 Experiment and innovate

The fifth step in designing a game interface is to experiment and innovate with your interface. You could use voice, motion, touch, or VR to present and interact with your interface in new ways. Additionally, you can challenge and subvert the expectations and conventions of your interface by breaking the fourth wall, hiding or changing elements, or adding surprises or twists. Establishing a distinctive theme, tone, or personality for your interface can help create a unique style and identity. Examples of innovative and experimental game interfaces include Her Story, which simulates a desktop computer with an interactive video database of a police interrogation; Florence, which uses interactive mini-games and comic panels to tell a story of love and life; and The Stanley Parable, which uses a narrator as the main element of the interface to play with the concepts of choice, control, and narration.

6 Have fun

The sixth and final step in designing a game interface is to have fun with your interface. You should enjoy the process of creating and playing with your interface, and express your creativity and passion through your interface. You should also make sure that your interface is fun for your players, and that it adds value and meaning to your gameplay. You should also be open to feedback and criticism, and learn from your mistakes and successes. Remember that designing a game interface is an art and a science, and that there is no one right or wrong way to do it.

7 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?